Updated at 5:45 p.m. — There is a slight surge of Covid cases in Alexandria, however a notification that a Halloween-themed event at a city recreation center this weekend was unfounded, according to the City.
On Tuesday, an Evite was sent to reporters announcing a Halloween festival at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Community Center, but on Wednesday another email was sent announcing that the event was canceled.
“In the wake of the latest surge in Covid-19 cases and the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders we are having right now we figure it is best to cancel the Chick Armstrong Rec. Center’s Halloween Fest,” the email said. “We are sorry to miss the fun but it is best to stay home and stay safe. So we hope to host next year once the vaccine is out and it is safer to gather again. We are sorry to have to cancel but health comes first. Stay healthy everyone and remember to mask up.”
Diane Ruggiero, the city’s deputy director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities, told ALXnow that the city does not send evites, and that the message was sent from someone outside the city.
“Halloween Fest at Chick Armstrong Rec Center is scheduled for Saturday, October 14 from noon – 3 p.m.,” she said. “This free friendly spooky event will feature food, vendors, games, music, and a costume contest for the entire family. The event has not been cancelled due to Covid.”
Covid update
The Covid-19 pandemic was officially over in May, although the numbers of infected residents are climbing.
There were 614 new cases reported in the last 13 weeks, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The seven-day average for new cases is 15.86, far from the 36.86 seven-day average this time last year. The worst day of 2023 was on Jan. 5, when there were 59 new cases and the seven-day average was 41.57.
According to VDH:
- There were 98 reported cases between Aug. 29 and Sept. 4
- There were 92 reported cases between Sept. 5 to Sept. 11
- There were 62 cases of children ages 0-9 who contracted the virus in the last 13 weeks
- There were 18 new cases of children and young adults ages 10-19 who contracted the virus in the last 13 weeks
- There were 18 deaths reported over the course of the last year, no deaths in the last six months and a total of 126 Covid-related deaths in Alexandria
There are also a number of Halloween-related events scheduled at recreation centers throughout the city next month, including:
- Boo Fest at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Friday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ($5 per person)
- Family October Fest 2023 at Patrick Henry Recreation Center, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ($15 per person)
- Family Masquerade Ball at Patrick Henry Recreation Center, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. ($9 per person)
- HalloTeen Night at William Ramsay Recreation Center, Oct. 27, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (Free)
- Family Costume Ball at William Ramsay Recreation Center, Saturday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. (Free)
The Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency visited Southern Towers in the West End this week, signalling to housing advocates that years of protests against rent hikes and evictions are finally paying off.
On Wednesday, FHFA Director Sandra Thompson toured the 2,261-unit Southern Towers complex at 4901 Seminary Road. The tour was hosted by the People’s Actions Homes Guarantee campaign and African Communities Together (ACT), and the groups say that affordable housing residents are at the mercy of a major private equity landlord that only cares about profit. The groups say that since buying the property at the height of the pandemic in 2020, California-based owner CIM Group has evicted more than 250 residents, and that many of them endured uninhabitable conditions and rent increases.
“What we’re seeing at Southern Towers is what happens when we allow corporations to commodify the human right to housing and put profit over lives,” said Sosseh Prom, Housing Program Director, African Communities Together. “Immigrant families and blue collar workers deserve to be safely housed, and we cannot afford to sit back and watch their displacement.”
CIM Group, however, says that only 31 residents have been evicted due to non-payment, and that 158 eviction notices were filed with the District Court in Alexandria.
“Southern Towers Management has, and will continue, to support individual residents of the community and work cooperatively with all stakeholders including the Federal Housing Finance Agency,” CIM said in a statement. “Southern Towers Management has never violated the CARES Act and despite continued malicious attempts to paint Southern Towers Management as a faceless Wall Street investor, management will not be deterred from their commitment to the community they serve, their legal obligation and the fiduciary duty the company has to investors who have helped improve the living conditions at Southern Towers from what existed prior to CIM Group’s ownership.”
