Herndon Police Department on Policing — In a statement, Chief Maggie DeBoard reaffirmed her commitment to remain accountable to the community. “We reaffirm to each other and the community our duty to intervene when our actions are contrary to the safe and equitable treatment of all individuals,” she wrote. [Herndon Police Department]
Capital One Supports FCPS Distance Learning — The company donated $90,000 to the Fairfax County Public Schools system to support the purchase of MiFi units for students without internet connection at home. [FCPS]
Local News Now Operating Remotely — Since the first confirmed local coronavirus case in March, Local News Now’s employees have been working from home. We plan to continue working remotely until 2021, and may continue to have most employees work remotely most of the time after that. [Washingtonian]
FCPS to Host Town Hall Tonight — A town hall to discuss return to school plans, family surveys, health resources, and other issues is set for 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday). People can email questions via [email protected] or by calling 1-800-231-6359. [FCPS]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Return to School Public Hearing — The Fairfax County School Board is holding a public hearing on plans to return to school for the next academic year. The virtual meeting is set for Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Herndon Police Department is Hiring — The local police department is seeking certified police officers to join the department as a lieutenant. [Herndon Police Department]
Current COVID-19 Hospitalizations Dip — “Fewer than 1,000 Virginians are now hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19, and the number of cases continued to slow both statewide and in Northern Virginia, according to reports Saturday morning. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association reported only 959 coronavirus patients in state hospitals, the lowest number since the organization began providing data in early April… Only 342 of those patients were in Northern Virginia, down from a high of 818 on April 30.” [InsideNova]
Reston Association Updates Pool Information — A release posted by the association mistakenly included information that children under eight would not be allowed admission to four pools opening later this month. The press release has been updated. [Reston Association]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
(Updated to reflect a revision by Reston Association about admittance rules for children under eight and guests of passholders)
Reston Association will open four of its 15 pools on June 29, according to a new release.
Pools will be open daily for members and non-members with a recreational pass for the year. Currently, the facilities will only be available for lap swimmers and water walkers who reserve time and for instructional programs.
State Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order does not allow recreational or open swimming.
RA staff selected the pools at Lake Newport, Newbridge, Glade and Golf Course Island for reopening this month. The facilities were selected in order to “maximize lap swimming and fitness programming,” according to the release. Pools will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Here’s more from RA on how to reserve lap swim time:
Pass-holders will be able to reserve lap swim time on SignUpGenius.com or by phone. We anticipate having links to SignUpGenius reservation pages available by June 22. Online registration for water fitness programs or purchases of season-long fitness passes can be done through our standard WebTrac site. More information will be provided in the coming days via emails to pass-holders and through other RA communications channels about how to sign up. The notices will include other important details regarding pool safety and operational procedures.
In preparation for the openings, RA is implementing cleaning procedures and training aquatics staff on how to abide by safety rules set in place by the county and the state.
RA CEO Hank Lynch thanked members for their patience and noted that the association had to wait for state officials to provide guidance on opening aquatics facilities.
“We understand how important the pools are to our membership,” said Lynch. “Our staff has worked around the clock towards the goal of opening as many pools as we could in a way that is in compliance with government mandates. We encourage our members to take advantage of all outdoor exercise opportunities as we collectively adjust to new norms during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
Image via Reston Association/YouTube
COVID-19 prompted restrictions on personal grooming services for two months. Now with Virginia progressing with its phased reopening plan, people can get their hair cut or nails done professionally.
Today, Fairfax County entered the second phase of the reopening plan. Personal grooming services that have reopened are still by appointment-only under the Phase Two guidelines.
Personal care services were first allowed to reopen in the county on May 29. Currently, customers and employees must wear face coverings, and the businesses are limited to 50% capacity.
Let us know in the poll below if you’ve been to a salon, barber, spa, tanning salon and/or tattoo shop since the rollback started on the COVID-19 restrictions. If you have any interesting stories about haircuts at home, let us know in the comments section.
Photo by Mostafa Meraji/Unsplash
Northern Virginia Enters Phase Two — “Eating inside a restaurant, going back to the gym and in-person worship services: Starting Friday, all of these activities will be allowed for residents of Northern Virginia as the region enters phase two of reopening. Businesses and houses of worship will have to adhere to safety standards and capacity limits to lessen the threat that customers could spread coronavirus. Virginia advises that you’re still safer at home.” [NBC4]
The Return to School — Fairfax County Public Schools’ Superintendent Scott Brabrand says that he plans to present the school system’s plan to the school board on Monday. Schools are expected to offer a mix of in-person and online learning. [FCPS]
Deadline for Boat Permits Nears — The registration and renewal deadline for permanent mooring permits is June 30. Reston Association will conduct annual boat monitoring and inspections after June 30. [Reston Association]
Members Sought for Covenants Committee — RA is also seeking members to fill three seats on the committee for a three-year term. The committee administers the use and maintenance of covenants in Reston’s deed. [Reston Association]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
To examine the next steps in community recovery and look toward the future after COVID-19, Cornerstones hosted a virtual town hall earlier this week with Fairfax County officials.
