Fairfax County is now in Phase 3
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| COVID-19 cases are declining in Fairfax County. |
As all of Virginia, including Fairfax County, moved into Phase 3 July 1, public officials are concerned that the number of new COVID-19 cases might rise.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced June 30 that bar seating and congregate seating in restaurants will remain closed except for those passing through. Restaurants may use non-bar seating in the bar area, as long as there is a minimum of six feet between tables.
“I am watching what is happening in other states. We are taking a cautious approach as we enter Phase 3 and maintaining the current restrictions on bar areas,” Northam said.
Other states – such as Arizona, Florida, and Texas – have seen the number of COVID cases soar after they opened up, and their governors are re-imposing restrictions.
Under Phase 3, non-essential retail, restaurants, and bars can open at 100 percent capacity with physical distancing required. Outdoor entertainment venues, museums, gyms, barber shops, hair salons, and swimming pools can open with certain capacity limits and other restrictions. Gatherings are limited to 250 people.
In Fairfax County, the average number of new cases has gone from 302 per day at the peak to 66 now.
There were just 10 new COVID cases in the Fairfax Health District on June 30. The district has a total of 13,976 cases, 1,631 people hospitalized, and 503 deceased.
“Cases will increase as restrictions are relaxed,” Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, director of the Fairfax County Health Department told the Board of Supervisors’ Health and Human Services Committee June 30.
The 22041 zip code in Bailey’s Crossroads/Lake Barcroft continues to have one of the highest amount of COVID cases in Fairfax County, with 2,661 per 10,000 persons. The 22003 zip code in Annandale has 2,252 cases per 10,000.
To stay on course, Addo-Ayensu said people must continue to maintain protective behaviors, including social distancing of at least six feet, wearing face coverings, washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick.
“We have sufficient space at our hospitals, we have adequate PPE, there is testing capacity for everyone who needs it, and we are building our infrastructure to conduct contact tracing for the next year,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay.
Statewide, Northam said, “our hospitalization rates have fallen, our percentage of positive tests continues to trend downward, and we are conducting more than 10,000 tests each day.”
The percentage of positive tests in Virginia has dropped to 6 percent from a high of 20 percent in mid-April. The number of Virginians hospitalized with a positive or pending COVID-19 test has declined significantly over the past several weeks, and more than 1,200 contact tracers are working throughout the commonwealth.
“We want these trends to continue,” Northam said, “but if our public health metrics begin moving in the wrong direction, I will not hesitate to take action to protect the health and safety of our communities.”
If you’re heading to the beach for the July 4 weekend, here’s a warning: Delaware Gov. John Carney is closing bars in the beach communities following an increase in COVID cases.
Isn't it the death rate that really matters? If the death rate is decreasing, why should it matter if the number of "cases" is increasing. The number of "cases" is a function of how many people are getting tested, and the tests give false positives.