Thompson’s tour was not open to press, and FHFA had no further comment beyond last month’s request for input (RFI) to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to study easing multifamily tenant protections on properties they finance. One of those properties is Southern Towers, which CIM Group bought with a $346.7 million government-backed loan through Freddie Mac.
“The Enterprises have a responsibility to not only ensure liquidity is available for affordable rental housing, but also to address challenges faced by tenants and property owners in the multifamily housing market,” Thompson said in a statement last month. “FHFA is seeking public input to help identify these challenges nationwide, particularly in underserved communities.”
Thompson’s tour was made six months after ACT filed a complaint with FHFA and Freddie Mac. In that complaint, ACT said CIM Group is “using the federal funds received from Freddie Mac to finance predatory behavior in an affordable community.”
In Alexandria, CIM Group owns Mason at Van Dorn, a 1,180-unit residential community, and Park Place at Van Dorn, a 285-unit residential community. CIM also converted the former Crowne Plaza Hotel Alexandria at 901 N. Fairfax into the upscale Venue apartment complex.
Southern Towers resident Haram Elsheikh said that residents should not be forced to fight a landlord for habitable living conditions.
“Imagine finding out that your kid has developed asthma because of the unresolved mold in your AC unit,” Elsheikh said. “As blue-collar workers, we are already working hard to make ends meet with the rising cost of living.”
A video of the years-long residential protest is below.
The biggest single-day fundraiser for Alexandria nonprofits is around the corner, and early giving starts today.
ACT for Alexandria’s annual Spring2ACTion fundraiser is on April 26, and this year’s goal is to raise $2.5 million from 10,000 donors.
“I know our community will once again rise to the challenge to make sure all of our neighbors thrive,” said Heather Peeler, president and CEO of ACT for Alexandria (ACT). “Spring2ACTion is an opportunity for all Alexandrians to come together and support the nonprofits that are essential to our city.”
Nearly $19 million has been raised since the fundraiser was launched 13 years ago. There are 185 nonprofits participating this year, an increase of 13 organizations.
“We anticipate another incredible year where generous Alexandrians will come together and support the organizations that serve our community in the best of times and during challenging times,” Peeler said.
A number of nonprofits and residents are still struggling to recover from the pandemic, according to ACT for Alexandria.
Donors can also give to the Alexandria Resilience Fund, which helps families facing financial difficulties from the pandemic. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 467 households that have received a writ of eviction — a 372% increase compared to 2022.
“Now that eviction moratoriums and state rent relief programs have ended, low-income families have few options for managing the region’s high cost of living,” ACT for Alexandria said in a release.
Last year, ACT for Alexandria raised $2.65 million from 7,700 donors for 172 nonprofits. The top recipients last year were RunningBrooke, which took in $157,000 from 197 donors, Casa Chirilagua with $114,000 from 313 donors and Friends of Guest House with $112,000 from 180 donors.
Alexandria’s Giving Day is two weeks away, but you don’t have to wait to give. Early giving starts today! Learn about the 185 local nonprofits you can help support. #Spring2ACTion https://t.co/r186zLhy0d
— ACT for Alexandria (@ACTforAlex) April 12, 2023
Alexandria’s Covid community-level has gone from “low” to “high” this month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Low, medium or high Covid community levels are determined by data on hospitalizations and cases, according to the CDC. Each level comes with steps recommended by the federal agency that people and communities can take to protect themselves and others from potentially severe impacts of the virus.
The city is still experiencing hundreds of new Covid cases monthly, but the numbers are trending down, according to data from the Virginia Dept. of Health. The seven-day average of new cases is now 37.1, down slightly from 39.1 reported at the end of December. There have been 628 new cases reported so far in January.
No new deaths have been reported, and the death toll stands at 224.
Regionally, Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun counties, as well as D.C., have moved from low to medium designations, per the CDC.
