December 15, 2021
To the Fairfax County Community,

Yesterday, the Board received an update from the Health Department regarding the omicron variant of COVID-19, COVID-19 caseloads, and our continued vaccination efforts. I detail that information below.

This certainly isn't where we would like to be close to two years after the pandemic began in the United States. We still have a lot to learn about this virus, but we have a powerful public health tool at our fingertips: the vaccine. In Fairfax County we are proud to have administered over 1.9 million vaccine doses and urge that everyone get vaccinated or get their booster (if eligible) as soon as possible. This will strengthen a critical layer of defense against COVID-19, as more contagious variants emerge.

As I always say, the vaccine is safe and effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and death. Everyone must participate to achieve the highest level or immunity in our community to slow the spread of the virus and to keep people out of the hospitals. Please, sign up for your vaccine appointment here.

It's heartbreaking to think of the thousands that will not be with us this holiday season and many may be fearful to see their families and friends. While I urge you to be careful and thoughtful over these next few weeks, there are things you can do, like get tested, to make sure you gather safely. Read the Health Department's guidance here.
In addition, if you still need to get into the holiday spirit, there are plenty of activities happening around Fairfax County depending on your comfort level in getting out and being around people.

See what's going on here. The Christmas Illumination at Mount Vernon for example is this weekend (left).
COVID-19
You can review the Health Department's full presentation here.
  • The chart above tells us a few things:
  • Blue shows COVID-19 cases.
  • Black shows hospitalizations.
  • Read shows deaths.
  • Purple shows vaccinations.
  • The first black wave is the original wave of the virus in 2020, while the second is the delta variant this fall.
  • As you can see with the introduction of the vaccine, the hospitalization and death rate were much lower in the delta wave. There is clear evidence that the vaccine prevents severe illness, hospitalization, and death. (Schedule a vaccine appointment now!)
  • We are currently experiencing a 5.4% COVID positivity rate and are likely to see an increase in cases as people spend more time indoors.
  • I'm sure you have also heard about the omicron variant. We still have much to learn about it but early evidence shows that it is more transmissible than other variants.
  • We want to encourage people to get a vaccine booster as it will increase the antibodies to prevent severe illness and hospitalization. Schedule your booster appointment here.
  • A layered mitigation strategy continues to be recommended. For example:
  • Physical distancing
  • Good ventilation
  • Appropriate mask wearing
  • Testing
  • Stay home if sick
  • Wash your hands
  • In the chart on the left:
  • Earlier in the pandemic we saw higher COVID infection rates in Hispanic and African American populations.
  • We are excited to see that the disparities among these groups have narrowed.
  • We continue our vaccine equity efforts with community engagement, translated materials, and by making the vaccination process easier to access. We have 335 vaccine sites, including equity clinics, across Fairfax County.
  • In the chart on the right: You can see that kids ages 5-9 are contracting COVID-19 at higher rates than other age groups. This is likely because most children are still largely unprotected from disease because they have only been eligible for the vaccine since early November.
  • We are proud of our partnership with FCPS to keep schools open (no school has closed this academic year as a result of COVID!) and to provide information to parents about COVID-19 cases and protocol.
  • We have also been working with FCPS to open school vaccination sites. Clinic locations are targeted towards areas of greater need with lower pediatric vaccination coverage rates, higher social vulnerability, and higher populations of kids 5-11. Additional schools will continue to be added.
Two team members of our Community Health Worker program.
  • Finally, on a bit of a brighter note, I want to share a great program we have in place to support individuals and families affected by isolation and quarantine.
  • Our Community Health Worker program identifies and addresses the needs of people in isolation - for example, not being to leave one's home to grocery shop or being unable to pay one's rent because of missed work. This program provides people with the resources they need so they can properly stay home and isolate while sick.
  • This program has positively impacted over 42,000 Fairfax County community members!
Health
Vaccine Resources:


COVID-19 Resources:

  • Fairfax County Health Department
  • To view the number of cases in Fairfax County this page is updated at noon daily.
  • Visit the County site on COVID-19, Health Department Website, and see their FAQs.
  • To view multilingual health materials visit the County's Language Portal.
  • Sign up for text message alerts: text FFXCOVID to 888777. Para inscribirse, textear FFXCOVIDESP a 888777.
  • Call the Health Department from 9am-7pm weekdays and 9:30am-5pm on weekends: 703-267-3511
  • Email: [email protected]. This account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8am-8pm.
  • Inova has a helpful FAQ.
Sincerely,
Jeff McKay
Contact my Office

| 703.324.2321 |
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