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Alexandria Courthouse Deep Cleaned After Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

By James Cullum

The Alexandria Courthouse was deep cleaned last weekend after an employee of the General District Court tested positive to COVID-19, according to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.

“On Friday October 16, 2020 the Alexandria General District Court was notified that an employee tested positive for COVID-19,” Undersheriff Tim Gleeson of the Judicial and Special Operations Bureau told ALXnow in an email.

Gleeson said that the court “immediately” asked for help from the Virginia Supreme Court and the Alexandria Health Department. He also said that this is the first time anyone in the courthouse has tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began in March.

“Following the Health Department’s guidance, the remaining Court dockets of the day were continued to later dates in order to get the Court deep cleaned,” Gleeson said. “The deep cleaning of the General District Court, including all courtrooms, public spaces, and workspaces was completed on Friday afternoon.”

Court operations continued on Monday, October 19.

As previously reported, thousands of cases have been continued in Alexandria due to the pandemic.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.