When community levels are “high,” the CDC recommends the following:
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator
- If you are at high risk of getting very sick, consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed
- If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them
- Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including recommended booster doses
- Maintain ventilation improvements
- Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19
- Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19
- Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19
Where to find Covid tests
Residents can get rapid COVID-19 test kits at the city’s libraries, and kits are limited to seven per-person. Covid tests can also be found for kids within Alexandria City Public Schools. A list of testing options is available on the city’s website.
2022 was the worst year for new cases
The redesignation comes after a difficult year for new Covid cases.
There were 28,743 new Covid cases reported last year in Alexandria, comprising 64% of the 44,826 total cases since the pandemic began in March 2020, according to the Virginia Department of Health. There were also 49 deaths in 2022.
This time last year, Alexandria was experiencing the worst month of the pandemic. There were 12,822 new Covid cases reported in January 2022, and the seven-day average of new cases peaked at 337.
In many ways, Alexandria went back to business as usual, with community events returning in full force — despite the number of new cases. In November, tens of thousands of people attended Art On The Avenue in Del Ray, as well as last month’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town.
The Alexandria Health Department’s last Covid-related release to the public was in June 2022, announcing vaccines for infants.
Below are the monthly totals of new cases for 2022.
- January — 12,822 new cases
- February — 1,227 new cases
- March — 593 new cases
- April — 1,488 new cases
- May — 2,900 new cases
- June — 2,357 new cases
- July — 2,396 new cases
- August — 1,499 new cases
- September — 991 new cases
- October — 526 new cases
- November — 626 new cases
- December — 1,318 new cases
Three more Alexandria residents have died of COVID-19 over the last two weeks, while an uptick in cases has slightly dipped.
There were 32 new cases reported on Dec. 28 (Wednesday) in Alexandria, and the Virginia Department of Health has not updated its figures over the last two days.
The number of reported cases now stands at 44,038, and the seven-day average of new cases is 39, down from 42.7 two weeks ago.
Alexandria’s Community Levels remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nine residents have died from Covid in the last 13 weeks. Six of the residents were in their 80s, and the other residents were in their 70s, 50s and 40s. No children or teens in Alexandria have died from the virus.
There have been 1,168 new cases reported so far in December.
- 32 new cases on Dec. 28
- 29 new cases on Dec. 27
- 17 new cases on Dec. 26
- 36 new cases on Dec. 25
- 44 new cases on Dec. 24
- 63 new cases on Dec. 23
- 52 new cases on Dec. 22
- 80 new cases on Dec. 21
- 28 new cases on Dec. 20
- 21 new cases on Dec. 19
- 44 new cases on Dec. 18
- 63 new cases on Dec. 17
- 51 new cases on Dec. 16
- 49 new cases on Dec. 15
- 69 new cases on Dec. 14
- 65 new cases on Dec. 13
- 19 new cases on Dec. 12
- 34 new cases on Dec. 11
- 53 new cases on Dec. 10
- 43 new cases on Dec. 9
- 46 new cases on Dec. 8
- 54 new cases on Dec. 7
- 30 new cases on Dec. 6
- 13 new cases on Dec. 5
- 29 new cases on Dec. 4
- 18 new cases on Dec. 3
- 47 new cases on Dec. 2
- 39 new cases on Dec. 1
Below are the monthly totals for the rest of 2022.
- January — 12,822 new cases
- February — 1,227 new cases
- March — 593 new cases
- April — 1,488 new cases
- May — 2,900 new cases
- June — 2,357 new cases
- July — 2,396 new cases
- August — 1,499 new cases
- September — 991 new cases
- October — 526 new cases
- November — 626 new cases
Where to find Covid tests
Residents can get rapid COVID-19 test kits at the city’s libraries, and kits are limited to seven per-person. Covid tests can also be found for kids within Alexandria City Public Schools and a full list of testing options is available on the city’s website.
Covid cases are on the rise as Alexandria heads into the December holidays.