As a Reston non-profit organization, Cornerstones helps community members in need of things like food and housing, they work with leaders around the community to achieve mutual goals like One Fairfax.
Officials from the Fairfax County School Board and members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reflected on the economic downturn, consequences for affordable housing and social programs, assistance for those struggling with homelessness, and new resources for students.
Housing
Among some of the largest changes for the board of supervisors, were the cuts to the upcoming fiscal budget, according to Drainsville District Supervisor John Foust.
“The thing that hurt me the most was, as chairman of the housing committee, we had originally planned to put an additional $25 million into the housing fund,” he said.
Many low-income workers, who have been already been hit-hard by COVID will continue to struggle if there isn’t affordable housing available for them, agreed Walter Alcorn and John Foust.
Along the Silver line in Tysons and Reston, Foust said that he and his team are working to lower the income level requirements for workforce housing so more people can afford to live in the area in which they work.
When COVID- 19 shut down the local libraries and other public spaces, Alcon said that this caused the homeless population to become more visible to the public and institutions which aim to help them.
“It made visible a problem our library had been shielding for many, many years,” he said.
Alcorn wants to work with Cornerstones to provide daytime services for homeless people that will allow them to empower themselves and become self-sufficient.
It might take longer to accomplish certain programs but it all depends on priorities, he said. “A priority for me is making sure that our homeless shelter is rebuilt and our library is as well.”
Education and Student Support
For students at-risk students, many of which qualify for free and reduced lunches, the FCPS has instituted a plan to bring in 10 new social workers and a few special education teachers, according to Melanie Meren, the school board representative for the Hunter Mill District.
When the pandemic caused school closures earlier this year, FCPS “nutrition staff began rerouting food supplies and began a very robust program to distribute food,” Elaine Tholen, Drainsville FCPS Board Member said, that county busses were actually dropping food off to disadvantage families at regularly scheduled bus routes.
Until this point, FCPS served around 1.2 million meals and delivered 22,000 laptops to students, according to Tholen.
Going forward, Tholen said that FCPS will be working with teams of bilingual teachers and parent liaisons to ensure that every student has the resources they need to be successful in distance learning.
“We understand that this individualized care is so important,” she said.
Still, county and school board officials remain optimistic about the road ahead.
“When the pandemic first started hitting our community, we really saw a lot of people step up and ask how they could help,” Alcorn said.”We were able to connect a lot of those folks with organizations with Cornerstones.”
Alcorn also noted that he finds it hopeful to see how many people around town who have come out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd’s murder.
“I’ve been to a number of marches and demonstrations within the last week. The feeling is positive without exception,” he said.
Photo via Element5 Digital/Unsplash
Reston Association’s ‘Camps in a Box’ Ready for Purchase — RA’s camp activity box– which includes different activities and a link to connect with camp staff during weekly Zoom’s calls — is now available for purchase online. [Reston Association]
Around Town: Vacancy Spike Expected in County— “Fairfax County’s office vacancy rate is likely to suffer as remote meetings continue to be the norm, the county’s economic development chief warned in early June. Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, delivered that warning to the county board of supervisors during a June 2 meeting.” [Washington Business Journal]
Next Comprehensive Plan Meeting Set for June 22 — The third meeting fo the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force takes place virtually on Monday, June 22 from 7-9 p.m. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Fairfax County’s Hispanic community is bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although Hispanic individuals comprise just under 17 percent of the total population, they account for nearly 66 percent of all confirmed cases in the county.
The rise has raised alarms about equity issues between different racial groups in the county. County health officials say that higher infection rates may be caused by the need to go to work, lack of sick leave, the inability to socially distance while on the job, and lack of unemployment insurance.
Cases have grown over the last three months in the Hispanic community, while efforts to flatten the curve in the black and white communities have been more successful, county data show.
“This risk reflects a group’s niche in society rather than a particular racial effect,” said Benjamin Schwartz, a medical epidemiologist with the Fairfax County Health Department.
Many local Hispanic residents work in jobs where the risk of transmission is especially high.
