vaccine | ALXnow

Published September 17, 2021 at 9:30AM

Students return to George Washington Middle School, August 24, 2021 (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

In a community update yesterday (Thursday), ACPS staff said they’re starting to make progress on plans to vaccinate students in-school.

Currently vaccination is only available for children ages 12 and above. Julie Crawford, chief of Student Services and Equity, said at a meeting yesterday that the teenager category has been one of the most thoroughly vaccinated age groups in the city. Crawford said ACPS is getting ready to offer in-school vaccination as a prelude for when vaccination is allowed for the younger age group.

News

School Board says vaccination will be required for staff

By Vernon Miles

Published September 13, 2021 at 11:00AM

News of over a dozen school deaths from COVID in Miami has led ACPS to reconsider it’s earlier position of allowing staff to decide whether to be vaccinated or not.

At a School Board meeting last week, the board voted to make it clear that in the coming weeks a plan will be put together on requiring all staff to be vaccinated — unless that falls into the broad category of claiming a medical or religious exemption.

News

COVID-19 Update: Alexandria ties with Arlington for lowest seven-day positivity rate in Virginia

By James Cullum

Published September 7, 2021 at 3:30PM

Alexandria’s seven-day average of positive COVID-19 tests is now the lowest in Virginia.

The percentage was 3.1%, as of Tuesday, September 7, even though the city is experiencing a high level of transmission for the third straight week, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

News

Alexandria sees huge spike in COVID-19 cases in August, another death

By James Cullum

Published August 24, 2021 at 3:30PM

There has been a 155% increase in the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Alexandria this month versus July, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

As of August 24, there have been 521 new cases reported this month, a sharp uptick from the 204 new cases reported in July, which was a 343% increase over the 43 new cases in June. There has also been another death — the first since July 13 — and the death toll from the virus now stands at 142.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated August 20, 2021 at 11:17PM

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne in the alley behind his house after flooding in Del Ray. (Courtesy photo)

What a week in Alexandria.

Public uproar over Sunday’s flooding spilled out throughout this week, which continued to be threatened by near-daily flash flood advisories from the National Weather Service.

News

Mayor Wilson talks flooding, vaccine requirements, and Arlington gondola with WAMU

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2021 at 2:25PM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson gestures while delivering remarks at TC Williams High School (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Today on WAMU’s The Politics Hour, Mayor Justin Wilson laid out plans for flood infrastructure work, predicted a decision this fall over whether recreation centers will require proof of vaccination, and tacitly endorsed the Arlington-Georgetown gondola.

The discussion of the mayor took up the back half of the hour-long program hosted by Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood. As fitting the program’s name, the show started with a question of politics and whether Mayor Justin Wilson is planning to debate Republican candidate Annetta Catchings.

News

ACPS announces vaccination requirement for staff, but some aspects still uncertain

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2021 at 10:55AM

Last night (Thursday), just four days before the school year is scheduled to start, the Alexandria School Board voted to require staff to either be vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests.

The School Board unanimously voted approval of the vaccination and testing requirements, but with significant changes throughout the meeting over when staff would be required to submit their proof of vaccination.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated August 20, 2021 at 1:14PM

Booster shot preparations for adults made in Alexandria — “After a White House announcement that a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine could be available to adults as soon as Sept. 20, the City of Alexandria is preparing to administer the additional doses.” [Patch]

Efforts underway to educate public as city adjusts to marijuana legalization — “In order to spread awareness about the details of the bill and quell community concerns, the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria worked with the governor’s office to release a “Top 10″ list for youth and adults that concretely explains the new measure’s rules and regulations.” [Alextimes]

News

With high transmission levels, Alexandria says third COVID vaccine dose is available for severely immunocompromised residents

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2021 at 10:45AM

Alexandria’s COVID transmission levels have been upped from “substantial” to “high”, and the city’s Health Department is recommending that severely immunocompromised residents get a third vaccine shot.

Alexandria now has 12,490 cases of COVID-19 reported since the first case in March 2020. That’s an increase of 40 reported cases since Monday.

News

Alexandria prepping COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees

By James Cullum

Published August 16, 2021 at 3:30PM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson (center) and City Manager Mark Jinks at the annual APD wreath laying ceremony for fallen officers, May 10, 2021. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

A vaccine mandate for Alexandria government employees will be ready for implementation by this fall, according to Mayor Justin Wilson.

“The policy is being finalized in place right now and should be in place in the September/October timeframe,” Wilson told ALXnow. “This will likely not come before Council as this is in the City Manager’s purview. Although he is of course keeping us up to date.”

News

Alexandria School Board to discuss mandatory vaccinations for staffers this week

By James Cullum

Published August 16, 2021 at 1:00PM | Updated August 16, 2021 at 2:49PM

The School Board will determine this week whether to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for all Alexandria City Public Schools staffers.

COVID-19 numbers are on the rise in Alexandria, and unvaccinated people make up a majority of new cases, according to the Virginia Department of Health.