Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

As we go into the weekend, this email includes a reminder to wear a cloth face covering, information about contact tracing and new workplace safety standards to protect workers from COVID-19, and how to stay safe at an event or gathering during COVID-19, if you must attend one in person.

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
Face Coverings Can Save Lives and Keep COVID-19 Case Numbers Down
While most Virginians are complying with the requirement to wear face coverings, some are not, which may be contributing to a spike in coronavirus cases in the Commonwealth, mainly in the Hampton Roads area. At his July 14 news conference, Virginia Governor Northam discussed this trend and called for greater enforcement of existing regulations as a result.

People who do not wear face coverings inside public places, like restaurants or retail stores, can be charged with a misdemeanor, following an investigation by the Virginia Health Department. The Governor urged residents to follow the rules to protect others.

Face Coverings Work
Research shows that cloth face coverings can reduce the virus’ spread, especially when worn by everyone.

The CDC’s recent editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed the latest science. It affirms that there is increasing evidence that face coverings work, pointing to two case studies.

While face coverings are effective, they are not a substitute for social distancing, and everyone is encouraged to do both.

Wear It Right
Face coverings are required inside public places, including restaurants, grocery stores, hair salons, government buildings, and on public transportation.

The requirement also applies to children who are age 10 or older, and there are exceptions that include people with medical conditions or while eating, drinking, or exercising.

When you wear a face covering, make sure it covers your mouth and nose. The covering should fit snugly on your face, but it should not be so tight that is uncomfortable or difficult to breathe. Be careful not to touch the face covering, and wash your hands after removing. Plan to bring extras with you in case your face covering becomes damp or wet.
The Fairfax County Health Department also continues to seek cloth face covering donations to be provided to vulnerable members of the community.

Report People Without Face Coverings
Report people or businesses who are not following the face covering requirement. Make a complaint to the Virginia Department of Health by phone at 1-877-ASK-VDH3 or make a report online.
Contact Tracing: Answer the Call
The Fairfax County Health Department has been conducting case investigations and contact tracing since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. These routine public health practices are critical to protecting the community.

When Would the Health Department Contact You?
A representative of the Health Department, called a case investigator or a contact tracer, will contact you if:

  • You were tested for COVID-19 and the test showed you have this virus (a positive test).
  • You were identified as being in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Close contact means that you were within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes during the time they could have spread infection.

Contact tracers will only talk to you about information that is important for the case investigation. If needed, they can also help refer you to medical and other support services.

What Will You Be Asked to Do?
If the Health Department contacts you, they will also ask you to:

  • Stay home and away from others, including the people that you live with, so that you do not spread COVID-19. You should stay home even if you feel well and do not have any symptoms, because it is still possible for you to spread the virus. If you have COVID-19, this is called self-isolating; if you were exposed, this is called self-quarantining. Learn more about how long to isolate and quarantine.
  • Complete “wellness checks” by reporting any symptoms to the Health Department. To do this, you will be asked to enroll in Sara Alert or if you do not have a mobile device or access to email, you can receive a phone call from a representative of the Health Department. Sara Alert is a secure messaging service that sends a daily email or text message to you so you can report your symptoms to the Health Department.
How Can You Avoid Scams?
Here is some important information to be aware of when the Health Department communicates with you:

  • You will not be asked for money or information like your Social Security Number (SSN), bank account details, or credit card numbers.
  • If a Health Department contact tracer calls, the caller ID will say “VDH COVID TEAM.”
  • Sara Alert will always send a message from the same phone number, 844-957-2721. If you choose to receive emails, they will be sent from notifications@saraalert.org.
  • Sara Alert will only ask you to report your symptoms, nothing else.
  • You do not need to download anything to your phone or computer when you are enrolled in Sara Alert.

How Can You Help?
You can help protect yourself, your family, and our community by simply answering the phone if you receive a call. Contact investigations save lives, so when you talk with tracers and follow the guidance to stay home, you are doing your part to protect those around you.

By sharing who you have been in contact with and enrolling in Sara Alert, you can help more quickly and efficiently slow the spread of COVID-19. Contact tracers can then reach out to your contacts and ask them to stay home as well so that they do not infect others. Unless you give permission, your name will not be revealed to those you came in contact with — even if they ask.

Even if you are not sick with COVID-19 and have not knowingly been in contact with someone who is, your actions are critical to make us all safer. Continue to:

  • Keep at least 6 feet between you and others (social distance).
  • Wear a cloth face covering.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water often and avoid touching your face.
  • Stay home and away from others if you are sick or were in contact with someone who is sick.
Help Wanted: Recruitment of Contact Tracing Staff Continues
The Fairfax Health District has brought on close to 150 staff to help with contact tracing since June, with dozens more to be added in coming weeks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. But with the need to fill approximately 400 positions, more Fairfax County residents are being encouraged to apply.

Contact tracing involves finding people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and providing guidance to prevent them from spreading it. Contact tracing is one of many trusted public health tools used to prevent further spread of contagious diseases.

In the early weeks of the pandemic, the Health District focused its contact tracing efforts on cases in high-risk exposure areas like long-term care facilities and other health care settings. But in anticipation of an increase in cases as Virginia’s phased reopening continues, the Health District has worked to expand its contact tracing outreach.  

Earlier this summer, Fairfax County Health Department partnered with the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) to expand its workforce of contact tracers, case investigators and community health workers. These staff will be employees of IPHI and will be deployed to assist with the Health Department’s contact tracing operation. IPHI is actively seeking individuals with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds to help share and reinforce important health messages.

Information on available opportunities and how to apply can be found on the IPHI careers page. Candidates must be willing to work onsite at locations designated by the Health Department, where necessary precautions will be taken to help ensure a safe work environment. Candidates must be proficient in the use of mobile phones, tablets, and Microsoft Office applications.

Staff hired by IPHI are receiving extensive training in infectious disease investigation to prepare them to do this critical work. All new hires participate in a week-long virtual training with IPHI prior to joining the Health Department for additional in-person training and onboarding. 

Staff learn how contact tracing is done, including how to build rapport with cases, identify their contacts, and support both cases and their contacts to stop transmission in their communities. The training covers several important ethical considerations around contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine, in addition to some of the most common barriers to contact tracing efforts and strategies to overcome them. 

Contact tracers provide individuals with guidance on how to isolate or monitor for symptoms and refer those who develop symptoms for medical evaluation and testing to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Contact tracers will never ask about someone's social security number, immigration status, or banking information. Calls from contract tracers will have the caller ID “VDH COVID Team.”

For more information, visit the contact investigations page on the Fairfax County Health Department website.
Virginia Adopts Workplace Safety Standards to Protect Workers from COVID-19
Virginia has adopted new workplace safety standards to protect employees from COVID-19.

Earlier this week, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s Safety and Health Codes Board approved the temporary, emergency standards, which are anticipated to take effect the week of July 27.

The newly adopted standards require all employers to:
  • Mandate social distancing measures and face coverings for employees in customer-facing positions and when social distancing is not possible.
  • Regularly clean high-contact surfaces, including bathrooms and shared tools or equipment.
  • Provide easy and frequent access for employees to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
  • Assess workplaces for potential hazards that can cause exposure to COVID-19 and put in place an infectious disease preparedness and response plan for high-risk employees.
  • Notify all employees within 24 hours if a coworker tests positive for the virus.

According to the new standards, employees who are known or suspected to be positive for COVID-19 cannot return to work for 10 days or until they receive two consecutive negative tests; however the Fairfax County Health Department encourages businesses to follow the time-based approach in accordance with CDC guidelines.

These first-in-the-nation regulations also require additional steps be taken for employees that have a medium to higher risk of exposure to the disease.

