Gov. Ralph Northam announced during his press conference today that Northern Virginia localities may take a slower approach to easing COVID-19 restrictions as the state prepares for its first phase of reopening.
“Different regions face different challenges,” Northam said, calling his phased Forward Virginia guidelines a “floor but not a ceiling.” The first phase is set to start this Friday (May 15).
Northam noted that no region can roll back restrictions faster than the guidelines previously outlined and that he does not want restrictions to be “piece meal across towns and counties.”
“We’re open to some regions moving more slowly,” Northam said, addressing calls from the top officials in Fairfax County, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties to keep restrictions in place in their localities.
Fairfax County has continually had the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to the illness in the state. As of today (Monday), there are 6,200 cases and 243 deaths in the county, according to the state’s health department.
Northam said that he is “speaking regularly” to Northern Virginia officials about the plans to reopen Virginia in phases and that he asked the officials to say they are uniform in their request for the delay.
On Sunday (May 10), Northern Virginia officials sent the governor a letter asking that regional threshold metrics be used instead of statewide metrics for reopening.
Northam said that more information about “how this will work” for Northern Virginia localities will be released on Wednesday.
“The key to all of this is testing,” Northam said.
Image via Governor Ralph Northam/Facebook
While little more than half of the country has responded to the 2020 U.S. Census, Fairfax County’s response rate is already past 70% and is one of the highest in the state.
As of Friday (May 9), Fairfax County’s self-response rate is 72.7% — well above Virginia’s overall rate of 63.5%, according to census data.
Other counties and cities in Virginia with high response rates include:
- James City: 73.1%
- Roanoke: 73.6%
- Powhatan: 74.1%
- Loudoun: 74.1%
- Hanover: 74.5%
- Falls Church: 75.5%
- Poquoson: 75.8%
- Fairfax City: 76.3%
Previously, Fairfax County’s response rates have fluctuated from the mid-70s-80%, according to census data.
“For each resident who does not respond to the census, Fairfax County could lose $12,000 in potential funding over the course of a decade,” according to Fairfax County’s website.
Households have until Aug. 14 to complete the census.
Map via U.S. Census
When the Silver Line suspends rail service west of Ballston this summer, drivers can use free parking at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
Fairfax County announced yesterday that the station will have free parking while work is underway to connect the Silver Line Phase II stations, which will run from Reston to Ashburn.
Metro wasn’t originally planning to add the upcoming Silver Line stations, but due to lower ridership, Metro decided to add the Silver Line work to its summer closure of the Orange Line in parts of Northern Virginia.
“The closures begin Memorial Day weekend 2020 and are expected to continue through the fall,” according to the county.
Photo by Chuck Samuelson/Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project
Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting that they say took place in front of a 7-Eleven in Herndon early Thursday (May 7) morning.
After receiving a report for possible gunshots, police said that they found out that a man was being treated for a non-serious gunshot wound at a local hospital.
“Further investigation determined the shooting took place in front of [13190 Parcher Avenue],” police said, adding that the front of the 7-Eleven at that address was damaged.
Police also said that they found several shell casings in the area.
The case is currently an active investigation, according to police. Anyone who has information can contact the police department at 703-246-7800
File photo
Fairfax County’s top official wants increased communication with Gov. Ralph Northam as the state administration considers easing business restrictions.
On Monday, Northam unveiled a three-phase plan to roll back restrictions, which could start as soon as May 15.
The next day, Jeff McKay, the chairman for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and the board chairs for Prince William and Loudoun counties sent a letter urging Northam’s administration to collaborate more with them.
More from the letter:
We proudly represent more than 2 million residents; just shy of a quarter of the population of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sadly, our three counties also account for 40 percent of all known positive cases and hospitalizations due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Commonwealth. Regionally, Northern Virginia equates for 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s GDP…
To that end, we write to you today to communicate our strong desire to be both briefed and consulted as your administration makes decisions about the reopening of the Commonwealth… We request a discussion with you prior to future announcements about the state’s reopening. This is not an attempt to slow our progress. Rather, a recognition of the need for greater collaboration between state and local governments.
Additionally, we request a weekly phone call between a member of your team and our chiefs of staff… In addition to the reopening, some of the topics our respective teams would like to cover include testing capacity, the acquisition of personal protective equipment, racial disparities, and the methodology used for the distribution of CARES Act funds.
Del. Mark Keam (D-35th)Â also chimed in this week, posting on Facebook today: “I agree with Chairman Jeff Mckay that Northern Virginia needs to be MUCH MORE cautious than other regions of Virginia in reopening our businesses due to the heightened and ongoing threats here.”
Northam said yesterday (Wednesday) that localities might be able to keep some restrictions as the state begins to reopen, WTOP reported. Now that the governor is poised to provide an update tomorrow (Friday), McKay is repeating his request.
“Northam joined regional leaders on a call this afternoon to further outline his gradual plans for reopening Virginia,” McKay said in a statement. “Though this won’t be a locality-by-locality decision, he has recognized the need to look at this issue regionally.”
McKay said that he again requested “continued open lines of communication to ensure coordination between our community, D.C., and Maryland, as well as the need for effective communication to businesses and our residents when a decision to reopen is made.”
Fairfax County continues to have the highest reported number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Virginia.
“We are still in the exponential growth phase of our epidemic curve – that means that COVID-19 cases in our health district continues to increase,” according to the county.
As of today, the county had more than 5,000 cases and 211 deaths, according to the state’s health department.
The county says that the high number of cases may be due to three factors: “significant community-wide transmission,” increased testing and the new inclusion of “probable” cases along with confirmed ones.
Photo via Fairfax County
Fairfax County’s public library system wants to capture people’s COVID-19 experiences for its historical records collection.
The library system is looking for diary entries, photographs, artworks, videos — anything that documents what people’s lives are like during the pandemic.
People can submit material on their pandemic experiences anonymously or with their name attached as a “digital donation” via a Google Form. Submissions will be accepted through June 10.
The information will be used for a project for the Virginia Room, which contains historical records at the City of Fairfax Regional Library.
Image via Fairfax Library/TwitterÂ
People with green thumbs can now return to their rented garden plots from Fairfax County.
The county’s Park Authority reopened its 671 garden plots yesterday, according to Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust’s newsletter.
The plots are now available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and all of the rules apply except for active gardening guidelines, according to the county.
“Gardeners must self-sanitize water hydrants after use and no tools may be shared,” according to the county.
More from the county:
Gardeners are expected to comply with all COVID 19 health and social distancing requirements.
We ask that gardeners:
- Maintain the recommended social distance of six feet from other gardeners.
- Please wipe the handles of the water hydrant after you use it.
- Do not share garden tools with others.
- Wearing gloves and a mask are recommended when interacting with others.
- Please begin to wrap up gardening activities by 5:45 p.m. so that staff can close the gates and replace parking lot barricades by 6 p.m.
Parks and park amenities are still closed in the county. The Reston Farmers Market will open on May 9 with new social distancing guidance.
Virginia officials are looking to ramp up COVID-19 testing efforts.
Gov. Ralph Northam has said that increasing testing capacity is key to determining when to walk back restrictions on businesses and large gatherings, WTVR in Richmond reported.
The article noted that Northam created a working group to address test backlogs, increase the number of test sites and tackle shortages of equipment needed for tests.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County and its towns and cities, has seen more than 13,000 test results, according to data earlier this week from the Virginia Department of Health.
Fairfax County has a list of resources for people seeking COVID-19 tests.
Let us know in the poll below if you have gotten a COVID-19 test.
If you live in Reston, Herndon or Great Falls and have gotten a test or plan to, please contact us at [email protected] if you are willing to share your experience for an article.
Photo via CDC/Unsplash
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Fairfax County, new data from the county and state provide more insight with age and racial demographics.
Earlier this week, Fairfax County unveiled a new COVID-19 dashboard with geographic and racial data — for the first time providing case numbers by zip code groups.
Now, the Virginia Department of Health allows for comparisons between Virginia and individual health districts for cases, hospitalizations and deaths by age groups, sex, race and ethnicity.
The new data shows that the Fairfax Health District, which includes the county, cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county, closely mirrors the overall state data — except for cases by race and ethnicity.
For cases by reported ethnicity, the Hispanic or Latino populations have the majority of the COVID-19 cases in the Fairfax Health District but not statewide, according to the data.
Hispanics make up 16.8% of the Fairfax Health District’s population, but 52.3% of the reported race and ethnicity data for cases, according to Fairfax County’s dashboard.
Meanwhile, “Other” categorizes the reported race(s) of patients with the majority of the cases in the Fairfax Health District.
More than 3,897 COVID-19 cases and 137 deaths have been reported in Fairfax County, according to state data. Statewide, there have been at least 16,901 cases and 581 deaths.
