Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

Below I have included a message from Inova which includes a lot of important information, including what to do if you think you have COVID-19 and how to get tested, a link to Dranesville District School Board Representative Elaine Tholen's newsletter, and information on how to watch the third and final day of FY 2021 budget public hearings this afternoon.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.

Sincerely,
John
A Message from Inova
All Inova hospitals and care sites are open and serving patients. The most up-to-date information on Inova’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at inova.org/covid19. Inova’s team of clinical experts is up-to-date on developments and CDC guidelines, and has developed a comprehensive response plan to maintain the safety and well-being of the community.  

It is safe to visit an Inova hospital, emergency room, or other care site. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, visit the ER or call 911 immediately. Delaying treatment can be a dangerous decision, especially when it comes to signs of a heart attack or stroke. Inova hospitals and emergency rooms have taken precautions to provide a safe environment for all patients – including screening processes and separate areas for those suspected of having COVID-19.


What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
  • Seek advice from your regular healthcare provider to determine if a medical evaluation is needed; 
  • If you feel it is an emergency, contact a local urgent care center, Respiratory Illness Clinic, or emergency room. Ask for instructions regarding accessing the facility; 
  • Practice “social distancing” by avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others when possible;
  • If you are experiencing a fever or symptoms of respiratory infection, such as cough or difficulty breathing, or had exposure to a COVID-19 patient and traveled to a high-risk area classified by the CDC, contact Inova at 855-IMG-DOCS for assistance and to arrange a clinic appointment if needed. Unless it is an emergency, do not show up at an Inova site for COVID-19 screening without calling ahead. 

Is COVID-19 testing available through Inova?
Yes, testing is available across Inova Health System based on clinical criteria outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health.  

Inova has established Respiratory Illness Clinics to evaluate all patients with respiratory illness symptoms. These clinics will also be able to collect samples via physician ordered and coordinated vehicle-side appointments for COVID-19 testing. All Inova Hospital and HealthPlex emergency rooms are a resource for those individuals who are experiencing clinical symptoms of COVID-19 that include cough, fever, and shortness of breath.

Hours and status for Inova Respiratory Illness Clinics and Urgent Care Centers:
  • Inova Urgent Care Centers at Dulles South, Tysons and North Arlington are operating as Respiratory Illness Clinics and only evaluating patients with respiratory illness symptoms.
  • Tysons Respiratory Illness Clinic is operating 7-days per week, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Dulles South and North Arlington Respiratory Illness Clinics are operating Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Inova Primary Care – Old Town Alexandria operates as a Respiratory Illness Clinic *by appointment only* Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To schedule a respiratory evaluation at the Old Town office, patients should call 703-683-7220.  
  • Inova's Respiratory Illness Clinics are able to collect samples via physician ordered and coordinated vehicle-side appointments for COVID-19 testing, as well as screen patients for COVID-19 symptoms. For more information, visit the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic webpage.
  • All other Inova Urgent Care Locations are seeing non-respiratory patients only. For addresses and hours, visit the Inova Urgent Care webpage.

Before visiting any Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic, take the following steps:
  1. Contact your regular physician for evaluation. For assistance with recommendations, to arrange for a physician appointment, or if you do not have a primary care physician, call 1-855-IMG-DOCS.
  2. Your regular physician should evaluate your symptoms to determine if testing is needed based on COVID-19 testing criteria, provide a testing order, and coordinate your referral to the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic for evaluation.
  3. Upon arrival at the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic, a clinician will greet the patient at their vehicle to collect samples for a physician-ordered test, or escort the patient into the respiratory clinic for evaluation.
  4. For patients who undergo COVID-19 testing, an Inova nurse will contact those whose results are negative. For patients with positive results, an Inova nurse will coordinate with the patient’s regular physician for notification and further instructions. Patients who are tested can expect results in roughly 2 to 4 days.
  5. Visit the Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic webpage for more information.
  • Inova Urgent Care – Tysons (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week), 8357 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182, 571-665-6440
  • Inova Urgent Care – Dulles South (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday), 24801 Pinebrook Rd. #110, Chantilly, VA 20152, 703-722-2500
  • Inova Urgent Care – N. Arlington (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday), 4600 Lee Hwy., Arlington, VA 22207, 571-492-3080
  • Inova Primary Care – Old Town Alexandria (By Appointment Only, 1:00-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday), 325 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-683-7220

How can the public help Inova during this time?
Visit the Inova "I Can Help" webpage for ways you can support Inova at this time including meal/supply donation, sharing a note of gratitude for frontline healthcare heroes, and how to participate in Inova research if you have recovered from COVID-19.

