The Alexandria Health Department is now conducting virtual restaurant inspections for the first time, and the department’s environmental health manager estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic has closed half of the city’s 860 permitted food establishments.
“We’re touching base with all of our restaurants and focusing very much on employee health, obviously, with a COVID-19 focus,” Rachel Stradling said. “We’re doing that so that we can keep in touch and keep up with our infection work.”
Hermitage Northern Virginia Resident Tests Positive for COVID-19 — “Because of the precautions already in place, we are hopeful that the potential spread of the virus is limited, but we must continue to practice self-isolation, good hand washing, and the use of appropriate PPE. We are requesting additional PPE from the Virginia Healthcare Coalition and hope to receive those additional supplies in the next few days.” [Hermitage]
Northam Signs Bills Allowing for Removal of Confederate Monument — “Finally. July 1st marks the beginning of the end for Confederate statue at the intersection of Washington Street and Prince Street.” [Facebook]
The following Letter to the Editor was written by Jennifer Ayers, the executive director of ALIVE!
A few weeks ago, like many, I wondered if coronavirus was just another bad case of the flu. Would it just pass?
The Del Ray Citizen’s Association on Wednesday approved an allocation of $2,500 to ALIVE! and $2,500 to Casa Chirilagua.
More than 30 DRCA members participated in the monthly meeting on Wednesday night, which was held via Zoom.
ALIVE! gave out 30,716 pounds of food to more than 1,000 Alexandria households on Saturday, and now its shelves are nearly empty.
The 50-year-old nonprofit’s next distribution of food will not be until the end of May, although ALIVE! will continue providing food to local pantries between now and then, said Executive Director Jennifer Ayers.
Alexandria City Public Schools will distribute food on a modified schedule to families during spring break next week, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. announced on Thursday.
“We have been able to partner with the city, which I’m really excited about, to continue to have our grab-and-go meal distribution on next week,” Hutchings said in his daily video. “It will not be at all of our sites, though. It will only be at T.C. Williams next week.”
Alexandria City Public Schools have added three “grab and go” breakfast and lunch distribution locations for children over the age of two.
Food distribution at all the ACPS locations has also been limited to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to encourage social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic that has shuttered the school system for the remainder of the academic year.
Regional Program Awarding 11 Grants to Local Businesses — “The Governor is authorizing $87,619.00 of funding to the Alexandria/Arlington Regional Workforce Council, through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, for employers eligible to remain open during the COVID-19 emergency. Period of performance is from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020.” [Twitter]
Beyer to Host 5 p.m. COVID-19 Telephone Town Hall — “I’ll update you on my work to support the public health response and minimize the economic damage, hear from a local public health official, and take your questions.” [Twitter]
ALIVE! has bought and organized thousands of meals to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the next two upcoming Saturdays will give away a week’s worth of emergency subsistence food to families and individuals at two drive-by locations.
On the Saturdays of March 28 and April 4, families in their cars will be able to pick up four paper bags of free food at John Adams Elementary School and Cora Kelly School from 8:30 a.m. until noon — or until they run out.
[Updated at 12:10 p.m.] Alexandria City Public Schools on Monday will start providing two days worth of free breakfast and lunch meals for any enrolled ACPS student on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and noon. at five new distribution points.
“Meals consist of cold breakfast and lunch, including fresh fruits and vegetables, salads and sandwiches for multiple days per the student’s need,” ACPS spokeswoman Julie Allen told ALXnow.
ALIVE! has distributed most its regular food reserves, and now needs cash donations and volunteers to contend with COVID-19.
The Alexandria nonprofit provides food for 13 pantries around the city, and the coronavirus has many wondering how infected residents who are food insecure will get fed. ALIVE! is currently working with the city and buying food to support the city should deliveries need to be made to people under quarantine without food reserves at home.
