One Life Fitness Workers Put Out Sauna Fire — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to a “small fire” in the One Life Fitness Reston sauna room yesterday, but maintenance workers put out the blaze before firefighters arrived. An employee told Reston Now that the fire just caused some damage to the wood. It was the first day the sauna had been turned on in more than a year. [Patch]

CVS Allows Walk-in Vaccine Appointments — CVS Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to walk-in appointments and same-day scheduling at all stores in Virginia, joining Giant, which started allowing walk-ins at its pharmacies on Monday (May 3). There are five CVS stores in Reston and three in Herndon. [Patch]

D.C. Judge Vacates National Eviction Moratorium — A D.C. judge ruled that the CDC lacks the authority to institute a nationwide moratorium on housing evictions, but even if the ruling ultimately stands, experts say it likely won’t have an immediate impact on D.C. area tenants. Virginia has a patchwork of protections but no statewide ban.” [DCist]

Air and Space Museum Reopens in Chantilly — Yesterday, the Udvar-Hazy Center became the first Smithsonian museum to open since last fall, when the institution largely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New additions include a display commemorating the late Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins and an X-Wing Starfighter from the most recent “Star Wars” movie. [WTOP]

South Lakes Girls’ Basketball Celebrates Recent Success — “#WCW In the past 2 seasons, your Seahawks went a combined 22-1 in Liberty District competition, & won back to back championships for the 1st time since 1985-1986.” [South Lakes Girls Basketball/Twitter]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

(Update: 10:45 a.m.) Thanks to federal and state partnerships, some local retail locations of CVS, Walgreens, Safeway, and Harris Teeter are all offering no-cost vaccine appointments separate from the county.

But appointments remain extremely hard to come by even as the one-dose Johnson & Johnson begins to roll out. Demand far exceeds supply.

Virginia is currently in Phase 1b, meaning those 65 or over and those with 16 to 64 with underlying medical conditions are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The Virginia Health Department tells Reston Now that more than 80,000 doses are being given to retail pharmacies state-wide for distribution, an increase from last month.

The 69,000 J&J vaccine doses announced last week started coming in yesterday, VDH confirms, and clinics across the state are expecting to start using it today (March 5).

VDH also says that they’ve directed retail pharmacies to “prioritize” those 65 and over to “make significant progress in vaccinating that vulnerable population.” All of this provides hope that more vaccines and more appointments will soon become available for those that are eligible.

Early last month, CVS began offering vaccine appointments at its local stores.

Currently, 41 CVS pharmacies are offering the vaccine in Virginia with appointments booked through their website. But that includes only one location in Fairfax County. The location is in Fairfax, but is listed with no exact address.

CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault tells Reston Now there are roughly 41,580 appointments per week available at the 41 locations statewide. Most of them are using the Moderna vaccine. Basic math says that’s about 1,000 appointments per store per week.

However, as of March 4, all appointments are booked at that one Fairfax location.

“In most (if not all) states, the number of individuals who are eligible to receive the vaccine under the state’s rules far outnumber the state’s available doses,” she says.

Currently, in Fairfax County, more than 100,000 people remain on the county’s waitlist. About 183,000 county residents have already been vaccinated.

Thibault confirmed that CVS is receiving a “one-time allocation” of 212,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week which will be spread across their stores in 17 states. Scheduling for that began yesterday (March 4) on the CVS website and administrating begins today (March 5).

She says that CVS has the capacity to administer 20 to 25 million doses a month nationwide, assuming there’s an adequate supply of not only the vaccine but also supplies.

At the other retail pharmacies offering vaccines in Fairfax County, challenges are similar.

Safeway, and its parent company Albertsons, are also offering appointments to those 65 and over. According to their online scheduler, the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also now being offered.

Locations in the county include one on Elden Street in Herndon, South Lakes Drive in Reston, Georgetown Pike in Great Falls, and West Ox Road in Fairfax.

So far, no appointments are currently available at least through March 13 at any locations.

“Store supply is based on allocations from state and local health departments. New appointments are added to the online scheduler as more vaccine become available,” writes Andrew Whelan, Albertsons spokesperson, to Reston Now. “Demand is high and appointments are often claimed very quickly. As dose allocations increase, so too will the opportunity to secure an appointment.”

Walgreens announced their participation in the federal partnership and started administering vaccines in Virginia. But, at least as of March 4, there are no appointments available within 25 miles of Reston, Fairfax, or Tysons.

Harris Teeter’s website notes that they were to start distributing vaccines this week in Virginia, but a company spokesperson writes to Reston Now that this hasn’t happened yet.

“Harris Teeter is expected to receive limited quantities of the vaccines soon at nine pharmacies in and around Northern Virginia… appointments will be released as vaccine allocations arrive.”

Giant has taken another approach. Instead of creating its own appointment system, the grocery chain is using the vaccine supply allocated to them by the federal government to help the Fairfax County Health Department vaccinate their waitlist.

“People invited from the queue will be able to select from several Giant locations within the Fairfax Health District,” reads the health department’s blog. “Locations and details will be included in the appointment scheduler email.”

Alcorn Plans Virtual Town Halls for Next Week — Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn will host two town halls on Feb. 16 and 18. The first discussion is with Reston District Police Station commanders and the second is with Alcorn. [Fairfax County Government]

Body Worn Camera Program Expands in Fairfax County — Phase two of the program is complete as officers from the police department’s Franconia and McLean District Stations received training and are now fully equipped with the devices. [Fairfax County Police Department]

CVS in Annandale to Distribute Vaccine — CVS will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible 1a and 1b populations through a federal program. So far, the only participating location in Virginia is located at Little River Turnpike in Annandale. Supply is limited, but more locations will begin to offer the vaccine soon. [Fairfax County Government]

Photo by Marjorie Copson

Eligible Fairfax County residents will soon have another option for getting innoculated against COVID-19, as CVS plans to start distributing vaccines at 36 stores in Virginia later this week.

CVS Health announced on Feb. 2 that it will offer the COVID-19 vaccine at its pharmacies in Virginia and 10 other states starting this Thursday (Feb. 11). The company anticipates receiving 250,000 total doses for the initial rollout of its vaccination program, which is being enabled by a partnership with the federal government.

“Our presence in communities across the country makes us an ideal partner for administering vaccines in a safe, convenient, and familiar manner,” CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch said. “This is particularly true for underserved communities, which have been a focus for us throughout the pandemic.”

Though Virginia was initially expected to receive approximately 26,000 doses that will be distributed to 28 stores, CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault told Tysons Reporter that the vaccine will be available at 36 locations across the state, including in Fairfax County.

Patch reported on Feb. 4 that the CVS at 3921 Prosperity Ave. off of Little River Turnpike will be among the stores to get the vaccine.

Thibault says a full list of the specific stores will be available through the CVS website and app once the stores start receiving shipments and appointments become available.

“Because locations and supply remain limited, we want to prevent stores from being overwhelmed by those who may seek a vaccination without making an appointment,” Thibault said.

Vaccinations will be available by appointment only. CVS has an online scheduling tool on its website and app for people to determine their eligibility and find locations offering the vaccine, but it has not opened up to Virginia yet.

CVS and Walgreens have been administering COVID-19 vaccines at long-term care facilities in Virginia, including Fairfax County, since Jan. 11 as part of the federal pharmacy partnership program.

Health officials told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors during its health and human services committee meeting last week that 2,936 residents and 3,133 staff at 55 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in the county have gotten at least one vaccine dose so far, with four more facilities scheduled to start vaccinating residents and staff early this week.

According to Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, the Fairfax County Health Department’s director of epidemiology and population health, the two national pharmacy chains are conducting three vaccine clinics at each of the county’s long-term care facilities.

“They’ve done a fairly good job in terms of reaching people, with some facilities having 95 to 100% of their residents being vaccinated,” Schwartz said.

The Fairfax County Health Department says it will have more information to share on the CVS vaccine program for other eligible populations in the next day or so.

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

Reston Station, a major mixed-use project at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, will welcome its newest tenant on March 1.

After permitting delays and an anticipated opening in December, CVS Pharmacy will open at 1906 Reston Metro Plaza between the entrance to the station and Starbucks on the plaza.

The business will occupy roughly 8,451 square feet of space.

Here’s more from Comstock, Reston Station’s developer, on the opening:

Adding CVS to the project’s retail will provide convenient on-site access to prescription medication and pharmacy experts, health and wellness products, and flu shots to Reston Station’s office tenants and commuters. CVS Pharmacy serves millions of consumers around the country with programs including a curated grocery and food selection, elevated beauty, customer-driven personalization with the ExtraCare Rewards program, and an enhanced assortment of health and wellness products.

“The addition of CVS Pharmacy to the Reston Station neighborhood aligns with our commitment to provide convenience and service to our tenants and residents,” said Tim Steffan, EVP/Asset Management, Development and Leasing for Comstock. “We are pleased to welcome this national retailer to our community, and look forward to growing our retail tenants in 2020.”

The company was the first to sign a lease for plaza-level retail space in Reston Station’s third tower, which is currently under construction.

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

A burglar broke into a Great Falls home and stole personal property on Friday, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The homeowner came home at 8:25 p.m. on Feb. 1 to find the front door open and rooms in disarray. Police found evidence that someone had forced entry to the rear sliding door of the home in the 10000 block of Park Royal Drive, according to the report.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:

LARCENIES:

2400 block of Centreville Road, liquor from business

2400 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business

11400 block of Commerce Park Drive, electronic devices from location

2000 block of Edmund Halley Drive, chainsaws from construction site

11000 block of Grey Squirrel Lane, bag from car

12000 block of Laurel Glade Court, wallet from apartment

11000 block of Plaza America Road, merchandise from store

11700 block of Stratford House Place, credit cards from location

12000 block of Wrexham Road, mail from vehicle

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

Deputies arrested a 34-year-old Herndon woman at the Ashburn CVS on Saturday (Feb. 2), according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 7:36 p.m., deputies responded to a call for a woman acting upset inside the store in the 44800 block of Russell Branch Parkway. The woman was unable to maintain her balance while standing, according to the report. Deputies found narcotics and drug paraphernalia on the woman and charged her with public intoxication and possession of paraphernalia.

She is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a secured bond.

That same day, Herndon police responded to a call of shots fired in the 900 block of Barton Oaks Place shortly after midnight. Officers checked the area, but did not find any suspects, according to the Herndon Police Department. Later that same morning, police responded to a call of a bullet that was found inside a home nearby. No injuries were reported.

Police are still investigating the case.

File photo

CVS Pharmacy is the latest tenant to sign a lease with Comstock’s massive Reston Station project near the Wiehle-Reston Metro station. 

The healthcare giant will lease 8,451 square feet of plaza-level retail space in Reston Station’s third tower, which is currently under construction. The $95 million tower features 180,000 square feet of office space and completion is slated for January 2020.

The storefront is at the entrance of Metro’s north pedestrian bridge to the station. Christopher Clemente, CEO of Comstock Holding Companies, Inc., said the tenant, which signed a twenty-year lease with three five-year options, will bring “virtually every item one needs for daily living” to residents, tenants, and commuters in the area.

“Bringing CVS to the Reston Station neighborhood is another great step forward for the Reston Station neighborhood,” Clemente wrote in a statement.

The company joins other retailers like Starbucks, Founding Farmers and Sweet Leaf Café on Reston Station’s Metro Plaza.

The new urban neighborhood includes the BLVD, a 447-unit high-rise, a 350,000 square-foot office tower, and Bozzuto’s residential building, Aperture. Additional development is planned and approved in Reston Station.  

Photo via Comstock

The MinuteClinic located inside the renovated and expanded CVS store at South Lakes Village Center expects to open by the end of this week, staffers said.

The MinuteClinic will be the first one located in Reston. Hours will be weekdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

CVS opened its newest Reston location on Sunday, finally bringing a convenience and drugstore inside the Reston Town Center.

The new store is located at the corner of Town Square and St. Francis Streets, in the ground-floor space of The Avant residential building.

While Reston Town Center has seen much expansion in recent years, some of the residents who live at town center lamented lack of a store for basics there. They could get a new outfit or eat at any number of good restaurants, they said, but were without a place to quickly pick up pain reliever or paper towels without getting in a car or walking several blocks to Harris Teeter.

The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The CVS store at South Lakes Village Center will expand into the empty retail space next door.

The empty storefront at 11160-H South Lakes has been vacant since Footsteps running store left in March of 2013.

Footsteps owner Paul Zink closed the popular running store last year after 17 years at the Reston location. He said it was too hard for a small business owner to stay in business at South Lakes, which had become mostly chains and restaurants.

CVS has filed permits for remodeling. No completion date has been set.

CVS announced on Wednesday it will stop selling tobacco products in its thousands of stores nationwide.

The huge drugstore chain says it will phase out cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco by Oct. 1 as it continues to focus on health care. CVS  and other major drugstore chains have been adding clinics to their stores for several years. Their pharmacists deliver flu shots and other immunizations and basic services.

CVS CEO Larry Merlo says the company decided it can no longer sell cigarettes at places where it also provides health care.

“The sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” Merlo said in a statement.

The move will cost the company about $2 billion in annual revenue, the Associated Press reports. However, CVS executives said they expect it to also help the health care business grow.

CVS has more than 7,000 locations, including two in Reston — one at South Lakes Village Center and one at Plaza America. A third will soon open on the ground floor of The Avant apartments at Reston Town Center.

Do you think this is a good decision by CVS? Take our poll.

Photo of CVS store with a Minute Clinic courtesy of CVS.

CVS is set to begin construction on its new store at Reston Town Center in the next week or two, a Boston Properties spokesman said.

CVS will be the first drug- or grocery store to be located at Reston Town Center. It will be located on the ground floor of The Avant, the new luxury residential building that recently opened at 12025 Town Square St. The store will be located on the right side of the building, where Town Square Street intersects with St. Francis Street.

While Reston Town has many restaurants and clothing stores, residents have long lamented the lack of a place to pick up necessities within the town center. Read the comments on a June story on the subject on another website.

No opening date has been announced.

Other ground floor tenants of the building include World of Beer, which is also beginning construction, and Barcelona Wine Bar and Bartaco.