Jan. 27, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Vaccines cannot get here fast enough! The pandemic has taken too much from us and we all want it to be over. Be assured that there is an urgent and concerted effort to increase our vaccine supply and recent news from the federal and state government is promising. Here is updated information from the Fairfax County Health Department that you should know:

Vaccine Limited Until at Least March
The county's has currently vaccinated approximately 35,200 individuals since receiving its first shipment of vaccine in late December 2020. Due to allocations that go into effect this week, the pace of incoming doses is not expected to increase until March. This means there will be a limited vaccine supply for at least several more weeks. The Health Department is working expeditiously to schedule vaccination appointments each week in the order that the registrations had been received based on the amount of available vaccine.

Vaccine Distribution
Beginning this week, Virginia’s primary distribution of doses is allocated by the Virginia Department of Health to Local Health Districts, in proportion to each district’s population. Local Health Districts then allocate supply for all the entities that are providing vaccinations in the district. When the Fairfax Health District receives its allocation from the state, the Health Department keeps some of it to vaccinate those eligible in the 1a and 1b priority groups, and distributes the rest to other vaccine providers in the district, including Inova. The Health Department works closely with these partners to ensure that the priority groups are being vaccinated based on people’s eligibility and when they registered to get an appointment. This includes the commitment to K-12 public and private school teachers and staff, who are currently being vaccinated by Inova. The county is also working with Inova to develop a verification and vaccination process for childcare providers.

Learn more about the vaccine supply.

Governor Northam held a press conference this afternoon to provide a statewide update. You can watch it here. During his remarks, the Governor announced new vaccine dashboards to provide more transparency on vaccine distribution:
Virginia Vaccine Dashboards

Please stay stay safe and if you can, please check on your older neighbors by phone or socially distant to see how they are doing. These are difficult times, but we can be there for each other.

Respectfully,
Walter
Today's COVID-19 Updates (Jan. 27)
If you have questions about COVID-19, you can contact the Fairfax County Health Department:
  • Call 703-267-3511 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends)
  • Email ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (monitored 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays)

Vaccine Updates

Testing

Data Dashboards and Charts

Current Number of Cases in the Fairfax Health District
  • Daily reported case information for the Fairfax Health District: here and scroll down to get to ZIP Code data.
  • Daily reported case information throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia: here and ZIP Code data look for Data Download bar.


COVID-19 Case Information Chart (as of publication on Jan. 27)
Board of Supervisors Update
The Board of Supervisors held its first full meeting of 2021 yesterday and our meetings continue to be virtual due to the pandemic. You can watch the meeting here. The agenda and Board Package can be found here. I presented three Board Matters and co-sponsored another:
Other key actions included:
  • Appointed Deputy County Executive for Public Safety David M. Rohrer as interim police chief.
  • Approved advertising public hearings to be held on:
  • Proposed amendments to remove Tree Commission and Geotechnical Review Board provisions from the Zoning Ordinance and incorporate them into the County Code.
  • A series of amendments to prohibit using plastic bags for the set-out and collection of yard waste.
  • Endorsed projects submitted for the FY 2027 Regional Surface Transportation Program and congestion mitigation and air quality federal funding through the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.
The Board also held public hearings and approved:
  • Conveying Board-owned parking property at the main Government Center in Fairfax to the Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
  • Amending the Fairfax County Code by adding a new Chapter 43.2, Food Code, including provisions relating to mobile food vending and cottage food products.

Restaurant Week in Vienna and Reston
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Support our local restaurants in Vienna, Reston and throughout Hunter Mill District during Restaurant Week, going on now through Feb. 7. There are close to 100 restaurants in our community that are participating with great choices and deals. Visit Fairfax has a link that enables you to find a participating restaurant by cuisine or if it has heated outdoor seating.
Transportation and Land Use
Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Zoning Ordinance Modernization Project (zMOD), Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m.
County staff will present an update to the Planning Commission on the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) project. More information. If you would like to provide public testimony, click here.

Interactive Reston Transportation Data Hub Now Available
Reston residents, businesses and stakeholders can now access the latest information about transportation in the Reston area. The online, interactive Reston Transportation Data Hub features vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit data, in addition to information about planned infrastructure improvements and transportation projects for Reston. Learn more.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Meeting Held on Jan. 25.
To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. You can watch the Jan. 25 meeting on YouTube Live. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (please note change from usual time.) Details are forthcoming and will be available here and in this weekly newsletter.
Public Safety Update
Reminder to Drivers to Stop at Crosswalks
A reminder from the Fairfax County Police Department that effective last July 1, there is a new law that requires drivers to stop (not just yield) to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks until the pedestrian has cleared the lane. This includes all lanes and both directions at clearly marked crosswalks; any regular pedestrian crossing (such as residential intersections) even if unmarked; or at any intersection where the maximum speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour.

Reston District Station Town Hall Feb. 4 to Introduce Data Dashboard
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is hosting a series of virtual town halls to present new interactive GIS-based data dashboard. It is a tool designed from community input and rooted in the principles of transparency and fair and impartial policing. Key data points include arrests, citations and warnings. FCPD training and policies related to the data sets will be discussed. The Reston District Station town hall is Thursday, Feb. 4. at 5 p.m. You can join the Zoom meeting here.
Stuff the Bus Jan. 30 and Feb. 6
Food insecurity continues to be a big concern in our community. To help our vulnerable families, Stuff the Bus will have many locations countywide this Saturday, Jan. 30 and on Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Buses will be parked at two locations in the Hunter Mill District. You can bring your nonperishable food donations to:
North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
Or
Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna

3 Things to Know Today
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Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) Annual Seedling Sale Opens Feb. 2
For over 40 years, NVSWCD has provided a low-cost option for residents to purchase native seedlings to enhance the urban forest and support local environmental stewardship and engagement programs. Sale proceeds help to support NVSWCD programs. This is a wonderful opportunity to beautify your yard with native plants, promote beneficial habitats, and enhance our native forest. More information about each tree and shrub species is available here

Smart City Works, Fairfax County, Refraction and Virginia Tech to Host First Annual Smart City Challenge 
The Smart City Challenge is an innovation competition, in which teams create high-impact solutions to address the toughest smart city challenges in sectors including housing, transportation, health, broadband, energy, education, water, infrastructure, and public safety. The goal of the challenge is to advance equitable and inclusive opportunities for all people to thrive in our region. The challenge, which runs until Feb. 18, also will host important discussions on smart city issues with key business, government and nonprofit leaders throughout the month. Learn more.
 
Free Virtual Employment Expo for Job Seekers Age 50+ is Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A new series of virtual 50+ Employment Expos can help mid-life and older job seekers network with employers and training institutions and learn job search skills. Learn more.
Stay Informed and In Touch
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711