Visitation
Inova Health System has suspended all in-person visitation and is encouraging video meetings between patients and loved ones. Understanding that a family member, caregiver, or visitor may be crucial for clinical and patient care, exceptions to Inova’s Visitation Guidance can be made in extenuating circumstances. For more information, visit Inova’s visitation policy webpage.

Telemedicine
With the philosophy of trying to limit risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19, and to help our clinicians with greater flexibility to safely treat our patients, Inova has adopted a system-wide initiative that will allow patients to receive a wider range of healthcare services without having to travel to an Inova healthcare facility. In the month of April alone, Inova has facilitated more than 30,000 video and telephone care visits.

Inova offers the option for appointments to be conducted via telemedicine (video or phone), with flexibility to meet in person if a clinician determines necessary. For more information, visit Inova’s Virtual Visits webpage.

How can I protect myself?
The best way to protect yourself and your community against the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to the virus by:
  • Practicing good hand hygiene,
  • Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or using the inside of your elbow, 
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick,
  • Practicing social distancing of six feet or more,
  • Cleaning high-touch surfaces regularly, and
  • Staying home if you feel sick.

For more information on how to protect yourself, visit www.cdc.gov or www.vdh.virginia.gov.
Inova COVID-19 Screening and Testing Information – North County 

Throughout Dranesville District and the greater Northern Virginia region there are numerous community healthcare providers, including the Inova Health System, screening and testing for COVID-19. Individuals are always screened for symptoms and tested for COVID-19 when clinical criteria are met.

If you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness or suspect you have COVID-19, take the following steps:
  1. If it is not an emergency, contact your regular healthcare provider to determine if medical evaluation is needed. Your regular healthcare provider can screen you for symptoms and most effectively guide you to the appropriate resource for COVID-19 testing if clinical criteria are met. For information on symptoms of COVID-19, visit inova.org/covid19.
  2. If you do not have a regular healthcare provider call 855-464-3627 to schedule an in-person or virtual visit with a primary care physician.

How Do Patients Get Tested if Needed?
If an individual is screened in person and a physician determines a test is needed, the physician’s office will collect a specimen for testing if they have the capability, or they will refer the person to one of many healthcare providers offering COVID-19 testing in the region.

Inova Testing/Screening Locations – North County
Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 may visit any regional healthcare facility (primary care, urgent care, emergency room, etc.) including an Inova facility that offers screening/testing. Hospital and HealthPlex emergency rooms are a resource for those individuals who are experiencing clinical symptoms of COVID-19 that include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. The closest Inova screening and testing locations to the Dranesville District community are as follows:
  • Inova Primary Care Offices (for patients of those providers)
  • Inova Primary Care – McLean: 6845 Elm St. #710; 703-848-8500
  • Inova Primary Care – Falls Church: 6565 Arlington Blvd. #500; 703-531-2244
  • Inova Primary Care – Dunn Loring: 2671 Avenir Place; 703-207-8600
  • Inova Primary Care – Vienna: 130 Park St. SE #200; 703-938-7800
  • Inova Respiratory Illness Clinic – Tysons or North Arlington (appointment only, Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • InovaCares Clinic for Families (formerly Inova Health Advantage/Simplicity Health)
  • Neighborhood Health are providing screening and testing for the uninsured and under insured
  • Inova Fairfax Hospital: 3300 Gallows Road; 703-776-3116
  • Inova Emergency Care Center – Reston: 11901 Baron Cameron Ave.; 703-668-8333

More information on COVID-19 resources in North County:
Final FY 2021 Budget Public Hearing Today
Today, April 30, is the last day of public hearings on the revised FY 2021 budget proposal. The hearing begins at 3:00 p.m. and will be televised on Channel 16 (Cox Channel 1016; Verizon/Comcast Channel 16), streamed live online, and available to view on demand.

If you missed my virtual town hall on the budget proposal, view it on demand here or read my summary of the revised proposal here.
Newsletter from Elaine Tholen,
Dranesville District School Board Representative
Elaine Tholen, Dranesville District School Board Representative, distributed her newsletter earlier this week. Read it online here. In her newsletter, Elaine addresses the FCPS Distance Learning roll out, the Schools' budget process and timeline, updates from several Dranesville District schools, resources for students and parents, and more.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for coronavirus text alerts and to visit the frequently updated website listed below.

  • Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/.
  • Sign up for text message alerts­: text FFXCOVID to 888777.
  • Email the Fairfax County Health Department at ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (monitored 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays).
  • Call the Health Department at 703-267-3511 (9:00 a.m. to 7 :00 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekends).