Covid cases rising in Fairfax County
While mask mandates are being lifted and many people are behaving like the pandemic is over, the Fairfax County Health Department still urges caution, as new Covid cases are rising.
Over the past two weeks, the number of Covid cases in the Fairfax Health District has risen by 62 percent. Since a low of 53 new cases was reported on March 21, the daily number of cases has soared.
The seven-day average of new cases reported has steadily gone up from 149 on April 1 to 289 on April 27.
The Fairfax Health District reports 15 new outbreaks (clusters of three or more connected cases of illness) in the past week. Twelve of those outbreaks occurred in schools and daycare centers.
The number of cases is probably higher as many people who take at-home tests don’t report the results and others with symptoms don’t get tested.
Despite the rising numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths have not increased significantly, and the community level remains at “low.”
The total number of Covid deaths in the Fairfax Health District rose from 1,492 on April 1 to 1,509 on April 26.
Most Covid infections in the United States are caused by the BA.2 variant, while the BA.2.12 subvariant is spreading.
The Fairfax County Health Department urges residents “to remain vigilant to protect themselves from illnesses and help stem transmission of the virus.”
As Covid cases rise, the Health Department urges people to get a vaccination or booster, especially if:
• You have a new medical condition that increases your risk of getting infected with Covid, started a new medication that decreases your immunity, or are pregnant.
• An elderly parent or other relative has moved in with you or you’re caring for an elderly person.
• You have a new baby or a child starting daycare, school, or summer camp.
Even though masks are no longer required in most places, the Health Department encourages people to wear a mask in indoor settings and in crowds.
How can we find out where those 15 outbreaks were?
https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/fcps-confirmed-covid-19-case-reporting
One of the outbreaks has got to be sleepy hollow elementary. Been getting emails nearly daily from admin saying there have been positive cases at the school, with some days saying there were multiple positive cases. While no time is good for an outbreak, it’s especially frustrating that it’s occurring during SOLs.
I don’t care. I’m unvaccinated (pureblood) and have had covid. Same with basically all my friends and family. I received an antibody test last week and my antibodies are great. At this point, covid is nothing to fear unless you are severely immunocompromised and/or have multiple comorbidities.
Pureblood. Wtf does that even mean…
Pureblood means untainted by – to use the FDA’s term – an “investigational” series of vaccines.
One million people have died of Covid. By your actions and your choices you are dooming another million to die. Our goal should be to eradicate the disease and end the suffering of so many people. This is not about you. Its about all of us.