News | ALXnow - Part 958

New Virginia Majority Gathers Coalition Asking for Statewide Reopening Delay

Published May 14, 2020 at 2:05PM | Updated May 14, 2020 at 2:30PM

“Northern Virginia is not the only area in the state that should have a delayed opening,” said John Liss, the co-executive director of New Virginia Authority in a Zoom press conference. “This is no consolation for uninsured or underinsured Virginians, for those who have to choose between taking care of their health, paying their rent or putting food on the table.”

Liss was joined by the Arlington NAACP, CASA, Care in Action, the Fairfax NAACP, the Loudoun NAACP, the Prince William County NAACP, the Richmond for All, the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, and the Virginia Student Power Network.

Alexandria Jail Inmates Can Now Make Zoom Calls Home

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated May 15, 2020 at 10:35AM

The William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (via City of Alexandria)

Inmates at the Alexandria Jail have also had to adapt to the coronavirus, and with visitation limited are now having weekly 10 minute-long Zoom meetings with family members.

There are 210 inmates in the jail (well below capacity at 338 inmates) and currently none are infected with COVID-19, according the Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Amy Bertsch. Inmates are required to move around common areas with face masks and observe social distancing.

Another COVID-19 Death as Cases Reach 1,349 in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2020 at 10:25AM

COVID-19 cases in Alexandria (ALXnow)

Another Alexandria resident has died of COVID-19, and there are now 1,349 cases, an increase of 44 cases since yesterday.

There are now 32 fatalities related to the virus, but the Virginia Department of Health did not update any of its demographic data for Alexandria and sex, age, racial and ethnic and ZIP code data yesterday. All that is known is that a woman and a man are the latest victims of the virus. One victim was in their 80s and another was in their 70s.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2020 at 9:00AM

Mayor Hosting Weekly Virtual Town Hall Tonight — “Thursday evening (May 14th) beginning at 8 PM, I will be hosting another virtual Living Room Town Hall Meeting. ‬‪We will discuss the City’s on-going response to the COVID-19 outbreak and address any questions you might have. ‬‪Please post questions and join us Thursday night!‬” [Facebook]

Volunteer Alexandria Needs Household Donations — “Can you donate some canned goods, diapers, or kitty litter? During COVID-19, there is a great need for a variety of goods — many of which you may have around the house or be able to pick up in your next shopping trip.” [Facebook]

ALIVE! Gave Out 98K Pounds of Food in April, Sets Date for Next Food Distribution

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2020 at 5:15PM

ALIVE! handed out four bags of food apiece at its drive-thru food distribution at Cora Kelly School and John Adams Elementary last Saturday morning. (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

ALIVE! gave out 90,000 pounds of food to hungry Alexandrians in the month of April, and will conduct it’s next mass food distribution on Saturday, May 30.

“That’s three times our monthly average,” ALIVE! Executive Director Jennifer Ayers told ALXnow.

Rental Support for Low-Income Communities Takes Spotlight in City Recovery Efforts

By Vernon Miles

Published May 13, 2020 at 3:30PM

Scenes at Southern Towers during a rent protest because of Covid-19 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The City of Alexandria is working through a three-pronged approach to protect the city’s most vulnerable populations from the dire economic impact of COVID-19.

In a City Council meeting last night (Tuesday), the department heads who approached the city leadership at the April with an outline of their needs came back with plans on how to address housing challenges, food scarcity and keeping small businesses alive in the wake of the pandemic.

City Manager: Police Officers Teleworked in Case of ‘Much Worse’ COVID-19 Situation

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated May 15, 2020 at 11:53AM

(Updated on May 15 at 10:45 a.m.) — Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks and Police Chief Michael Brown have declined to comment on this developing story, according to city spokesman Craig Fifer.

City Manager Mark Jinks on Tuesday said that Alexandria Police ended their “significant” monthlong teleworking initiative and that police were isolated and made available to respond to a “much worse situation” should the peak of cases not flatten.

Neighborhood Health Outlines Progress and Challenges in Arlandria COVID-19 Testing

By Vernon Miles

Published May 13, 2020 at 11:40AM

A young boy is tested for COVID-19 at a Neighborhood Health testing facility outside Casa Chirilagua in Arlandria (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Dr. Basim Khan and community health nonprofit Neighborhood Health have been on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in Arlandria, the neighborhood with the highest number of positive tests.

Khan spoke to the City Council yesterday (Tuesday) about the progress, and challenges, for testing and providing healthcare options for Arlandria residents.

BREAKING: Another COVID-19 Death in Alexandria As Cases Surpass 1,300 Mark

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated May 13, 2020 at 10:33AM

COVID-19 cases in Alexandria (ALXnow)

Another Alexandria resident has died of COVID-19, and there are now 1305 cases, an increase of 35 cases since yesterday.

There are now 31 fatalities related to the virus, but the Virginia Department of Health did not update any of its demographic data for Alexandria and sex, age, racial and ethnic and ZIP code data.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated May 13, 2020 at 9:37AM

Inova Hospital System Needs Blood Donations — “Starting this week, over 1,400 blood donors will be needed each week to make lifesaving donations. One blood donation can save up to three lives! Schedule your lifesaving donation with Inova Blood Donor Services online at www.inovabloodsaves.org or call 1-866-BLOODSAVES.” [Facebook]

Video: Alexandria Firefighters Thank Health Care Workers — “Station 203 members made a quick stop at Envoy of Alexandria today to thank healthcare workers.” [Facebook]

Del Ray’s David Posey Learned He Had COVID-19 After Recovering from the Virus

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2020 at 5:35PM | Updated May 13, 2020 at 12:48AM

During the worst part of his infection with the coronavirus, David Posey had a fever of about 102.8 degrees and hoped he wouldn’t die in his sleep.

The Del Ray resident has recovered from a COVID-19 infection, but only found out he was infected after the fact.