Roughly 25 percent of Hispanic men in the county work in natural resources, construction or maintenance, according to the 2018 American Community Survey. That’s compared to just five percent of blacks in the same industry.
Similarly, 45 percent of Hispanic women work in the service industry, more than double the percent of black women in the same industry, according to the survey.
Additionally, roughly 12 percent of Hispanic households are defined as overcrowded based on county metric, compared to four percent of the black community and less than one percent of the white community.
But the same racial disparity is not prevalent in other parts of the county. In Richmond, for example, blacks are being hit hard by the pandemic while poor whites are disproportionately impacted in southwestern Virginia.
On a national level, blacks account for a higher share of confirmed cases and deaths compared to the rest of the population, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Roughly 20 percent of cases do not contain race and ethnicity information.
Exacerbating the Divide
At Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization based in Reston, the pandemic has exacerbated the daily struggle with housing, poverty, quality education, and living wage jobs.
Already, 33 percent of families in Cornerstones’ affordable rental housing have lost all or some of their income due to mass layoffs. Some have limited access to daycare and the internet, complicating long-distance learning, even if the school system provides a laptop for students.
Parking lots may offer free wifi access, but a car and time are needed to park there. Others turn to families and friends to watch their children, increasing the risk of exposure for all.
Public health officials are also seeking ways to improve community communication and increase testing in local hotspots, including the Town of Herndon.
In April, 385 new households came to Cornerstones’ pantry in need of food. That’s more than six times the number of new households in fiscal year 2019.
“For low-income members of the immigrant community in the time of COVID, it’s never one thing. The pandemic only exacerbates their daily struggling with housing, poverty, quality education, and living-wage jobs,” said Sara Newman, division director of community change partnerships at Cornerstones.
For these residents, the financial burden of COVID-19 is “inescapable,” Newman said.
“Unpaid rents are continuing to accumulate. People keep working or look for employment regardless of the viral spread so they can keep a roof over their family and food on the table.”
Photo by Morgan Von Gunten/Unplash
Community Parade to Celebrate Lake Anne Graduates — This Friday, a community parade to celebrate Lake Anne’s sixth grade graduates will take place at 6 p.m. Participants are encouraged to practice safe social distancing and wear facial coverings to avoid spreading COVID-19. [Reston Association]
‘Wrong Man’ Stunned in County Assault Case — “Prosecutors in Fairfax County, Virginia, told a judge on Tuesday that Officer Tyler Timberlake, who has been charged with assault and battery after using his stun gun last week, shocked a man he mistakenly thought he recognized.” [WTOP]
Local Fire Department’s Hosts Blood Drives — “Several Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Volunteer Fire Departments are partnering with Inova Blood Donor Services to hold blood drives in their fire station parking lots.
Photo by Ellen Huber
Gov. Ralph Northam announced this afternoon at a press conference that the Northern Virginia area can move into phase two starting Friday (June 12).
Northam said that the COVID-19 metrics for Northern Virginia continue to improve.
“Our hospitalizations for COVID are trending downward, particularly in the last week,” Northam said, adding that hospitals are under capacity.
The rest of Virginia entered phase two last Friday (June 5).
So far, there have been 51,738 cases of coronavirus in the Commonwealth of Virginia but an expert at the press conference said this number will jump as labs are backlogged with data.
At the same press conference, Northam also released a plan to reopen public schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Changes will include social distancing measures and adaptations to perform health checks, according to Northam.
Students will not be required to wear face coverings, according to the Virginia superintendent, but they will be encouraged for older students.
Image via Governor of Virginia/Facebook
CVS announced dozens of new drive-thru testing sites for COVID-19 in Virginia, including one in Great Falls
These locations are a part of a nationwide initiative offering 986 total testing locations, the website said. The Great Falls location is 1020 Seneca Road.
Of the 39 pharmacies offering the tests, there are no locations in Herndon or Reston, but several around the Tysons area.
Patients must register in advance at CVS.com and take a brief survey before making an appointment, according to the website.
The locations will accept most major insurance providers so people may be able to get a free test, the site said.
Respondents are asked for information including birthdate, symptoms, if they have a reference from a doctor or official and if they have preexisting health conditions that might put them at a higher risk.
CVS joins the growing list of places where people can get tested. Tysons Reporter recently compiled a list of places where people can get COVID-19 tests around Tysons.
Image via Google Maps
The Fairfax County Health District saw a spike in COVID-19 cases over the weekend.
As of today, there are 12,728 total COVID-19 cases in the Fairfax Health District (12,603 of which are in Fairfax County) — a jump of roughly 700 cases since Friday (June 5), according to the Virginia Department of Health. On Saturday, 152 number of cases were reported, while Sunday saw 399 and Monday so far has 148, according to the data.
The health department’s weekly average of percent positivity for testing has not factored in the recent positive cases. Data from last week showed that the percent positivity has been steadily declining since late April, while the number of testing encounters has increased both statewide and in the Fairfax Health District.
Some of the data has not changed much since last week for the health district.
The health district has the same number of outbreaks (61) today as it did on Friday. The data still shows a racial disparity with COVID-19 cases — the Hispanic population makes up 16.8% of Fairfax County but 66.1% of its cases where race and ethnicity data is available.
As of today, Fairfax County has had 414 deaths and 1,431 total hospitalizations related to the virus.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue posted today that 20 of the 23 personnel members who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. Currently, two members are quarantined in addition to the members who tested positive.
Local Police Officer Charged with Assault After Use of Force Incident — “A white police officer in Fairfax County was charged with assault after he used a stun gun on a black man and pinned him to the ground, even though the man did not appear combative. Footage from a body-worn camera shows the officer, Tyler Timberlake, placing his knee on the man’s back Friday. Timberlake, who has been with the department eight years, was arrested Saturday and charged with three misdemeanor counts of assault and battery. He faces up to 36 months in prison if convicted. [DCist]
Beware of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams — County officials are warning residents about contact tracing and government employee impersonation scams in the county. Local health department contact tracers will never ask for your social security number, financial information, or any other personal information unrelated to COVD-19. [Fairfax County Government]
Protestors in Herndon Rally for Racial Justice — Local residents organized a car parade early Thursday evening to raise awareness about racial injustice and police brutality. The idea was created by Herndon resident Nikki Pugh. [Herndon Patch]
Missing Keys in Herndon — Someone left keys in the town’s green on Saturday. To claim them, the individual should call 703-435-6846. [Herndon Police Department]
Fairfax County is nearing its 12,000th COVID-19 case, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
As of today, the county has a total of 11,904 cases, 1,401 hospitalizations and 410 deaths.
Of the 389 outbreaks in Virginia, 61 are in the Fairfax Health District, which includes the county and its towns and cities. Fifty-one are at long term care facilities, while two are healthcare settings and a correctional facility and educational setting both have one.
The Fairfax Health District also has Virginia’s only two reports of cases of the virus with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children.
The Fairfax Health District continues to lead the commonwealth in the number of PCR tests, which directly detect antigens, with more than 55,000 testing encounters.
Statewide and in the Fairfax Health District, the weekly average of the percent of positive tests has been steadily declining since late April and the number of testing encounters has increased, according to VDH.
Even with the increased testing, Fairfax County officials say more is needed to address a growing racial disparity with the cases.
The Hispanic population makes up 16.8% of the population in the Fairfax Health District, but 66.2% of the COVID-19 cases where race and ethnicity data is available, according to Fairfax County and the state health department. In mid-May, the Hispanic population made of 61.3% of the cases. (Roughly 20% of the cases don’t have race and ethnicity data.)
Officials said on Tuesday that they want to see more neighborhood testing sites and testing available for people who are asymptomatic.
Photo by CDC on Unsplash, graph via Virginia Department of Health
Car Rally in Herndon Yesterday Evening — Local residents gathered in the Town of Herndon for a car rally in support of the black community and justice. The event was titled, “Justice for Black Lives” and was organized by local community organizers. Close t0 200 cars took part. [Ibrahim Samirah]
What’s Next in the COVID-19 Response — The county’s epidemiology and population health director says residents needs to continue practicing “protective behaviors which includes social distancing, wearing face coverings and good hand hygiene.” [Fairfax County Government]
Herndon Girl Scouts Bake Friendship Bread — “While many Fairfax County students have been stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic trying to keep themselves from being bored, a troop of Herndon Girl Scouts have been busy doing something positive for the community. The eight girls of Cadette Troop 1105 are participating in what they call the “Cinnamon Bread Project,” baking loaves of cinnamon bread for LINK, which provides emergency food and financial assistance for people in need.” [Reston Patch]
Reston Community Center Issues Statement on Racism — “During these troubled and troubling times, Reston Community Center recommits our leadership, staff and resources to work that is antiracist, equity-driven, accessible and meaningful in the pursuit of our mission and vision. We pledge ourselves to learning from and listening to the voices of black people and all minorities experiencing racism.” [Reston Community Center]
Photo via Deborah Smith Reilly/Facebook
