Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

As we head into this Memorial Day weekend, I want to take a moment to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude.

Today Governor Northam's Executive Order 79 went into effect lifting all capacity limits for gatherings and social distancing requirements. While this is great news masks are still required in some locations. The Virginia Department of Health website has updated guidance categorized by location and is a helpful resource going forward. This email includes updates from the Health Department on these changes, a new Vaccine Dashboard, and pool safety. See below for details.

This email also includes a message from the Park Authority on RECenter operations, as well as a message from VDOT on a temporary road closure June 1 - 11 for stormwater pipe replacement work on Linway Terrace.

Tomorrow, May 29 the Office of Elections will have 16 early voting locations open for the June 8 Democratic Primary. Early voting has been open at 3 locations, and tomorrow the other 13 satellite locations will open. This includes 4 locations in Dranesville; McLean Governmental Center, Tysons Pimmit Library, Great Falls Library and Herndon Fortnightly Library. See below for a full list of locations and hours.

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
COVID-19 Social Distancing and Capacity Restrictions Have Now Ended in Virginia
Unvaccinated People Should Still Wear Masks

Beginning today, May 28, Gov. Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 79 (PDF) takes effect, which lifts all remaining capacity limits for gatherings and social distancing requirements in previous executive orders. The Virginia Department of Health website has updated guidance categorized by location here.

In addition, earlier this month, the governor lifted the state’s indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals. However, fully vaccinated people may still choose to wear face coverings for many reasons, including protecting unvaccinated children. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two weeks after receiving the single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.

Where Masks Are Still Required
In the following settings, masks are still required by the governor’s executive order, by federal requirements and guidelines, or by private entities:
  • Students, faculty, staff, and visitors (regardless of vaccination status) in public and private K-12 indoor school settings.
  • Public transit, including the Connector and Fastran.
  • Health care facilities including all clinic settings operated by the Health Department and the Community Services Board.
  • Congregate settings including jails, group homes and shelters.
  • Employees in other workplace settings, including childcare and summer camps, will continue to abide by established CDC guidelines.
  • Mask requirements set by private entities, such as grocery stores and restaurants.

For Those Not Vaccinated
People who are not vaccinated should wear a face covering in all public settings in accordance with Executive Order 79 (PDF). Those not vaccinated are encouraged to take precautions in accordance with CDC guidance for unvaccinated people.

Although capacity limits, distancing and other business requirements are fully lifted now, VDH continues to encourage businesses and other establishments to follow VDH/CDC recommendations and best practices for masking, distancing, handwashing, cleaning, symptom screening, ventilation and more. View VDH General Recommendations for Businesses here.

Still have questions? Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs) from Forward Virginia and the Virginia Department of Health guidance.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard Now Live
To show vaccination progress in the Fairfax County Health District, the Health Department has launched an updated version of its COVID-19 vaccination dashboard.

For more details on the updates click here.
As Pool Season Begins,
Know the Latest COVID-19 Guidance
Swimming is a fun activity that offers many health benefits. Each year Healthy and Safe Swimming Week serves as a reminder to protect yourself and your loved ones from illness and injury. Whether you visit the pool, splash pad or beach, here is some information to help you stay healthy and safe.

COVID-19 Guidance
If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or socially distancing in most settings. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks after receiving single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

As of May 28, 2021, Executive Order 79 will go into effect in Virginia and will remove the current public pool restrictions. However, it is within an individual pool owner/operator’s purview to maintain requirements that exceed the current guidelines. That means you may still be asked to wear a mask or keep space between you and others.

If you are not fully vaccinated, however, you should continue to take preventative measures when you visit beaches and pools. For example, avoiding crowds, staying 6 feet apart in and out of the water, and correctly wearing a mask in accordance with the CDC guidance. As a reminder, there is no evidence that COVID-19 spreads through water.

Whenever you are near water, it is important to take steps to prevent swimming-related injuries (like sunburns, slips and falls), drowning, and waterborne illnesses.

According to the CDC, every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning and of these, two will be children aged 14 or younger. Learn about preventing recreational water injuries and visit PoolSafely.gov for simple steps to reduce childhood drownings and pool injuries.

If you visit any of Fairfax County’s 1,600 miles of streams and channels, please be aware that swimming is discouraged because they can be susceptible to pollution that can make you and your pets sick. Read this advisory on recreational use of county streams. You can also check for beach or lake closure information before heading to the water.

Find more tips and resources on the Health Department website.
Letter from the Park Authority
Dear RECenter Member,

As we welcome the unofficial kickoff to summer this Memorial Day weekend, we will be returning to full RECenter operations over the coming days and weeks. We are continuing to follow CDC guidance and as always, safety is our number one priority.

Beginning Friday, May 28, 2021, the following changes will become effective:
  • No temperature checks upon entry.
  • Members, participants, and guests who are not fully vaccinated and children under the age of 12 will be required to wear a mask.
  • Tickets will no longer be required for Group Fitness classes.
  • Unrestricted racquetball and wallyball will resume.

On June 1, the spas will be available.

On June 7, the following changes will become effective:
  • You will no longer need to make advanced reservations for the fitness room, lap swim/water walking or recreational swim. Since tickets have already been released through June 6th no additional tickets will be released this weekend.
  • Locker rooms will be fully reopened for use including the saunas.

Changes that will occur over the coming weeks:
  • Rearranging the fitness rooms and returning the balance of the free weight equipment, selectorized strength training machines, and cardio equipment.
  • Childcare at Oak Marr RECenter will resume.
  • Because some water fountains have been off for over 15 months they will remain off until they can be tested for water quality. 

We will continue to:
  • Perform health screenings (answering health status questions) upon entrance.
  • Remind you if you feel sick and have COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home. 
  • Maintain tickets for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball.
  • Offer virtual classes that are included with your membership. You can join them on the Healthy Strides website here.
  • Staff will continue regular cleaning of equipment and high-touch surfaces for your safety. This combined with your disinfecting efforts before and after equipment use will further ensure that your workout will be safe.

Your health and safety and that of my staff continues to be my priority. The RECenter team and I are grateful for your support during the pandemic and are glad to see you continuing to achieve your fitness goals.

Keep Moving! 

Brian Laws 
Operations Manager 
Fairfax County Park Authority
VDOT: Linway Terrace Closed in McLean June 1 - 11
Detour in place during stormwater pipe work

Linway Terrace between Birch Road and Kirby Road (Route 695) will be closed to through traffic, weather permitting, from 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, June 11 to replace a stormwater pipe, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Those needing to reach properties along Linway Terrace will have access; however, traffic will not be able to go beyond the point of pipe replacement (just west of Bryan Branch Road) in either direction.

Through traffic will be detoured via Birch Road, Old Dominion Drive (Route 309) and Kirby Road back to Linway Terrace.

View this release online here. Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova 
June 8 Primary Election Early Voting
Early Voting Begins April 23 for the June 8 Primary Election. Any registered Fairfax County voter can vote early, and can cast their ballot at any early voting site.

The June 8 election is only a primary for Democratic Party candidates for the following offices:
  • Governor
  • Lieutenant Governor
  • Attorney General
  • House of Delegates (34, 36, 38, 45, 49 and 86th Districts only)
There is no Republican primary election in Fairfax County. The party has chosen to nominate its statewide candidates through a convention.

Information on upcoming elections, including sample ballots is available on the Fairfax County Office of Elections website here.

  • Deadline for Absentee Ballot Applications to receive a ballot by mail: in the office by 5pm on May 28, 2021   
  • Absentee Ballots, to be counted: Hand delivered in the registrar's office by 7pm June 8, 2021 
  • Postmarked on or by June 8 and received in the office by noon on June 11, 2021 
  • Drop boxes are available at all early voting locations and precincts when open for voting

  • All Early Voting locations will be closed on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021
  • The last day to vote early is Saturday, June 5 at 5 p.m.
April 24– May 28
Weekdays: 8am to 4:30pm
Saturday, April 24 ONLY: 9am-5pm
May 29 - June 5 (Closed May 31)
Weekdays: 8am to 7pm
Saturdays: 9am to 5pm
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax 22035

1801 Cameron Glen Dr, Reston 20190

2511 Parkers Ln, Alexandria 22306
May 29 - June 5
Weekdays 2pm to 7pm
Saturdays 9am to 5pm
All locations will be closed on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021
5935 Freds Oak Rd, Burke, VA 22015

14200 St German Dr, Centreville 20121

6121 Franconia Rd, Alexandria 22310

9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls 22066

768 Center St, Herndon 20170

(SATURDAYS ONLY)
87012 Laurel Crest Dr, Lorton 22079

6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale 22003
1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean 22101

3001 Vaden Dr, Fairfax 22031

4900 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly 20151

7415 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, 22042

7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church 22043

6140 Rolling Rd, Springfield
Stay Informed about COVID-19
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: