Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

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March 16, 2020

Fellow Mount Vernon Vernon District Residents,

Saturday, the Fairfax County Health Department reported four additional presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Fairfax. One case is a Fairfax County Public School teacher at Lynbrook Elementary School. The Health Department has conducted a contact investigation to identify individuals who are at risk of exposure and have reached out to those people with additional information.

As a result of these latest developments, along with developments from Governor Northam, the County is moving into its next phase of response. Along with updated guidelines below, the Board of Supervisors plans to hold an emergency session on Tuesday, March 17 at 10 am to consider making a local Declaration of Emergency . The meeting will be broadcast live on Cox Cable Channel 16 and Cox HD Channel 1016 and live streamed on the County website.

At this time, the County will remain open in order to provide the services our residents need - please conduct County business online to the extent you can. Please know my office will remain open to address your concerns, however, during this rapidly evolving situation we prefer calls and emails to personal visits.

There is a lot of information below, so please read carefully.

Mass Gatherings and Community Events

The Virginia Governor is banning public events of greater than 100 people.
For events of any size (public or private), organizers and participants each have a responsibility to reduce the chance of disease transmission. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation is to cancel or postpone all in-person events of more than 50 people for the next 8 weeks.
Persons considering attending any event, regardless of the number of people attending should consider the risks and benefits in deciding to attend. In particular, those who are at high-risk of severe disease if they become infected – persons who are older than 60 years old, have chronic illness, have a compromised immune system, are pregnant - should know the status of COVID-19 in the community and not attend the event if local infection is widespread.
Here are County guidelines for those planning an event.

Fairfax County Public Schools

All FCPS school buildings are now closed until further notice.
With the school buildings closed, the laptop distribution scheduled for today is postponed.
All FCPS administrative offices are closed until further notice.
Only essential personnel as defined by FCPS will be asked to report to work until further notice. All other employees will work remotely.

Food distributions will continue through the closures, now at 18 locations. Breakfast will be available from 8 am to 10:30 am and lunch will be available from 10:30 am to 2 pm, Monday-Friday at the following locations:

Annandale Terrace ES, 7604 Herald St., Annandale
Bailey's Primary ES, 6111 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church
Braddock ES, 7825 Heritage Dr., Annandale
Brookfield ES, 4200 Lees Corner Rd, Chantilly
Burke School, 9645 Burke Lake Rd., Burke
Centre Ridge ES, 14400 New Braddock Rd., Centreville
Crestwood ES, 6010 Hanover Ave., Springfield
Cunningham Park ES, 1001 Park St., Vienna
Dogwood ES, 12300 Glade Dr., Reston
Garfield ES, 7101 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield
Graham Road Community Center, 3036 Graham Rd., Falls Church
Fort Belvoir Upper ES, 5980 Meeres Rd., Fort Belvoir
Hutchison ES, 13209 Parcher Ave., Herndon
Hybla Valley ES, 3415 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria
London Towne ES, 6100 Stone Rd., Centreville
Mount Vernon Woods ES, 4015 Fielding St., Alexandria
Providence ES, 3616 Jermantown Rd., Fairfax
Weyanoke ES, 6520 Braddock Rd., Alexandria

All students enrolled in FCPS and other County children 18 years and under receive one meal at no-cost; and, may have additional meals at no-cost upon request. Adults may purchase breakfast and lunch meals at a cost of $2.00.

For more information on FCPS's response to coronavirus click here. For more on food distribution and other community based resources that offer food assistance for students and families click here.

Fairfax County Government

Fairfax County has cancelled the Board of Supervisors scheduled committee meetings for Tuesday, March 17 to allow senior staff to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide essential services to members of the community.
On Tuesday, March 17 the Board will hold an emergency meeting at 10:00 a.m. to consider declaring a state of emergency in Fairfax County. Please let me know your suggestions and concerns.
The County will continue to follow the recommendations of the Fairfax County Health Department. As of now, County offices remain open and employees are encouraged to work remotely when appropriate and approved.
If County offices close, my office will remain open to provide answers and support where we can, however at this time, we prefer calls and emails to personal visits. As always, contact me or my staff if we can be of any assistance to you, at 703-780-7518 or mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov.
All County agencies have been directed to identify core functions that we must continue to carry out. We are shifting resources to those essential functions, as needed.
We strongly encourage residents to conduct County business online if possible.

Fairfax County Parks, Libraries, and Community Facilities

Effective Monday, March 16, County parks, libraries, and community facilities will be closed for two weeks.
This includes: recreation (RECenters), nature, community, resource and teen centers, golf courses, historic sites, athletic fields, and picnic shelters.
Walking trails and outdoor space at parks remain open.

Senior Centers and Adult Day Health Care Centers

All Fairfax County Senior Centers and Adult Day Health Care Centers are closed until further notice, effective immediately.
Beginning Monday, March 16, the County will provide meal delivery services to registered participants who wish to obtain them.

Information on other Fairfax County Services

For the latest Health Department information on COVID-19:

Visit the Health Department Website and see their FAQs.
Sign up for text message alerts: text FFXCOVID to 888777
Call the Health Department: 703-267-3511

If you have further questions or are in need of services, below are some good references:

Neighborhood and Community Services provides access and referrals to both government and community-based resources for assistance with, but not limited to: food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and healthcare.

Call: 703-222-0880, TTY 711
Monday-Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm

For small businesses in need of relief, we have created a webpage that we will continue to update with guidance.

Utilities

We have reached out to area utility companies to assure that they are working to protect those at risk of utility disconnection:

Verizon, Comcast, and Cox have pledged to keep customers connected for the next 60 days and not terminate services to any residential customer or small business that are unable to pay their bills. Read more...
Dominion Energy suspended disconnections. Read more...
Washington Gas will be waiving late fees and suspending disconnections. Read more...

Mental Health

If you’re struggling with mental health issues during this stressful time, visit the resources below for help.

Community Services Board Mental Health Non-Emergency
Community Services Board Mental Health Emergency Services 703-573-5679 or visit 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, in partnership with PRS CrisisLink, offers a suicide prevention text line in Fairfax. Anyone can text "CONNECT" to 855-11 and a PRS CrisisLink volunteer will respond within minutes. You can also call 703-527-4077, any time 24/7.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis hotline by texting 741741
Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Veteran's Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1

Fairfax Connector Bus

There have been no changes to Fairfax Connector services, however cleaning protocols have been reviewed and updated.
Increased vehicle cleaning cycles are occuring with a special focus on bus interiors and critical touchpoints. These cleanings incorporate disinfection procedures indicated to be effective against COVID-19.

Metro

Beginning Monday, March 16, Metro is reducing service. See the latest schedule changes...
WMATA also asks that customers do not use Metro to go to healthcare appointments if you are showing signs of illness.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE)

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, VRE will run on an "S" schedule on both the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. Read more...

How You Can Help

Blood Donations

Community blood banks are at risk of running low during this time. It’s important that healthy individuals continue to donate blood. If you are able, please consider donating.

Food Banks and Community Needs

Food banks are running low as donations decrease and demand increases. Consider contacting our community support groups such as United Communities and the Lorton Community Action Center to see what their latest needs are and how you can help.

Watch Out for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scams

As the coronavirus public health emergency continues, scam artists are taking advantage the situation. This includes everything selling products that supposedly will prevent, treat or cure the virus to asking for donations to aid people who are sick.