The Alexandria City Council on Saturday passed an ordinance requiring everyone in the city to wear a face mask in public.
The measure passed 5-2, and a $100 civil penalty for not wearing a mask was removed from the ordinance before passage after it was universally agreed at the meeting by council and city staff that it will not be enforceable. The city manager must now designate city staff to hand out masks and citations to lawbreakers.
Alexandria has seen an increase of 149 cases since this time last week, and the city’s seven-day positivity rate continues to be lowest in the region, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
There have been 62 deaths in the city due to the virus (unchanged since last week) and 3,527 cases of coronavirus in the city. There have also been 33,332 (polymerase chain reaction) tests administered in the city so far, 4,342 antibody tests and the city’s seven-day positivity rate is the lowest in the region at 4.3%.
The wellness-related businesses in Del Ray have banded together to form The Wellness District, and the annual week devoted to providing care to the community has expanded into the entire month of September.
All this month is Wellness Month in Del Ray, and the offerings include gong meditations, outdoor yoga and free mental health webinars.
As the city suffers the latest death by COVID-19, the seven-day positivity rate is now the lowest in the region at 4.5% of residents tested for the virus, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
On Friday, the city reported that an Alexandria resident in their 50s died from the virus, bringing the death toll to 62. There are now or have been 3,378 cases of coronavirus in the city.
There are or have been 3,270 cases of COVID-19 in Alexandria, an increase of 140 cases since this time last week.
There have been no new deaths since the last report of 61 fatalities. The victim was a man in his 50s, and the death went unreported for months, according to the city.
The Alexandria Health Department has issued a self-quarantine advisory for anyone who attended Kidane Mehret Church (75 S. Bragg Street) in the West End from August 14-17.
“Anyone who entered the building or was on the church grounds on August 14, 15, 16 or 17 may have been exposed to the virus and should immediately stay home and away from others for 14 days from their last visit to the church, and monitor for symptoms,” the city said in a news release. “Visitors to the church on those days should avoid having guests visit them, not share items like towels and plates, stay at least six feet away from others, and wear a mask when around people who have not had the same exposure.”
Alexandria Man Wins $100,000 in Virginia Lottery — “Darrar, who used to be a small business owner, bought the winning ticket at Global Food, 1476 North Beauregard Street in Alexandria for the July 28 drawing. He plans on saving his winnings.” [Patch]
COVID-19 Cases Increase by 16 — “Positive tests up 16 to 3,146 in the City 7-day Positivity Rate up to 5.8% 3 new hospitalizations Still safer at home, wash hands, wear masks and support our essential workers.” [Twitter]
There have been 61 deaths due to the coronavirus in Alexandria, and there are now or have been 3,130 cases, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The city surpassed the 3,000 case mark with last week, and the most recent fatality was reported on Friday, but occurred months ago, according to the city. The victim was a man in his 50s.
Since July 24, the city has responded to nine substance-related, non-fatal drug overdoses. While the incidents were unrelated, the City of Alexandria said in a press release its part of an alarming trend emerging.
“While each incident was unrelated, and no definite trend has emerged, City officials are concerned that individual and collective stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic may be linked to increased substance use,” the city said in a press release. “City officials urge residents to be aware of the medical risks associated with the use of opioids and illegal substances that could be extremely concentrated, or mixed with something unusual that could result in life-threatening situations.”
There are now or have been 3,014 cases of the coronavirus in Alexandria, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
The city surpassed the 3,000 case mark with 38 new cases in the last two days. Fatalities in the city remain at 60, and the most recent death was reported on August 4.
A case of coronavirus has canceled a summer camp at the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, and participants and parents have been asked to self-quarantine for two weeks and get tested.
J-Lynn Van Pelt recently received an email from administrators at the center advising parents that the therapeutic recreation summer camp, which was supposed to run from July 6 to August 14, would close on July 31. She then received a phone call from the Alexandria Health Department advising her on what to do.
