Fairfax County officials warn that vaping may be linked to a higher rate of COVID-19-associated side effects.
Today (Monday), the county’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response shared information on the possible associations between vaping and the novel coronavirus, noting that vaping and e-cigarettes have grown in popularity among teens and young adults in the last few years.
As schools reopen virtually and in-person in the Tysons area, county officials want people who vape to know that initial research shows that vaping, which has been linked to lung damage, could be tied to more severe complications of COVID-19.
“According to the 2018-2019 Fairfax County Youth Survey, 20% of Fairfax County Public School students ages 13 to 18 vape, similar to the national average of 20.8%,” the message said.
The “significant shift” of people in their 20s or younger getting COVID-19 that Gov. Ralph Northam pointed out in late July is continuing both statewide and in Fairfax County.
As of today, data from the state health department shows that people in their 20s represent roughly 17.7% of the total COVID-19 cases in the Fairfax Health District — the third-highest age group behind people in their 30s (19.3%) and 40s (17.9%). Statewide, people in their 20s account for the highest percentage (20.1%) of all of the age groups for COVID-19 cases.
The county’s health department now plans to launch a text to quit program with the Truth Initiative aimed at kids and young adults, the county said.
The county, which noted that research on vaping and COVID-19 is limited and still ongoing, spotlighted work done by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Stanford University School of Medicine.
“Young people who had used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days were almost five times as likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing, fever, tiredness and difficulty breathing as those who never smoked or vaped,” Stanford found.
While researchers in France earlier this year claimed that nicotine may prevent the virus from attaching to cells, the Centers for Disease Control says that smokers may be at an increased risk for worse COVID-19 complications than non-smokers.
Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting that injured two adults in Falls Church over the weekend.
Police received the call shortly before midnight on Saturday (Aug. 29) from one of the two victims claiming to be shot, Erica Webb, a police spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter. Police responded to the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive in Falls Church and found the two adult victims outside in the parking lot, Webb said.
The two victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Webb said that the shooting is under investigation. Webb declined to say whether the victims knew each other, where they were injured and if the police department has information about the shooter(s).
The shooting did not appear to pose a threat to public safety, Webb said.
Officers are in the 6000 block of Knollwood Drive in Falls Church for a shooting. Two adult victims were located and taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. Officers are investigating. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/GuuMJhv2mI
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 30, 2020
File photo
More Info on COVID-19 Outbreaks — “The Virginia General Assembly responded last week, unanimously passing emergency bills in the House and Senate to require the disclosure [of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living centers.]” [Inside NoVa]
Kanye West Will Be on Virginia Ballots — “Rapper Kanye West has qualified to appear on Virginia’s presidential ballot in November, according to state election officials.” [Inside NoVa]
Affirm Logic Corp. Scores New Funding — “A McLean cybersecurity startup, whose pedigree includes research from Carnegie Mellon University and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has secured a $25 million equity financing round.” [Washington Business Journal]
Even though @fcpsnews students will be virtual for now, there is still a need for school supplies for kids in need. Our annual backpack event is going on today but will look different than in the past. #FCFRD still here for our Fairfax County community! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1NmoqAb9Pa
— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 31, 2020
Photo by Michelle Goldchain
The “Tysons After Dark” series highlights different activities that keep people busy once the sun goes down.
Indie films are back at the Angelika Film Center in Mosaic District.
After temporarily closing due to COVID-19 restrictions, Angelika Film Center reopened today (Friday).
The movie line-up for tonight and this weekend includes “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” “Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula,” “Inception” (for its 10th anniversary) and “The Eight Hundred.”
To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, the theater has several rules in place for moviegoers, including mask requirements, floor decals for social distancing, hand sanitizer stations, upgraded filters in the HVAC systems and more. A full list of the theater’s safety measures is online.
While movie theaters were allowed to reopen with limited capacity starting July 1, most theaters in the Tysons area waited several weeks before screening movies again. ShowPlace Icon and AMC Theatre reopened in Tysons last week.
In a poll earlier this week, roughly 68% of 369 Tysons Reporter readers said they do not feel comfortable going back to movie theaters as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Approximately 16% said they do feel safe heading back to theaters, while 14% haven’t decided yet.
Updated 6 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is now in effect until 6:30 p.m.
Earlier: Fairfax County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Flash Flood Watch.
The National Weather Service issued the Severe Thunderstorm Watch just after 1:30 p.m. today. It will be in effect until 8 p.m. The Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 5 p.m. today to 4 a.m. on Saturday.
The National Weather Service says that scattered showers and thunderstorms will hit the area this evening, potentially causing heavy rain in some areas.
As Hurricane Laura approaches the Mid-Atlantic region as a storm, people can expect thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow, forecaster say.
