Coronavirus cases continue to rise

Beech Tree Elementary School has a positive message for people in social isolation.

COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County continue to climb, surpassing 1,000 over the weekend.

The total number of cases in the Fairfax Health District went from 942 on April 11, to 1,011 on April 12, and to 1,167 on April 13.

Most of the cases so far – 557 out of 1,167 – affect people age 18-49. There were 20 cases among children from birth to age 17, 341 for people age 50-54, and 243 among people age 65 and over.

There have been 21 deaths in the Fairfax Health District, including 18 among people age 65 and over and 3 in the age 50-64 category.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Departments reports seven employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Two have fully recovered and another seven are in quarantine. Three of the personnel who tested positive contributed to an on-duty exposure.

In other coronavirus news:

Fairfax County has posted a toolkit on its coronavirus website and is also mailing it to every household.

The toolkit lists the symptoms of COVID-19, offers advice on what to do if you have symptoms, what to do if you come in close contact with someone who is sick, how to identify and talk to close contacts if you have COVID-19 symptoms, when to isolate and quarantine, and how to protect yourself.

Social distancing works – Gov. Ralph Northam said April 13 that a model on the impact of coronavirus in Virginia shows social distancing efforts are working.

“We are slowing the spread of this virus,” Northam said, but the model, developed by the University of Virginia, shows if the stay-at-home order is lifted too soon, there will be a surge of new cases this summer.

Fraud alert – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public about several emerging fraud schemes related to the coronavirus pandemic. These schemes relate to the selling of fake COVID-19 test kits and unapproved treatments through telemarketing calls, social media, and door-to-door solicitors. Scammers are promising free care in order to gain access to personal and health insurance information, including Social Security numbers and financial data.

The FBI also warns healthcare providers about fraud trends involving the procurement of personal protective equipment and ventilators. In addition, the FBI says, fraudsters are leveraging increased fear during the pandemic to steal money and launder it through the cryptocurrency ecosystem.