Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

The Board met virtually on Tuesday for a regularly scheduled Board Meeting. I have included a few highlights below and the entire meeting is available to view on demand here.

This email also includes information about a recently approved reduction in penalties for late car and real estate tax payments, Phase Three reopening guidelines, details for an upcoming virtual career fair for tech professionals, and more.

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
Updates from June 23 Board of Supervisors Meeting
Proclaiming June 2020 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month in Fairfax County
Supervisor Foust was joined by Chairman Jeff McKay and Supervisor Dalia Palchik in moving to recognize June 2020 as Pride Month in Fairfax County. Read the Board Matter here.

Housing Partnership Pledge
At the request of Supervisors Foust, Storck, and Chairman McKay, the Board directed staff to develop a Housing Partnership Pledge to help address COVID-19's impact on housing and homelessness. This effort will bring together leaders from the landlord and lending community to develop a pledge providing relief to borrowers and tenants by deferring actions such as foreclosures and evictions. In addition, the Department of Housing and Community Development will update guidelines for emergency rental assistance and the Redevelopment and Housing Authority will explore additional flexibility it may have in its programs to provide emergency rental assistance.

Paid Family Leave for Fairfax County Employees
The Board approved six weeks of Paid Family Leave for Fairfax County employees. This leave can be used for events such as the birth or adoption of a child or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.

Penalties for Late Car and Real Estate Tax Payments Reduced
The Board approved reducing penalties for late personal property and real estate tax payments this year. For late payments, the penalty was cut in half from 10% to 5%. The additional 15% penalty for car taxes on payments more than 30 days overdue was also eliminated. More information below.

The full Board Package is available here.
Fairfax County Reduces Penalties for Late Car and Real Estate Tax Payments
Reminder: Due Date to Pay First Installment of Real Estate Taxes Extended to August 28
To help taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic, Fairfax County has significantly reduced penalties for late personal property and real estate tax payments this year.

The penalty for late payments of these taxes was reduced from 10 percent to 5 percent. The additional 15 percent penalty for personal property taxes - better known as car taxes - that are more than 30 days overdue was eliminated. These changes will apply only to tax year 2020.

In late March, the board extended the due date to pay the first half of real estate taxes until August 28. This payment is normally due one month earlier on July 28. The deadline to report changes in personal property ownership was also extended to June 1. Taxpayers who missed this deadline are subject to the normal 10% penalty.

As always, Department of Tax Administration staff are available to assist taxpayers experiencing financial difficulties with setting up reasonable payment plans.

Residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to pay their taxes online. This is the safest, fastest, and easiest way to pay taxes during the pandemic. E-check payments are easy, quick, and free. Residents who normally pay with cash in person are reminded that they can do so by mailing a money order instead.

For more information or questions, contact the County's Department of Tax Administration by email or by phone at 703-222-8234, TTY 711.
Virginia Phase Three of Reopening to Start July 1
Earlier this week, Governor Northam announced that Virginia will be moving into Phase Three of reopening on Wednesday, July 1. Governor Northam said he anticipates that Northern Virginia will transition with the rest of the state. Phase Two guidelines remain in effect through June 30.

In Phase Three, the Commonwealth will maintain a Safer at Home strategy with continued recommendations for social distancing and teleworking, and the requirement that individuals wear face coverings in indoor public settings. The maximum number of individuals allowed in social gatherings will increase from 50 to 250 people. All businesses should continue to follow physical distancing guidelines, frequently clean and sanitize high contact surfaces, and keep enhanced workplace safety measures in place.

Restaurant and beverage establishments are required to maintain six feet of distance between tables, fitness centers may open indoor areas at 75 percent occupancy, and recreation and entertainment venues may operate at 50 percent occupancy, or a maximum of 1,000 persons. Swimming pools may also expand operations to free swim in addition to indoor and outdoor exercise, diving, and swim instruction. Overnight summer camps will remain closed in Phase Three.

