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
Two more Alexandria residents have died from COVID-19, and the city just surpassed 40,000 reported cases, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The death toll from the pandemic now stands at 198, and the number of cases is 40,081. The seven-day average of daily cases is now 55.6, a slight uptick over last week.
The news comes on the heels of new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which no longer recommends quarantining for people exposed to the virus, as long as they aren’t symptomatic.
The city has had a Medium community level since April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Alexandria Health Department’s last update was on June 21, to announce the availability of vaccine shots for kids older than six months of age. The city’s state of emergency expired on June 30.
There have been 823 new Covid cases reported in Alexandria so far this month.
- 30 new cases on August 15
- 46 new cases on August 14
- 53 new cases on August 13
- 68 new cases on August 12
- 61 new cases on August 11
- 67 new cases on August 10
- 64 new cases on August 9
- 31 new cases on August 8
- 32 new cases on August 7
- 48 new cases on August 6
- 68 new cases on August 5
- 65 new cases on August 4
- 69 new cases on August 3
- 66 new cases on August 2
- 55 new cases on August 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
Vaccine Update
- There are 24,138 unvaccinated Alexandria residents
- About 77% of residents (121,068 people) are fully vaccinated
- 85% (133,556 people) of residents got at least one dose
- 61,950 residents got their first booster shot
- 11,827 residents got their second booster shot
The new CDC guidance is below.
- Children and adults with mild, symptomatic COVID-19: Isolation can end at least 5 days after symptom onset and after fever ends for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving, if these people can continue to properly wear a well-fitted mask around others for 5 more days after the 5-day isolation period. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.
- People who are infected but asymptomatic (never develop symptoms): Isolation can end at least 5 days after the first positive test (with day 0 being the date their specimen was collected for the positive test), if these people can continue to wear a properly well-fitted mask around others for 5 more days after the 5-day isolation period. However, if symptoms develop after a positive test, their 5-day isolation period should start over (day 0 changes to the first day of symptoms).
- People who have moderate COVID-19 illness: Isolate for 10 days.
- People who are severely ill (i.e., requiring hospitalization, intensive care, or ventilation support): Extending the duration of isolation and precautions to at least 10 days and up to 20 days after symptom onset, and after fever ends (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving, may be warranted.
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised might have a longer infectious period: Extend isolation to 20 or more days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or a positive viral test). Use a test-based strategy and consult with an infectious disease specialist to determine the appropriate duration of isolation and precautions.
- Recovered patients: Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to have detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in upper respiratory specimens for up to 3 months after illness onset. However, replication-competent virus has not been reliably recovered from such patients, and they are not likely infectious.
While August may traditionally be a bit of a local news drought, several aquatic stories made a splash this week.
A major thunderstorm hit on Wednesday, but power outages across the city were generally much briefer than in the wake of other storms.
NOVA Parks also included Cameron Run Regional Park in a look at planning for its sites over the next few years.
On the crime front, there were several car-related incidents this week including a man who was arrested after driving down the wrong side of the road toward police.
- Man charged after allegedly driving on wrong side of road toward Alexandria Police
- Dominion: Thousands without power as city is hit by storm
- Multiple charges after felon crashes into Metro Bus in Braddock area
- Man charged after allegedly falling asleep in running car on wrong side of Yale Drive in Taylor Run
- Here’s the latest on Covid in Alexandria
- Free haircuts and school supplies for kids in Alexandria on Sunday
- NOVA Parks says new plans coming for Cameron Run Regional Park in the next few years
- JUST IN: Severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings issued for Arlington
- Alexandria waste facility complete pollution reduction overhaul
- Senior care facility Woodbine pitches new expansion plans
With summer heat in full swing, Covid cases are trending downward in Alexandria.
As of Monday (August 8), there are 39,692 reported cases, according to the Virginia Department of Health. There have been 196 deaths.
The seven-day average of new cases is now 54.1. At around the same period in July, the seven-day average of new cases was 70.9 — exactly the seven-day average on June 20.
The city currently has a Medium community level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been 434 new cases reported so far this month. 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
The Alexandria Health Department’s last update was on June 21, to announce the availability of vaccine shots for kids older than six months of age. The city’s two-and-a-half-year-long state of emergency expired on June 30.
Vaccine Update
- There are 24,138 unvaccinated Alexandria residents
- About 77% of residents (120,881 people) are fully vaccinated
- 85% (133,313 people) of residents got at least one dose
- 61,950 residents got their first booster shot
- 11,827 residents got their second booster shot
This month, VDH reported the following new cases in Alexandria:
- 31 new cases on August 8
- 32 new cases on August 7
- 48 new cases on August 6
- 68 new cases on August 5
- 65 new cases on August 4
- 69 new cases on August 3
- 66 new cases on August 2
- 55 new cases on August 1
