Tag: health

New quarantine guidance for students
Fairfax County Public Schools has issued new Covid guidance on quarantine and isolation. The new rules take effect Monday, Jan. 10. FCPS has adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that reduces isolation and quarantine to five days. FCPS also adopted the CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of isolation for staff. FCPS … Continued

Covid cases rising again in Fairfax County
A temporary vaccine clinic at a school. [WJLA] The omicron variant hasn’t been officially reported in Fairfax County, but it’s likely here and spreading. The Fairfax Health District is currently experiencing a 5.4 percent COVID-19 positivity rate. That is expected to increase as people spend more time indoors and as the more-transmissible omicron variant takes … Continued

Free Covid test kits will be available at libraries
Fairfax County public libraries will distribute free Covid-19 rapid antigen at-home test kits beginning Friday, Dec. 3. BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Card test kits will be available at 21 libraries, including George Mason Regional Library in Annandale and Thomas Jefferson Library in Falls Church.

Inova forms partnership with DispatchHealth to bring healthcare to patients’ homes
Medical house calls are coming back to Northern Virginia residents. Inova has formed a partnership with DispatchHealth, which sends healthcare providers to patients’ homes for urgent illnesses and injuries that aren’t severe enough for an emergency room visit.

Annandale-based Korean American advocacy organization rebrands itself
Hamkae Center staff at the open house. [Korea Times] The Virginia branch of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) has rebranded itself as the Hamkae Center. The organization celebrated its new name and expanded mission at an open house Nov. 18 at its new headquarters, at 6715 Little River Turnpike, Annandale.

School news roundup: escape room, vaccine clinics, and more
Students solve a problem in Jackson Middle School’s Escape Room. [FCPS] The following news items about schools in the Annandale/Mason District area are from Fairfax County Public Schools and individual schools. COVID vaccine clinics – Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Fairfax Health District and Fairfax County Public Schools will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children … Continued

FCPS launches Covid vaccine program for kids at the first school to pioneer the polio vaccine
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and First Lady Jill Biden visit the Fairfax County school where the first kids got the polio vaccine in 1954. [Donnie Biggs/FCPS] Fairfax County Public Schools kicked off the national rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 Nov. 8, when First Lady Jill Biden visited the school … Continued

Terry Lavoie honored for volunteer work
SOAR! President Sister Kathleen Lunsmann (left) presents an award to Terry O’Hara Lavoie. Terry O’Hara Lavoie, co-founder of the Culmore Clinic, received an award from SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious) at the group’s annual awards gala Nov. 5. The nonprofit Culmore Clinic provides healthcare to uninsured adults in the Bailey’s Crossroads area.
Covid vaccine available for children age 5-12
Now that the CDC has approved use of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, the Fairfax County Health Department encourages parents to get children vaccinated as soon as possible. The Covid vaccine for children should be widely available in the coming days, and many pediatric and family practice offices are ready to offer … Continued

Planning Commission endorses expanding substance abuse treatments at Seven Corners mental hospital
Dominion Hospital The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a zoning special exception Oct. 27 to allow Dominion Hospital in Seven Corners to treat patients whose only medical condition is substance abuse. Under current development conditions, the facility can only treat people for drug and alcohol dependency if they also have a psychiatric diagnosis.

Have a fun and Covid-safe Halloween
This display and all the others on this post are in the Annandale area. As our neighborhoods fill up with witches and ghouls this weekend, here’s what you need to know about Halloween 2021. Kids will be going trick-or-treating when it starts to get dark on Sunday, Oct. 31. Some homeowner associations and apartment complexes … Continued
Rabid raccoon found at Luria Park
A rabid raccoon who has been chasing people and pets in Luria Park has been confirmed to have rabies, the Fairfax County Health Department reported Oct. 27. Anyone who has been in contact with the animal – or whose pet might have been exposed to rabies – should contact the Health Department Rabies Program at 703-246-6004.

FCPS to offer in-school Covid testing and vaccinations
Woodson High School students, like all students in Fairfax County, spend the day wearing masks. [FCPS] Fairfax County Public Schools plans to roll out a major Covid testing program next month and will begin offering in-school vaccinations after winter break. Superintendent Scott Brabrand outlined those plans at a school board work session on Nov. 19.
Annandale pharmacist wins national award for customer service
Tony Nguyen [SingleCare] Annandale pharmacist Triet (Tony) Nguyen is a winner in the nationwide “Best of the Best Pharmacy Awards” sponsored by SingleCare, a prescription savings service. Nguyen works at the Safeway at 7414 Little River Turnpike. He was selected for the “Above and Beyond” award in recognition of his efforts to regularly deliver medications … Continued

Thank you, Rep. Connolly, for supporting Alzheimer’s research
Guy Mayer with his dad in 1967. By Guy R. Mayer The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of medical research. As Congress addresses the needs of our nation’s most vulnerable impacted by COVID-19, they’re also continuing their work to address another devastating disease affecting millions of Americans – Alzheimer’s. In honor of my … Continued