Tag: coronavirus
Fairfax County Health Department to begin COVID vaccine rollout
The Fairfax County Health Department hopes to begin the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines this week or the week after. The FDA granted emergency approval of the Moderna vaccine Dec. 18, and the county expects to receive a shipment within the next few days, says Colin Brody, assistant public health emergency management coordinator in the Health … Continued
Free rides on Fairfax Connector and Metrobus end next month
A polycarbonate driver shield on a Fairfax Connector bus. Free bus rides on Metrobus and Fairfax Connector, in effect during the pandemic, are ending next month. Bus riders will start paying fares on Metrobuses on Sunday, Jan. 3, and on Fairfax Connector buses on Monday, Jan. 4. Rear-door boarding is also ending on those dates. … Continued
Inova Fairfax Hospital begins COVID vaccinations for staff
Nurse Meg Sourbeer gets the first COVID vaccine at Inova Fairfax Hospital. [WJLA] Inova Fairfax Hospital received its first doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer Dec. 15 and immediately began training nurses and pharmacists who volunteered to inoculate their coworkers, WJLA/ABC7 News reports. Meg Sourbeer, a neonatal intensive care nurse and 40-year veteran at Fairfax … Continued
COVID fund provides relief for water bills
People hard-hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for a break on their water bill. Fairfax Water is working with Fairfax County to administer funds from the commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program. Eligible customers will need to apply for this relief program by Dec. 30. To qualify, you must meet certain … Continued
Virginia healthcare workers start getting COVID vaccines
Yolanda Dumas, an emergency room nurse at Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk got the first COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia. Virginia received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines and began inoculating healthcare workers yesterday. Supplies are limited, so high-risk groups will be vaccinated first. The state’s initial shipment included 72,150 doses and is targeted to healthcare workers. … Continued
More Fairfax County students returning to virtual learning, due to COVID surge
Safety teams are making spot inspections at Fairfax County schools to ensure compliance with health protocols. Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, Fairfax County Public Schools has determined that students in Group 3 (which includes various categories of special education) will return to virtual learning, beginning Monday, Dec. 14. Those students had been in … Continued
Virginia Gov. Northam imposes new restrictions in response to COVID surge
Northam speaks at a briefing on COVID Dec. 10. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Dec. 10 announced new rules aimed at combatting a surge in COVID 19 cases, including a curfew and stepped-up enforcement. COVID cases are now at the highest level ever since the pandemic started last winter. Statewide, there are now 4,000 new … Continued
Virginia hosts community conversations on COVID vaccine
COVID vaccines are undergoing testing. [Pfizer] The Virginia Department of Health is hosting community conversations for various populations on how the state is preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s the schedule: Dec. 8 – Asian American and Pacific Islander community Dec. 9 – LatinX community Dec. 10 – LGBTQIA+ community Dec. 15 – African American … Continued
Annandale High School featured in TV news report on failing grades during pandemic
A screenshot from a “Good Morning America video, shows reporter Alex Presha interviewing Annandale High School teacher Catie Bishop in front of the school. Annandale High School was featured in a segment on “Good Morning America” Dec. 5 on how students across the nation are failing academically due to the challenges of online learning during the … Continued
Laws protecting nursing homes from COVID-related liability needn’t stop suits against Annandale Healthcare Center
Chris Duncan holds a portrait of his mother at an event at the Washington monument in September honoring the lives lost to COVID-19 and protesting the lack of a national policy to contain the pandemic. Constance Duncan contracted COVID at the Annandale Healthcare Center. Legislation approved by the Virginia General Assembly during the special session … Continued
Some Fairfax County students who had returned to school are back to all-virtual learning
Veterinary sciences students at the Edison Academy returned for in-person learning briefly and are now back to all-virtual instruction. [FCPS] Just four weeks after Group 4 students returned to school for in-person instruction, they went back to all-virtual learning on Nov. 23 because of the rise in COVID-19 cases. Fairfax County reported a record-setting 455 new … Continued
Hidden Oaks adjusts to pandemic with new custom programs for families or ‘bubble groups’
Nature Your Way at Hidden Oaks. By Suzanne Holland Even though Hidden Oaks Nature Center is not open for the public to visit the exhibits, the park is busy with children and adults enjoying outdoor programming. Hidden Oaks, located in Annandale Community Park, is at 7701 Royce St., Annandale. In December, Hidden Oaks is offering … Continued
Increase in COVID cases could delay the return to school, FCPS superintendent says
Employees at the FCPS Forte Support Center in Springfield prepare plexiglass shields for delivery to schools. [FCPS] As COVID cases rise in Fairfax County, Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand is rethinking the schedule for bringing more students back for in-person learning. Brabrand told the community at a virtual town hall Nov. 19 that he understands families … Continued
Annandale Healthcare Center hasn’t had hot water for a week
The Annandale Healthcare Center is on Columbia Pike in Annandale across from Mason District Park. Despite the attention from the media and Rep. Gerry Connolly and the hiring of a new executive director, Marie Nadora, conditions at the Annandale Healthcare Center have not improved. In fact, there are indications that conditions at this nursing home, … Continued
FCPS delays in-person learning
A teacher greets a student at Weyanoke Elementary School in Annandale for the first day of in-person instruction for English language learners in October. [FCPS] Young students who had been scheduled to return to school on Nov. 17 will have to keep learning at home for at least the next two weeks. Fairfax County Public … Continued