Companies must classify whether jobs are “very high,” “high,” “medium,” and “lower” based on potential exposure to known or suspected sources for COVID-19:

  • Very high risk jobs include those that expose workers to known or suspected sources for the virus, including doctors performing intubations and lab workers.
  • High risk jobs are those that put employees within six feet from possible exposure, including health care workers, first responders, and morticians.
  • Medium risk jobs include teachers, daycare workers, restaurant employees, grocery store and other retail workers, and personal care employees at hair and nail salons.
  • Lower risk employees are those who have minimal occupational contact with other employees or the public. Exposure risks can be minimized through telework or the installation of physical measures, such as floor-to-ceiling physical barriers made from materials like plexiglass.

The adopted workplace standards, infectious disease preparedness and response plan templates, and training guidance will be posted on the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry website when available.

The new emergency temporary standards will remain in place for six months until replaced with a permanent standard or repealed.

Workers can file a complaint with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration online or call 800-321-6742 (OSHA).
Staying Safe at an Event or Gathering
During COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to circulate in our community and there is no way to ensure zero risk when attending events and gatherings. But there are three things to consider when deciding whether to attend an event:

  1. Time and Numbers: The more people you interact with, and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading.
  2. Social Distancing: The closer you are to other people who may be infected, the greater your risk of getting sick. Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces where it might be harder to keep people apart and there is less ventilation.
  3. Community Transmission Rate: The higher the level of community transmission in the area that the gathering is being held, the higher the risk of COVID-19 during a gathering.
There are also things to consider if you are the one planning an event or hosting a gathering. Keep the tips below in mind.

Consider Your Attendance Options
Try to offer options for attendees at higher risk for illness so that they can limit their exposure risk. For example, when possible, try to offer virtual meeting options. For everyone’s safety, consider limiting event attendance to people who live in the local area, and rotate or stagger shifts and arrival times to limit the number of attendees in a venue at the same time.

The risk of COVID-19 spreading at events and gatherings increases as follows:

  • Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.
  • More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear cloth face coverings, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city or county).
  • Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming from outside the local area.
  • Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.

Precautions to Consider When Gathering In-Person
Staying home continues to be safest. However, if you decide to plan an event or gathering, take the following precautions:

  • Assign a Contact: Designate someone to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns.
  • Set Criteria for Attendance: Advise attendees prior to the gathering that they should not attend if they have symptoms of, a positive test for, or were recently exposed (within 14 days) to COVID-19.
  • Monitor for Symptoms: Immediately separate attendees with COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc.). Individuals who are sick should go home or to a healthcare facility, depending on the severity of their symptoms.
  • Have a Plan in Place: Establish procedures for safely transporting anyone sick to their home or to a healthcare facility. If you are calling an ambulance or bringing someone to the hospital, call first to alert them that the person may have COVID-19.

If you learn that anyone who had attended your event presents symptoms or is diagnosed with COVID-19, advise those who have had close contact with the person to stay home, self-monitor for symptoms, and follow public health guidance if symptoms develop.

Health and Safety Etiquette
A few small steps can go a long way towards keeping attendees happy and healthy.

  • Practice Good Hygiene: Encourage attendees to wash hands often and cover coughs and sneezes. If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol and rub hands until dry.
  • Avoid Physical Contact: Discourage attendees from exchanging handshakes, fist bumps, and high-fives.
  • Wear Cloth Face Coverings: Encourage attendees ahead of the event to bring and use cloth face coverings. Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms. Face coverings are strongly encouraged in settings where individuals might raise their voice (e.g., shouting, chanting, singing).
  • Limit Sharing: Discourage people from sharing items that are difficult to clean, sanitize or disinfect. Limit any sharing of food, tools, equipment or supplies by attendees. Ensure adequate supplies are available to minimize sharing of high-touch materials to the extent possible and clean and disinfect areas and items between use.
  • Spread the Word: Notify attendees and the public of restrictions in place so everyone can practice the same safety measures. Include messaging about behaviors and procedures that promote health and safety throughout the event. You may even consider sharing messaging via social media or the event’s website. The Health Department has a selection of ready-to-print and digital resources to get you started.

Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus for more up to date COVID-19 information.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: