LA Fitness announced nationwide closures on Monday (March 16) amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
The closures leave the opening date of the Herndon location, which has been delayed by several months, increasingly uncertain.
The manager of the future Herndon location says that the preview center will reopen on April 1. But the situation is entirely fluid. He hopes to have an estimate soon on when the grand opening will take place.
That could becoming increasingly unlikely. Yesterday (Tuesday), Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered a 10-person cap at restaurants, fitness center, and theaters. Although the order comes short of closing all gyms, restaurants and theaters, the respective industries are expected to take a hit.
“I hope that everyone will have the common sense to stay home tonight and in the days ahead,” said Governor Northam. “This order will ensure that state and local officials have the tools they need to keep people safe.
Gold’s Gym locations, including the one in Plaza America, also closed nationwide through March.
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
The Herndon Police Department is scaling back some services in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Although all officers will continue to respond to emergencies, the police department plans to take some police reports over the phone. Officers may take reports and conduct follow-ups over the phone for non-emergency situations.
“It is HPD’s hope that by adopting these practices, we can do our part to slow the spread of this virus and protect the health of our officers and our community,” HPD wrote in a statement on Tuesday (March 17).
Here’s more from the statement:
At the Herndon Police Department, the safety of our community is our top priority. Part of preserving the public safety of our community means promoting public health. But like everyone else, we are faced with making adjustments to the manner in which we carry out our duties due to the onset of COVID-19.
Following the recommendations from the CDC, Virginia Department of Health, and Fairfax County Health Department, HPD is working to slow the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing, while still providing a proper level of service to the community.
For non-emergency services, residents can call 703-435-6846.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Fairfax Health District has 12 presumptive cases of the respiratory disease. The Fairfax County General District Court that’s held in the town on Wednesdays is also closed. It’s expected to open on April 22.
Alcorn Postpones Budget Town Hall — Hunter Mill District Supervisor has postponed an upcoming town hall on the 2021 budget “due to the uncertainty of the impacts of coronavirus on county operations and resources.” [Fairfax County Government]
Northam Pushes 10-person Limit at Gyms, Restaurants — “Restaurants, gyms, and theaters in Virginia will not serve more than 10 customers at a time under an order the governor issued Tuesday in response to the coronavirus. Gov. Ralph Northam also urged Virginians to comply with new federal guidelines not to gather in groups of more than 10 and for people older than 65 to self-quarantine.” [U.S. News & World Report]
Juvenile Robbed in Herndon — A juvenile was robbed and assaulted by another juvenile on the 600 block of Dulles Park Court on March 11. The case is under investigation. [Herndon Police Department]
Department of Motor Vehicle Centers Close — All state DMV centers are closed until April 2. Driver and vehicle credentials have been extended for 60 days. [Virginia DMV]
Balducci’s Reserves First Hour of Shopping for Seniors — Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market in Reston Town Center is reserving the first hour of shopping for elderly and high-risk customers. [Balducci’s]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
(Update at 10:41 p.m.: The town hall has been postponed due to uncertainty of available financial resources for the upcoming. budget).
An upcoming town hall meeting on Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill’s budget proposal will take place online.
Instead of conducting the town hall on March 30 in Reston, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn says the meeting will take place on his Facebook page this Saturday (March 21) from 10-11 a.m. The meeting will also air on Channel 16 and be live-streamed online.
Alcorn said the shift was prompted by fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Residents can send questions on the budget to [email protected] with the subject “Town Hall Question.”
Hill is seeking to increase the county’s real estate tax by three cents.
One cent of the proposed tax, which increases the annual tax bill by roughly $346, will be earmarked for affordable housing initiatives. The remaining two-cent increase will go toward the general fund and other board priorities.
Sitting several feet apart, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted today (Tuesday) to declare a local state of emergency due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The declaration activates the county’s emergency plan and allows the county to expeditiously mobilize its resources. A number of local jurisdictions have adopted similar declarations, including Arlington County.
At the emergency meeting, board members sat roughly six feet apart in order to practice safe social distancing, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Board chairman Jeff McKay noted that the spread of coronavirus poses a “public health threat,” but that the county is well-positioned to manage concerns.
“This is not something this is going to be resolved tomorrow,” McKay said, giving a nod to county staff that is working their “tails off” in this “unprecedented” public health crisis.
The declaration allows the county to pursue “coordinated local government to prevent or alleviate damage, loss hardship, or suffering” caused by the respiratory disease, according to the declaration. Like similar declarations for snow emergency response, the motion also allows the county to apply for federal and state disaster planning funds and increased flexibility in operations.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency last Thursday. So far, the Fairfax Health District has 10 presumptive cases of coronavirus.
Photo via Fairfax County Government
Many businesses in Reston Town Center have closed in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Northern Virginia and beyond.
Readers have described the town center as a ghost town as an increasing number of businesses put up signs announcing temporary closures on their storefronts.
BowTie Cinemas closed yesterday (Monday), noting that it’s concerned for the “health and safety of our customers, staff members and the greater movie-going community.”
Few tenants indicate when they plan to reopen. But the Apple store says it will remain closed until March 27. J. Crew, Kendra Scott, and the Crafthouse are also temporarily shuttering.
Paddywax Candle Bar, which offers guests a chance to make candles in a workshop-style setting, is also closed for all workshops until March 30.
Reston Town Center tenants are encouraging customers and guests to find resources online.
While most retail tenants are closed, many restaurants and bars remain open for now.
Ted’s Bulletin is still open for dine-in, but with adjusted hours of 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sweetgreen is also open.
Morton’s The Steakhouse is also open, but is closely monitoring the situation.
Jackson’s is open and is offering more carryout options.
We will update this list as we confirm additional closures.
Photo by Heidi Clark
New Food Pick-Up Sites — Grab-and-go-meals are available at no cost for students at 21 sites. Breakfast is served from 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Reston Association Discontinues All Walk-in Service — Members can no longer pay their annual membership assessment in-person and should instead conduct services online. “Amid ongoing concern about the coronavirus (COVID-19), Reston Association’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees, members and visitors,” writes RA CEO Hank Lynch. [Reston Association]
Tips on Stay Engaged During Social Distances — “Social distancing can feel isolating and tedious, but Fairfax County offers residents numerous activities and services with which you can engage while following good social distancing practices.” [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
In order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, several local governmental entities and businesses are closing their doors until further notice. Fairfax County Public Schools are closed until at least April 10. Libraries, parks, and centers are also closed for at least two weeks.
The following list of the latest closures will be updated regularly as the situation evolves.
Reston
The Walker Nature Center is closed until further notice. All activities are canceled through March 29, but trails will remain open.
All recreational activities and events by Reston Association are canceled through March 20 as well. This Thursday’s Board of Directors meeting will be held by conference call. Members can still catch the livestream on YouTube.
While most gyms and restaurants are still open in the area, some are closing their doors temporarily.
New Trail Cycling Studio at Lake Anne Plaza is also temporarily closing.
“I am leaning heavily on the knowledge that I would rather regret closing out of an abundance of caution than regret staying open and discovering we have contributed to the spread of the illness,” wrote owner Liz Camp in an email.
Herndon
The Herndon Community Center is closed through March 27.
The Herndon Police Department is suspending the following non-emergency services: the community room, tours of facilities and vehicles, ride-along program, and Friday afternoon fingerprinting services.
All building inspections of homes or interior spaces are indefinitely suspended.
The list below will be updated regularly as the situation evolves rapidly.
Photo via Unsplash
Reston Association’s Board of Directors is set to vote on long-anticipated changes to its conflict of interest policy, which was last reviewed nearly 14 years ago.
If approved on Thursday, the policy would only regulate conflicts related to economic interest. A code of ethics, which would be adopted at a later date, is expected to govern all other conflicts related to personal and non-economic interests.
Discussions on updating the policy have been underway for more than four years as RA staff and board members attempted balance privacy rights and the need for transparency. Two independent reviews have called on RA to refine its code of ethics since 2017.
Board members, officers and other officials covered by the policy must disclose specific details as part of an annual disclosure form.
The form requires individuals to disclose ownership interests that produce a fair market value of $5,000 or more in a calendar year or an investment of $5,000 or more in any economic venture. Interests that benefit family members in this category must also be disclosed.
Disclosures do not apply for dividends from shares or outstanding shares of a publicly-held corporation.
Employers covered by the policy must also report any other sources of income over $5,000 per calendar year “from any source having a business or contractual elation with Reston Association, including affiliated Reston interest group,” according to the draft policy.
The meeting is set for Thursday (March 19) via a conference call.
The board’s plans to receive an update on a proposal to repurpose the Hunters Woods Ballfield has been postpone. The draft agenda is available online.
Photo via Reston Association/YouTube
As state and local officials work to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, uncertainty remains on when new restaurants planned in Reston and Herndon will open.
That includes Pupatella, an award-winning Neopolitan pizzeria, which previously planned to open at 1821 Wiehle Avenue in early 2020.
Although the McDonald’s in that fast food complex, which is known as McTacoHut, recently underwent renovations, Pupatella Founding Partner Michael Berger tells Reston Now it would be hard to offer an anticipated opening date.
