Health Department | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published April 7, 2021 at 5:00AM

Walking along the Potomac River at Founders Park in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Coronavirus vaccine eligibility expanded — Every Virginian 16 and older will be eligible for the #COVID19 vaccine by April 18–but several health districts have already expanded vaccinations to all adults or will be doing so in the coming days.” [Twitter]

Alexandria expanding vaccine phase 1C — “AHD follows the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) guidance that considers a frontline essential workers’ vaccine eligibility based upon their workplace location. This means that there are Alexandria residents working in essential frontline roles outside of the city limits of Alexandria who have yet to be vaccinated as a result of their employer jurisdiction’s supply availability. Therefore, before moving to Phase 2, AHD will offer vaccine appointments to all Alexandria residents who work in Phase 1 industries, regardless of their workplace location. If you are an essential frontline worker in Phase 1a, 1b, or 1c living in Alexandria and have not yet received a vaccine appointment, pre-register online or update your pre-registration record to ensure that the job category in your profile is correct.” [City of Alexandria]

News

COVID-19 update: Alexandria moves into vaccination phase 1C

By James Cullum

Published April 5, 2021 at 9:35AM

Ladrey resident received his second vaccine shot on Saturday, February 20, at a vaccination POD (point of dispensing) event at the high-rise’s community room. (Photo via ARHA)

Alexandria has moved into the vaccination Phase 1c, opening up eligibility for an expanded group of essential workers.

“At this time, AHD has enough vaccine supply to offer appointments to pre-registered individuals in Phase 1a, 1b, and 1c without further prioritization,” according to the Alexandria Health Department. “All residents who want to receive a vaccine are encouraged to visit alexandriava.gov/Vaccines to pre-register or update their records.”

News

A year in, COVID-19 cases increase slightly in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 22, 2021 at 9:45AM

Alexandria is looking back on a full year of the coronavirus, and hopes are high that the end of the pandemic is in sight.

“It has been an extraordinary year in our City,” Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson tweeted this morning. “The fact that we are here, with an end in sight, is a testament to the tireless commitment of thousands of volunteers, public servants, community organizations and brave healthcare workers.”

News

ACPS to open five days a week this fall as CDC school distancing guidelines reduced to 3 feet

By James Cullum

Published March 19, 2021 at 1:00PM

Students walk the halls of Alexandria City High School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Public Schools plan on opening for five-day instruction this fall, Superintendent gregory Hutchings, Jr. reported to the School Board on Thursday night.

Hutchings said that the transition back to in-person hybrid instruction on March 2, March 9 and March 16, has been “seamless,” and that the Board will receive a logistical update in April.

News

Local vaccination efforts accelerated with new vaccine supply, city preps for phase 1c

By Vernon Miles

Published March 17, 2021 at 1:15PM

The City of Alexandria has released more information on upcoming vaccination stages as the state begins to move forwards the phase 1c.

According to the City of Alexandria, Virginia could start to move toward Phase 1c in the next few weeks as vaccine supply starts to increase. The move towards 1c is complicated by the fact that there are still a several thousand Alexandrians in Phase 1b who haven’t been vaccinated, including teachers who are now expected to return to school and restaurant workers the city recently moved into Phase 1b.

News

Update: COVID-19 deaths at 128 in Alexandria, nearly 17,000 residents fully vaccinated

By James Cullum

Published March 15, 2021 at 10:45AM

Two more Alexandrians have died of COVID-19 and the death toll from the virus now stands at 128.

The latest fatalities were in their 80s and 60s.

News

Seven More COVID-19 Deaths, City Wants 80% Over Age of 16 Vaccinated by July 31

By James Cullum

Published March 8, 2021 at 10:30AM

There have been seven more coronavirus-related deaths in Alexandria, bringing the death toll from the virus to 126.

Alexandria’s caseload now stands at 10,456. That’s 114 more cases since this time last week, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

News

12 More COVID-19 Deaths in Alexandria, White Residents Getting More Vaccines

By James Cullum

Published March 1, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated March 1, 2021 at 12:23PM

There have been 12 more coronavirus-related deaths in Alexandria, bringing the death toll from the virus to 119.

Six of the deaths were residents in their 80s, four were in their 70s and two were in their 60s. Five victims were women and seven were men.

News

Three More COVID-19 Deaths in Alexandria as Infections Keep Going Down

By James Cullum

Published February 22, 2021 at 10:15AM | Updated February 22, 2021 at 5:13PM

There have been three more coronavirus-related deaths in Alexandria, and the case count has reached 10,186, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

That’s 149 cases since Monday, continuing a downward trend in cases. Two of the deaths were in their 80s and one was in their 60s. One victim was a woman and two were men.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published February 19, 2021 at 9:00AM

Sledding on the lawn of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Old Town, Feb. 18, 2021. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Beyer Wants Federal Employees to Get Vaccine — “Our region has the largest concentration of federal employees. Many qualify as essential workers with local jurisdictions responsible for vaccinations. We’re asking the federal government to vaccinate feds via a separate federalized allocation to speed up vaccinations in the DMV.” [Twitter]

Alexandria Vaccinates 20,000 Residents — “On a hopeful note, Alexandria also hit the milestone this week of more than 20,000 residents vaccinated. AHD and private providers continue to vaccinate and work to schedule the tens of thousands of residents who pre-registered for vaccines.” [City of Alexandria]

News

Alexandria Health Director: ‘We Have a Long Way to Go’

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2021 at 11:45AM

Even as more age groups get inoculated against the coronavirus, Alexandria’s Health Department director told City Council on Tuesday that the pandemic is far from over.

For one thing, it’s estimated that variant strains of the virus with up to 45% greater transmissibility will be the primary type of the COVID-19 virus by March.