Phase Three Summary
  • Safer at home - especially if you are vulnerable
  • No social gatherings of more than 250 individuals
  • Continued social distancing
  • Continued teleworking strongly encouraged
  • Face coverings required in indoor public spaces
  • Expanded business operations

Phase Three guidelines can be found in English here and in Spanish here. Governor Northam’s presentation outlining Phase Three can be found here. Visit virginia.gov/coronavirus/forwardvirginia for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
A Safe Space to Dig Deep:
Mental Health and Wellness in the Black Community
Tune in for the first in a series of community discussions about mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health within the Black community.

Presented by Fairfax County Government in partnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the series will dig deeper into conversations that address the conditions of COVID-19, inequity, racism, trauma, stigma, and other factors that significantly impact the well-being of our Black community. Discussions will also consider what we can do, individually and collectively, to bring about meaningful and long overdue change to improve outcomes in the lives of our Black community.

The June 30 session will provide a historical and contemporary overview of how racial trauma and stigma impact the mental health and wellness of the Black community. All are welcome to attend.

Event Details
Tuesday, June 30
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Online via GoToWebinar

Virtual Career Fair for Tech Professionals
On July 14, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and 13 other leading tech companies in Northern Virginia will bring recruiters to a virtual career fair presented by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). The companies represented will be offering a combined 3,000 job opportunities in Northern Virginia.

With the Tech Virtual Career Fair, FCEDA aims to connect job seekers with companies that are hiring now. While the fair is primarily for those in tech fields including data science, software engineering, IT, cybersecurity, defense and aerospace, some companies are featuring non-tech positions such as marketing, sales, finance, human resources, and legal.

In addition to Microsoft and AWS, other companies in attendance will be AppGuard Inc.; CGI; CVP (Customer Value Partners); Expedition Technology; EntropyZero Consulting; FireEye; Ipsun Solar; General Dynamics Information Technology; ManTech International; MicroHealth; NTT Data Federal; Serco, Inc.; and SOSi.

Participants will be able to browse companies in a virtual lobby, enter companies’ booths, view open positions, engage in video conferencing and chat with HR representatives in real-time – all from the comfort of their homes. If you are (or know) a tech professional looking for a meaningful, new job or career change, view the registration page here. Individuals with security clearances are strongly encouraged to attend.

The Tech Virtual Career Fair is the second in a series of online hiring events presented by the FCEDA. The FCEDA’s first virtual career fair for recent college graduates drew nearly 1,000 attendees and 13 participating companies, resulting in more than 900 completed conversations between hiring reps and job seekers.

Boasting 8,900 technology establishments and more than 50 Cybersecurity 500 firms, Fairfax County is a proven resilient tech hub. It is the business hub of the Washington, D.C., area, which is projected to add more than 130,000 tech jobs within the next five years, outranking cities such as San Francisco and Austin.

In addition to the Tech Virtual Career Fair, FCEDA is also sponsoring the Northern Virginia Hispanic Chamber’s virtual career fair slated for Tuesday, July 28.
Unemployed Health Insurance Hotline
The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty for many who have lost their jobs due to the economic impacts of the virus. The loss of health insurance coverage is a major concern for those recently unemployed. 

HCA Virginia is working to assist those who find themselves without health insurance coverage for their families. The Commonwealth’s most comprehensive provider network has established a hotline to assist those who have lost health insurance coverage to secure temporary coverage while they are unemployed. 

The hotline (833-867-8771) is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Hotline advisors can discuss eligibility and advocacy services appropriate for a variety of scenarios, such as:
  • Continuing an employer's existing plan for those who have recently lost a job (COBRA and other options)  
  • Applying for coverage via a spouse's benefit program
  • Resources that may help offset the costs of health insurance
  • Medicaid for those that meet certain criteria
  • State and federal health insurance exchanges (such as the Affordable Care Act), and how to enroll due to a life changing event like job loss

These services are offered free of charge. HCA Virginia is not representing any other company or selling insurance plans.
An Update 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, including what to do if you feel sick, how to get tested if appropriate, visitor information, and other information to plan for your care can be found at inova.org/covid19.  

It is safe to visit an Inova hospital, emergency room, or other care site. For more information on what Inova is doing to ensure the safety of care sites, visit the Safe@Inova website.
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. Click here to find your nearest Inova ER

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. Before visiting any Inova care site for testing, 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.

Inova has established Respiratory Illness Clinics to evaluate all patients with respiratory illness symptoms. These clinics are also 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.
For more information on Inova Respiratory Illness Clinics and COVID-19 testing sites, visit the Inova website.

COVID-19 Services for Medicaid/Uninsured Patients – InovaCares Clinics for Families
All members of Northern Virginia’s diverse communities are welcome at the Inova Cares Clinic for Families (ICCF). ICCF provides primary care services for patients who qualify for Medicaid, FAMIS or Inova’s Financial Assistance Program, and the uninsured. Inova assists patients who qualify for Medicaid with the enrollment application process. Financial assistance/charity care options will be explored for patients who do not qualify for Medicaid

COVID-19 Information: ICCF provides free COVID-19 telemedicine screening for all patients, with a particular focus on the low-income uninsured. For more information, visit the Inova Cares Clinics for Families webpage.

Blood Donation and Convalescent Plasma
It is safe to donate and donations are needed. Inova is taking extra precautions at all times to maintain a clean and safe environment for donors. For more information on how to make an appointment, visit http://www.inovablood.org.

If you had a positive COVID-19 test and you have been symptom-free for 14 days, you may be able to be a convalescent plasma donor. Your plasma should be rich in immunoglobulins that may be helpful to patients who are actively fighting a COVID-19 infection. To learn more about convalescent Plasma, visit www.inovablood.org/covid19plasma.

Other Inova Resources and Information

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 the using the inside of your elbow, 
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick,
  • Wearing a cloth face covering or mask in public and practice 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.
Essential Supplies Needed for Child Care Programs
The County's Office for Children (OFC) is seeking donations to support child care programs countywide in providing essential services to children and families. Donated supplies will support healthy hygiene practices and help child care centers and family child care programs maintain a clean and healthy environment.

OFC is seeking these essential supplies:

  • Hand soap
  • Paper towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Disinfectant wipes
  • Disinfectant spray
  • Bleach
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Disposable gloves
  • Diapers

Donations will be collected through July 31, 2020. To donate, click here. For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OFC.
MCC Super Summer Scavenger Hunt
Looking for something fun and exciting to do this summer? The McLean Community Center (MCC) has the perfect solution for you. Join your friends, family, and community members for MCC's Super Summer Scavenger Hunt! Beginning Wednesday, July 1, and concluding on Monday, August 17, this exciting and free virtual event allows you and a team of your choice to compete against other teams and win amazing prizes.

The hunt is the perfect way to stay local and have fun with friends and family. The game is played on a smart phone and players must complete indoor and outdoor “missions” (or challenges). Missions include answering questions, taking specific photos or videos, finding a specific item, geocaching, or completing specific tasks as given in a list provided by MCC. The scavenger hunt will take place in or around McLean.

Participants may work in teams of up to 10 players. Team captains must be 16 years old or older. The hunt will have a maximum of 125 teams - so register early. The first 50 teams to sign up will receive a special gift bag to make the hunt even more fun.

Registration opened Tuesday, June 23 and will remain open through Monday, August 3. For more information and to register, click here.
Route 7 Project Updates
The Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project June newsletter is now available online. It includes information on the work in the Difficult Run and Colvin Run areas. In addition, photos, project progress, and lane closure information is available online at connectroute7.org under News & Updates.

For additional information, questions, or concerns, contact the project team at connectroute7@vdot.virginia.gov or 833-777-7411 or Jenny Kaplan in Supervisor Foust's office at Jennifer.Kaplan@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-356-0551.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: