Alexandria Hospital staff working overtime, visitation policy reverts back to 2020 posture

The number of COVID infections in Alexandria continues to rise at an alarming rate, as the number of reported infections has reached 23,325, an increase of nearly 2,500 cases in less than a week. In the meantime, staff at Inova Alexandria Hospital are seeing hospitalizations rise to 2020.

“The staff is working overtime,” Inova Alexandria Hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal told ALXnow. “We’re making sure that they’re not working overtime to the extent where it compromises their safety or patient safety.”

There are about 20 patients in the hospital seeking treatment for COVID-19, according to the Virginia Department of Health.  The number of fatalities due to the virus remains at 161, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Visitation is also restricted at the hospital, although patients are allowed into the facility with a companion — just like the visitation policy that was in place at the beginning of the pandemic. Consequently, Bansal is asking that residents not come to the hospital unless they specifically need hospital-based treatment.

“Clinically we’re much more comfortable in managing the disease itself,” Bansal said. “At this point, we have almost two years of experience under our belt.”

By the numbers

• The seven day average of daily new cases is now 475.7, up from 399 last week
• The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 tests is now 30.9%, up from 28.6% last week

Vaccine stats

• There are 29,495 unvaccinated Alexandria residents
• About 69% of residents (106,456 people) are fully vaccinated
• 81% (124,385) of residents have gotten at least one dose
• 42,506 residents have gotten a booster shot

Find vaccine providers in Alexandria here. If you feel sick, get tested.