There were 69 reported cases today (Wednesday) in Alexandria, the largest amount of new cases in a single day in more than four months. The number of reported cases now stands at 43,429, and the seven-day average of new cases is 42.7.
The last time the city saw as many cases reported in one day was on August 8.
Cases are also on the rise in Fairfax County, Arlington and Loudoun County, although Community Levels remain low in all of the jurisdictions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seven Alexandria residents died from Covid in the last 13 weeks and the death toll has risen to 216, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Except for one person in their 40s, all of the residents who died were in their 80s.
No children or teens in Alexandria have died from the virus.
There have been 559 new cases reported so far in December.
- 69 new cases on Dec. 14
- 65 new cases on Dec. 13
- 19 new cases on Dec. 12
- 34 new cases on Dec. 11
- 53 new cases on Dec. 10
- 43 new cases on Dec. 9
- 46 new cases on Dec. 8
- 54 new cases on Dec. 7
- 30 new cases on Dec. 6
- 13 new cases on Dec. 5
- 29 new cases on Dec. 4
- 18 new cases on Dec. 3
- 47 new cases on Dec. 2
- 39 new cases on Dec. 1
Below are the monthly totals for the rest of 2022.
- January — 12,822 new cases
- February — 1,227 new cases
- March — 593 new cases
- April — 1,488 new cases
- May — 2,900 new cases
- June — 2,357 new cases
- July — 2,396 new cases
- August — 1,499 new cases
- September — 991 new cases
- October — 526 new cases
- November — 626 new cases
Where to find Covid tests
Residents can get rapid COVID-19 test kits at the city’s libraries, and kits are limited to seven per-person. Covid tests can also be found for kids within Alexandria City Public Schools and a full list of testing options is available on the city’s website.
With the holiday season approaching, a prerequisite for some family gatherings could be a negative Covid test. With Curative shutting down its testing kiosks throughout the region that might get slightly harder, but there are other resources.
The kiosks have provided around 195,000 Covid tests, the City of Alexandria said in a release, but demand for kiosk testing has dropped off dramatically since 2021.
“As of December 26, 2022, the private company Curative has chosen to close its Alexandria COVID-19 testing kiosks city-wide,” the City of Alexandria said. “Curative is closing all testing sites throughout the region before the end of the year.”
The postal service had previously offered free rapid home antigen tests, but those were suspended in September.
Several medical facilities offer testing, but require seeing a doctor for testing and can cost between $50 up to $300.
The most affordable way to get testing kits in Alexandria is from the library. Alexandria libraries carry rapid COVID-19 test kits available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limit of seven kits per person, and the city advised locals to call the library branch to check availability.
Those phone numbers and addresses are:
- Beatley Central Library (5005 Duke Street): 703-746-1702
Barrett Branch Library (717 Queen Street): 703-746-1703
Burke Branch Library (4701 Seminary Road): 703-746-1704
Duncan Branch Library (2501 Commonwealth Avenue): 703-746-1705
Scheduled Covid tests are also available for public school students and staff through Alexandria City Public Schools.
A full list of testing options is available on the city’s website.
Black, indigenous and people of color-owned small businesses are about to get a small boost in Alexandria.
The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership just awarded $535,000 in grant funding for businesses, and to create two new groups — the Social Responsibility Group and the Alexandria Minority Business Association.
The funds were awarded to:
“We look forward to growing the energy in Old Town and Del Ray, increased prominence and participation for Eisenhower, Old Town North, and West End, and to better serving our minority businesses with the help of the Social Responsibility Group and the Alexandria Minority Business Association.” said Senay Gebremedhin, AEDP’s economic recovery manager.
Additionally, on Tuesday night (October 25), the Alexandria City Council unanimously approved releasing $500,000 in reserve funding for a new BIPOC incubator program.
The program will start in December, and award $5,000-to-$7,000 grants to businesses by this spring.
The legislation creating the program was brought forward by City Council Member Alyia Gaskins.
“This is a great start, but we’re going to need continued investment in these programs and in our businesses,” Gaskins told her colleagues on Council.
Gaskins and City staff agreed with the findings of a 2021 regional report, which shows that Northern Virginia’s 128,000 BIPOC businesses were severely impacted by the pandemic.
The Supporting Northern Virginia’s Minority-owned Businesses report said that minority-owned businesses experienced more devastation from the pandemic due to being “small in size, concentrating in high-risk industries, and experiencing difficulty securing capital.”
Businesses are eligible for the program if they:
- Demonstrate they meet defined criteria around BIPOC- ownership
- Are licensed to conduct business in the city
- Are in good standing with City Hall with taxes and regulations
Nine Alexandria residents died of COVID-19 over the last month, bringing the death toll from the virus to 210.
The number of cases is still declining, and the city’s Community Level remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The seven-day average of new cases is now 10.7 — down from the mid-30s at around this time last month.
There have been 385 cases reported so far in October, and as of Monday (October 24), there have been 42,133 total reported cases since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The new fatalities include six Alexandrians in their 80s, one in their 70s, two in their 60s and one in their 50s.
There were 991 new cases in September, making last month the second-lowest month for new infections in 2022.
- January — 12,822 new cases
- February — 1,227 new cases
- March — 593 new cases
- April — 1,488 new cases
- May — 2,900 new cases
- June — 2,357 new cases
- July — 2,396 new cases
- August — 1,499 new cases
- September — 991 new cases
Below are numbers of new cases this month:
- 26 new cases on October 24
- 11 new cases on October 23
- 9 new cases on October 22
- 13 new cases on October 21
- 8 new cases on October 20
- -1 new cases on October 19
- 9 new cases on October 18
- 36 new cases on October 17
- 22 new cases on October 16
- 23 new cases on October 15
- 16 new cases on October 14
- 7 new cases on October 13
- 24 new cases on October 12
- 4 new cases on October 11
- 14 new cases on October 10
- 19 new cases on October 9
- 16 new cases on October 8
- 19 new cases on October 7
- 19 new cases on October 6
- 16 new cases on October 5
- 19 new cases on October 4
- 14 new cases on October 3
- 22 new cases on October 2
- 20 new cases on October 1
Vaccine Update
- There are 22,515 unvaccinated Alexandria residents
- About 86% of residents (134,936 people) are fully vaccinated
- 61,950 residents got their first booster shot
- 11,827 residents got their second booster shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has returned Alexandria’s community level from “Medium” to “Low.”
The city had a Medium community level since April, and the city now joins its regional counterparts in Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington Counties with the Low designation.
Cases are still cropping up, but at a much lower rate than previous months. As of Monday (September 12), there are 41,200 reported cases and 201 deaths, which is an increase of three deaths since this time last month.
The seven-day average of new cases is 36.9 — down from 55.6 at around this time last month.
There have been 443 cases reported so far in September.
Below are new cases this month.
- 32 new cases on September 12
- 34 new cases on September 11
- 53 new cases on September 10
- 66 new cases on September 9
- 3 new cases on September 8
- 39 new cases on September 7
- 31 new cases on September 6
- 31 new cases on September 5
- 26 new cases on September 4
- 49 new cases on September 3
- 47 new cases on September 2
- 32 new cases on September 1
Below are monthly totals for 2022.
- January — 12,822 new cases
- February — 1,227 new cases
- March — 593 new cases
- April — 1,488 new cases
- May — 2,900 new cases
- June — 2,357 new cases
- July — 2,396 new cases
- August — 1,499 new cases
Vaccine Update
- There are 23,365 unvaccinated Alexandria residents
- About 78% of residents (121,950 people) are fully vaccinated
- 85% (134,086 people) of residents got at least one dose
- 61,950 residents got their first booster shot
- 11,827 residents got their second booster shot
