Two new coronavirus cases in Fairfax County

Two new presumptive positive coronavirus cases were announced by the Fairfax County Health Department March 13, bringing the total to six.

One case involves an individual in her 40s who was in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case linked to Christ Church in Georgetown. The individual developed respiratory symptoms on March 3 and sought medical care on March 11 but was not hospitalized. She is currently doing well and is isolated at home.

The other case involves an individual in his 60s who had contact with a positive COVID-19 case reported by Department of Defense. He developed respiratory symptoms on March 5 and has been hospitalized since March 11.

Specimens from both cases were sent to the Virginia state laboratory for testing. The results are considered presumptive pending confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Related story: FCPS schools closed through April 10 

The Health Department is working closely with the Virginia Department of Health and local healthcare providers to identify additional people who came in close contact with these individuals in order to decrease the spread of the illness. Those identified as close contacts will be self-quarantined and actively monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms. If they start experiencing symptoms, they will immediately undergo testing.

Here are more coronavirus developments:

Metro – Metro is reducing service, beginning March 16. Metrorail will operate every 12 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sundays. Metrobus will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule on weekdays. Weekend bus schedules will not change.

The service reduction allows for additional disinfecting of railcars and buses, including the use of electrostatic fogging on a weekly basis across Metro’s fleet of 1,200 railcars and 1,500 buses. The electrostatic process addresses inaccessible surfaces in the vehicle, such as air ducts and compartments.

Related story: Northam closes schools statewide in response to coronavirus

MetroAccess service will continue to operate during the same hours as rail and bus services. Metro urges customers not to use MetroAccess to travel to healthcare appointments if they are showing signs of illness.

Inova Fairfax Hospital – Visiting hours are restricted to two times a day, 10 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m. No more than two visitors are allowed per patient at a time.


Electricity – Dominion Energy has suspended all service disconnections for nonpayment.

Courts – The Chief Judge of Fairfax Circuit Court has suspended all civil jury trials for at least 30 days. Anyone who has a civil jury trial scheduled to begin between March 13 and April 17, should  reschedule. The Circuit Court will continue to conduct civil bench trials during this period.

The JCC – The Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia is shutting down all programs and services – both on and offsite – beginning March 13 and possibly extending to April 19.

Entertainment – Signature Theatre has canceled all performances and events from March 13 through March 30.

The Angelika Film Center in Mosaic is staying open but is reducing seating capacity to promote social distancing, stepping up its cleaning routine, and discouraging cash transactions.

Assisted living – The Leewood Healthcare Center in Annandale is limiting all visitors unless absolutely necessary, as older adults are at a high risk of serious illness if they contract coronavirus.

Brightview Senior Living in Annandale has suspended all friend and family visits until March 31. If a resident needs to leave the community for an essential reason, such as an urgent doctor’s appointment, he or she will be required to pass a screening protocol in order to come back into the community. If a resident returns from a hospital caring for a patient with a confirmed case of COVID-19, that resident will be quarantined for 14 days.

Testing – The Fairfax County Health Department is not conducting COVID-19 testing. The department urges people who think they might have COVID-19 symptoms to request testing from their doctor or healthcare provider. Be sure to call first, so healthcare providers can put infection control precautions in place. Medical professionals will determine whether a person’s symptoms merit testing.