coronavirus | ALXnow

Southern Towers Extends Rent Payment, Strikers Still Hoping for Rent Freeze

Published May 6, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 3:48PM

A pair of strikes filled the streets outside Southern Towers late last month and on May 1, but despite some extended support for renters out of the job due to COVID-19, those who helped stage the earlier protests said the fight to stop rent from being charged to those without a job will continue to go on.

“Bell Partners has extended its previously-announced measures to help residents financially impacted by COVID-19 into May,” a spokesman for Bell Partners, which operates Southern Towers, said. “The due date for May rent has been pushed back to May 20 and late fees have been waived.”

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Alexandria Businesses Brace for a Cautious Reopening Next Week

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 2:15PM

After Gov. Ralph Northam’s announcement that restrictions could start easing up on Virginia businesses next week, some Old Town businesses are already preparing for steps on how to cautiously reopen.

A representative of the Old Town Boutique District said in an email that various businesses that had previously been closed are taking steps to reopen while still offering some degree of social distancing.

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Pacers Partners with Potomac Running to Provide Shoes During Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 2:10PM

Running store Pacers, which has a flagship store in Alexandria, announced today (Wednesday) that it is partnering with the Potomac River Running Store and Switzerland based ON Shoes to donate 5,000 shoes to frontline workers and regional organizations impacted by the pandemic.

Pacers and Potomac River Running Store will be in charge of identifying and distributing the stores to individuals or groups impacted by the pandemic. Each store will receive 2,500 shoes of various sizes and types.

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ACPS Opens Two Food Distribution Pop-Ups, Asks for Shutdown Feedback

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2020 at 10:30AM

Alexandria City Public Schools has added two more mobile pop-up breakfast and lunch distribution locations for “grab and go” meals for children over the age of two.

The new locations are The Fields of Alexandria at 4309 Duke Street and Bennington Crossing Apartment Homes at 441 North Armistead Street.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2020 at 9:00AM

‘Le Refuge’ Restaurant Founder Passes Away — “Jean-Francois Chaufour was born in born in Tavers, France June 7, 1952. He and his wife, Francoise, both hailed from the Loive Valley area and came to the United States together in 1976 and started working as servers in the metropolitan area. After many years of hard work and saving, they pursued the American dream of opening their own establishment.” [Zebra]

Beyer Provides COVID-19 Updates — “I’ve compiled a series of summaries of financial assistance (direct payments, unemployment, paid leave, & more), plus housing, food, and small business resources.” [Twitter]

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Inova Alexandria Hospital Resumes Elective Procedures, Visitation Still Minimal

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated May 5, 2020 at 6:07PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova Alexandria Hospital resumed elective surgeries and other elective procedures on Friday, and hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal says that the number of patients in the intensive care unit is going down.

Visitation is still restricted at the hospital, although patients are allowed into the facility with a companion.

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Poll: Should Virginia Start Reopening the Economy Next Week?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 5, 2020 at 11:30AM

Gov. Ralph Northam announced yesterday that he expects to start reopening businesses in Virginia by next Friday, May 15.

Northam said the eased restrictions would still include changes, like restaurants reopening for dine-in but seating patrons further apart and limiting occupancy.

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There Are Now 983 Cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria, No New Deaths for Third Straight Day

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2020 at 10:15AM

There are now 983 probable and positive cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria, an increase of 43 cases since yesterday. No new deaths have been reported for the third straight day, and fatalities from the virus remain at 26.

The latest fatalities in the city due to the virus were reported on Saturday, and were a man his his 50s and a man in his 70s, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2020 at 9:00AM

ACPS Nurses Helping Out Health Department — “When Megan Costanza, a nurse at the T.C. Williams High School Clinic got the call to say her skills were needed by the Alexandria Health Department’s Coronavirus task force, she didn’t hesitate.” [ACPS]

Carpenter’s Shelter Raising Funds for Giving Tuesday — “#GivingTuesdayNow and Do More 24 have synched efforts to help organizations like Carpenter’s Shelter raise money during this unprecedented time. Advanced giving is open, so please support Carpenter’s Shelter by donating!” [Facebook]

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Local Indoor Play Facility Pivots to Online Story Time During Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published May 4, 2020 at 4:40PM

Local indoor play facility Scramble may be closed, but the facility is offering story time every Tuesday and Thursday to help families quarantined as home get through the pandemic together.

The books are live-read at 11 a.m. and include small craft activities that participants can do at home.

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BREAKING: COVID-19 Cases Reach 940, No New Deaths

By James Cullum

Published May 4, 2020 at 10:15AM

There are now 940 probable and positive cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria, an increase of 41 cases since yesterday.

While no new deaths have been announced, there have been COVID-19-related 26 deaths in Alexandria, the most recent of which were reported on Saturday and were a man his his 50s and a man in his 70s, according to the Virginia Department of Health.