Images via Virginia Department of HealthÂ
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for areas in central Fairfax County, including Reston and Great Falls.
The warning is set to last until 7 p.m.
“Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated that moderate to heavy rain was falling over the area. The heavy rain will cause flooding,” according to NWS. “Up to 1 inch of rain has already fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of around an inch are possible.”
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for central Fairfax County until 7 p.m. Flood Warning means flooding is imminent or occurring. If you come across a flooded roadway, #TurnAroundDontDrown! #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/LEFqxwKvvO
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 30, 2020
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
More than 120 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Fairfax County, according to state data.
As of data released today, 124 people have died from the respiratory illness — roughly 3.5% of the total number of coronavirus cases in the county, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
There are at least 3,448 cases and 585 hospitalizations in Fairfax County.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes the county, cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county, continues to have the most reported cases and deaths in Virginia. Statewide, there have been 522 deaths and at least 14,961 cases.
More data on the Fairfax Health District:
- 592 hospitalizations
- 13,796 test results
- 35 outbreaks with 32 at long term care facilities and one each at a correctional facility, educational setting and health care setting
Earlier this week, the Fairfax County unveiled a new COVID-19 dashboard with geographic and racial data.
Photo via CDC/Unsplash
Fairfax County has had a recent jump in COVID-19 deaths as the number of cases continues to rise in the county and statewide.
As of today (Friday), Fairfax County had 85 deaths due to the respiratory illness, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The cities of Fairfax and Falls Church have both reported two deaths.
In total, the Fairfax Health District, which includes the county and its towns and cities, reported 89 deaths — up from 80 deaths reported yesterday (Thursday).
Yesterday, Fairfax County reported the first coronavirus case claiming the life of someone under the age of 50. Most of the people who died from the illness in the Fairfax Health District were above the age of 65.
More data on the Fairfax Health District:
- 2,584Â cases
- 460 hospitalizations
- 10,887 tests
- 26 outbreaks: 24 at long term care facilities and one each at a correctional facility and healthcare setting
Statewide, there are 11,594 confirmed cases and 410 deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The state has had 176 outbreaks with half at long term care facilities.
Data via Virginia Department of Health
Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Instead of holdings strikes around the globe to advocate for climate change activism, the organization behind Earth Day is urging activists to participate in virtual events.
“On Earth Day, April 22, 2020, we have two crises: One is the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The other is a slowly building disaster for our climate,” according to the Earth Day website.
Earth Day Live today is offering 24 hours of messages, performances and educational components, including appearances from Zac Efron and Al Gore.
While Fairfax County’s 2020 Earth Day Festival has been canceled, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate virtually:
What on Earth are you doing on today? Make Earth Day special! Small actions by each of us today, and every day, can make a big difference. More on what Fairfax County is doing: https://t.co/kExoBYdyzd #EarthDay2020 #FCFRD @ffxgreen pic.twitter.com/CYudSfXHOE
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 22, 2020
Let Reston Now know in the poll below if you plan to join Earth Day events:
The number of coronavirus deaths has more than doubled in Fairfax County since this weekend as the number of cases statewide continues to soar.
Since Monday morning, at least 30 Fairfax County residents had died from the respiratory illness. But by Monday evening, that number jumped to more than 50 deaths, according to the county.
As of this morning (Tuesday), there have been 64 deaths in the county, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Statewide, there are 324 reported deaths. Roughly a quarter of the deaths (80) have happened in long term care facilities.
As of this morning, Fairfax County has 2,077 cases and 379 hospitalization, according to the state health data.
More than 9,300 people have been tested in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County and towns and cities in the county.
Out of the 148 outbreaks in Virginia, 26 have happened in the Fairfax Health District with 26 at long term care facilities and one each at a correction facility and healthcare setting.
Data via Virginia Department of Health
Thirty people have died from the novel coronavirus in Fairfax County, according to information the county released yesterday (Thursday).
All of the people who died from the illness were above the age of 50.
Fairfax County is currently leading Virginia in the number of coronavirus cases and outbreaks.
As of this morning, the Fairfax Health District had 1,478 cases — two of which are in the City of Fairfax, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
More data on the Fairfax Health District:
- 268 hospitalizations
- 7,657 tests
- 21 outbreaks — 19 at long term care facilities and one each at correction facility and healthcare setting
The Fairfax Health District includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county.
Overall, 7,491 cases, 117 cases and 231 deaths have been reported statewide. More than 48,000 people in Virginia have been tested for the virus.
Data via Virginia Department of Health