The company hopes to begin construction once it receives a building permit from the county.
“We are currently in the final stages of obtaining our building permit from Fairfax County,” Berger said.
The building no longer bears the name of Pizza Hut, which closed late last year after its lease ended.
“We are thrilled to be joining the Reston community and plan to open as quickly as we are able,” Berger said.
School Buildings Closed — All Fairfax County Public School buildings are closed until further notice. Beginning today (Monday), grab-and-go food distribution sites will be set up at 18 locations. Breakfast is served from 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m.t o 2 p.m.[Fairfax County Public Schools]
Local Parks, Libraries Closed — The Fairfax County Public Library System and local parks will be closed for due weeks to the novel coronavirus threat. [Patch]
Telecom Entrepreneur Dies — John McDonnell Jr., who started Recon-Based Transaction Network Services, died in March at a hospital in Florida. He was 82. [The Washington Post]
Boston Properties Sell Properties — The company has sold its New Dominion Park property, including 499 Grove St., in Herndon to an affiliate of USAA Real Estate. [Washington Business Journal]
Photo by Cbreezy
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider plans to declare a state of local emergency tomorrow (Tuesday) due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
In a statement, Jeff McKay, the board’s chairman, said the board is expected to hold an emergency session tomorrow at 10 a.m as part of its next phase of emergency response.
The institution of a local emergency declaration activates the county’s Emergency Operations Plan and allows the county to quickly mobilize county resources. The board must vote to pass the declaration.
So far, all county agencies have been direct to shift to core functions. Residents are strongly encouraged to conduct any needed business online. All county parks, libraries, and school buildings are closed for two weeks beginning today.
The meeting will be broadcast on Fairfax County Government Channel 16 and streamed online. State Gov. Ralph Northam also banned public events of greater than 100 people.
As of Saturday, March 14, the county has identified 10 presumptive cases of coronavirus.
Photo via Fairfax County Government
South Lakes High School’s food pantry — which serves students in the South Lakes pyramid — is accepting a final round of drop-off donations today.
The pantry is expected to close its physical location today after Fairfax County Public Schools’ moved to close all school buildings today (Monday), except 18 sites that operate as food distribution centers.
Drop-off donations will be accepted today from until 10:45 a.m. at the school (11400 South Lakes Drive). Bags will be distributed from 2:30-4 p.m.
Roberta Gosling, a coordinator of the efforts, says that distribution is expected to shift to coordination with county-wide initiatives.
Gosling stressed that the situation is “very fluid.”
As of Saturday, the pantry volunteers had originally planned to scale back hours and offer 200 pre-packed “grab and go” bags on a weekly basis. Volunteers were also expected to assemble later this week to assemble the packages.
The pantry is in need of the following items:
- Pasta sauce
- Canned tomatoes
- Pasta
- Dry rice
- Dry beans
- Cereal
- Oil
- Peanut Butter
- Crackers in boxes
- Oatmeal
- Applesauce
- Soup
- Bar soap
- Toilet Paper
- Tuna
- Microwave popcorn (individual packages)
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Maxi pads (24-unit packs)
Photo by Roberta Gosling
Senior centers and adult health care centers operated by Fairfax County are closing today until further notice, according to a press release issued today (Sunday).
The news comes as fears of an outbreak of coronavirus continue. So far, the county has documented 10 presumptive cases. That number is expected to increase over the coming days, according to health officials.
County officials say that the move was motivated by “an abundance of caution.” The respiratory disease is especially dangerous for seniors and those with preexisting medical conditions.
The county is expected to offer meal delivery services to registered participants on an as needed basis.
“We apologize for any disruption this may cause but believe that it is prudent to take this additional precautionary measure to ensure the health and well-being of older adults in our communities,” the statement reads.
Photo via Fairfax County Government
Local health department officials have identified four new presumptive cases of coronavirus, bringing the county’s total to 10.
Three individuals from the same household were linked to a presumptive case that was announced on March 12. One of those individuals is a teacher at Lynbrook Elementary School in Springfield.
The fourth individual is in his 70s and was traveling on a Nile River cruise that has been linked to other patients.
All county residents have been isolated in their homes and their results were sent to the state’s main laboratory for testing.
As the number of local cases slowly increases, the county’s health director says there’s no evidence that the respiratory disease is rapidly spreading in the community yet.
“At this time, there is no evidence of sustained community spread of the novel coronavirus and the risk to the general FCPS community remains low,” said Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Director of Health with the Fairfax County Health Department.
The respiratory disease claimed its first life in Virginia earlier today (Saturday). A man in his 70s near Norfolk died earlier today, according to the Virginia Health Department.
Photo via Unsplash
