May is turning out as the second worst month of the year for new Covid cases

May is on track to be the second worst month of the year for new cases of Covid.

As of May 9 (Monday), reported cases climbed to 32,237, an increase of 550 cases since this time last week. The seven-day average of cases is 78.6, up 68.7 last week, and the seven-day positivity rate for Covid tests is 12.4%, up from 10.2%.

The number of COVID-related deaths remains at 188. There have been 632 new cases reported so far in May, which is nearly half of the cases reported in April.

This year started with Covid levels at an all-time high, with a record-setting 12,822 cases reported, followed by 1,227 cases in February. There were only 593 cases reported in March, and during that month City Council loosened its mask and distancing requirements after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved the City’s community level from High to Low.

There were 1,488 new cases reported in April, and the CDC downgraded the city’s community level to Medium.

Fake Covid tests

The Alexandria Health Department is warning the public about fake Covid tests. According to AHD:

Beware of Counterfeit COVID-19 Tests

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public about counterfeit at-home COVID-19 diagnostic tests being distributed or used in the United States. Counterfeit tests are not authorized, cleared, or approved by the FDA for distribution or use but are made to look like real, FDA-authorized tests.The reliability of unauthorized tests has not been adequately established, so the risk of false results is very high. For reliable, FDA-authorized tests, order up to four at a time for free from USPS, pick up a free test at a participating Alexandria Public Library, or find other trusted testing options at alexandriava.gov/COVIDTesting.

VDH reported the following new cases this month in Alexandria:

• 36 new cases on May 1
• 46 new cases on May 2
• 47 new cases on May 3
• 106 new cases on May 4
• 82 new cases on May 5
• 79 new cases on May 6
• 113 new cases on May 7
• 62 new cases on May 8
• 61 new cases on May 9

Vaccine stats

• There are 23,068 unvaccinated Alexandria residents
• About 77% of residents (118,662 people) are fully vaccinated
• 85% (130,812 people) of residents got at least one dose
• 62,648 residents got booster shots

In Alexandria City Public Schools, there have been 836 cases reported since Dec. 1. Of those, 713 are children and 142 are staff, but the numbers on the school system’s dashboard don’t add up.

The city remains in a state of emergency until June 30.