While it’s hot and humid today in the Tysons area, forecasters predict temperatures dropping to the low 80s this weekend.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8 pm for much of the northern portions of our area including DC/Baltimore. Most likely impacts will be for damaging winds. pic.twitter.com/S33VwhcT1F
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 28, 2020
Showers and storms are beginning to organize over west-central PA, these will eventually make their way to our area this afternoon. Some storms may become severe in nature with the most likely impacts being damaging winds. Visit https://t.co/MW83KHFiJb for important updates. pic.twitter.com/XWfeJIvtRh
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 28, 2020
New PPP Loan Guidance — “New guidance from the Small Business Administration changes the compensation limits for certain Paycheck Protection Program borrowers who are considered owner-employees.” [Washington Business Journal]
Here’s Where VA COVID-19 Cases Are Up — “Richmond, a city of over 230,000 people, recorded more new cases than Prince William County, which has over 470,000 people. Localities leading in new cases on Thursday were Fairfax County with 81, Richmond City with 73, Prince William County with 66, and Virginia Beach with 55.” [Patch]
Painted Rocks Share Positive Messages — “Local Girl Scouts met in person in the middle of last month, for the first time since the pandemic began, to paint stones for ‘Rock Your August with Kindness,’ the Vienna Arts Society’s (VAS) third summer project. The public may admire or even take home the approximately 150 rocks painted by the Scouts, said VAS member Mary Ellen Larkins, who co-chaired the project with MaryBeth Davis.” [Inside NoVa]
Families Living in Tysons High-Rises — “Tysons shows that high-rise housing can be an appealing home for all ages. In Tysons, 21.4% of residents are under 20 years old, an increase of about 20% since Tysons’ redevelopment plan for more housing was implemented in 2010. The majority of Tysons’ housing stock consists of mid- to high-rise, elevator buildings.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Photo by Michelle Goldchain
PLNT Burger has started serving up vegan burgers and beverages inside Whole Foods at The Boro development.
The new location, which an employee at the Tysons location (1635 Boro Place) said opened today, is the sixth one all located within Whole Foods stores for Chef Spike Mendelsohn.
PLNT Burger’s menu is vegan and features burgers, cheeseburgers, chili bowls, Beyond Meat sausage, oat milk-based soft serve, fries, Whisked cookies, a salad and more.
Mendelsohn, the D.C.-area restaurateur who competed during the fourth season of “Top Chef,” opened the first PLNT Burger in September 2019 in Silver Spring, Md. Mendelsohn also operates several other D.C. eateries, including Good Stuff Eatery; We, The Pizza; Béarnaise; and Santa Rosa Taqueria.
The employee said that the PLNT Burger location in Tysons is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
Hat tip Vernon Miles
Photo via PLNT Burger/Facebook
HAN Palace originally wanted to open its Tysons spot in April, but then the coronavirus pandemic hit Northern Virginia.
Now, the restaurant is looking to start serving its “traditional” Cantonese brunch and all-day dim sum in a few weeks. HAN Palace will have a bar, indoor dining and patio seating at the same building (7900 Westpark Drive) that houses Bourbon Coffee and Ahra Kitchen.
The restaurant recently shared on Facebook that it is aiming to open mid-September. Northern Virginia Magazine reported the opening date is Sept. 17.
Owner Chris Zhu, who also runs China Garden in Rockville, Md., told Tysons Reporter in March that the restaurant’s all-day dim sum will stand out because D.C. restaurants usually only offer dim sum for lunch.
Diners can get complimentary garage parking for two hours during the day or after 6 p.m. on weekdays and up to six hours on the weekends.
Photo courtesy Chris Zhu
Phoenix-based Eduvision, Inc. is looking to expand the Arizona College of Nursing into Virginia with a location in the Fairview Park development.
Eduvision wants to turn the eighth floor of the office building at 3130 Fairview Park Drive into seven classrooms, according to plans submitted to Fairfax County. The office is a part of the Fairview Park development, which is located at the southeastern intersection of Arlington Blvd (Route 50) and I-495.
Eduvision owns and operates the Arizona College of Nursing, which has locations in Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Florida, according to Walsh Colucci. This would be the nursing school’s first Virginia location.
Lynne Strobel with Walsh Colucci highlighted in a letter to county planners that the nursing school would be very close to both Inova Fairfax Hospital, which is on the other side of I-495, and the Dunn Loring Metro station.
“[Inova Fairfax] Hospital offers a number of training opportunities and is a potential employer of the applicant’s graduates,” Strobel wrote. In September 2019, the county approved the hospital’s land-use plan as Inova looks to expand and provide more research and academic space at its Merrifield campus.
The Arizona College of Nursing at Fairview Park would have roughly 200 students on-site at any one time and 10 full-time faculty members at full enrollment. Once open, the school would offer classes year-round without summer breaks, according to the plans.
Eduvision is seeking approval from Fairfax County for a “college/university” use at the office building. Fairfax County’s website does not list public hearing dates for the proposal.
Strobel urged county planners to consider the application, saying that the proposed nursing school would fit in with the office building and the Fairview Park development.
“A diversification of the uses at Fairview Park will add to its vibrancy… The pond, open space, and trials in the office park are conducive to an educational setting,” Strobel wrote.
Image via Google Maps
SHOTTED Specialty Coffee is serving drinks from its new home in Tysons Corner Center.
The coffee shop originally had a kiosk on level two. Two weeks ago, SHOTTED held its grand opening for its kiosk on the first level outside Barnes and Noble.
The coffee shop has been active in the D.C. area, from supporting local Saudi student clubs to serving up pistachio lattes at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, according to its Instagram.
People who stop by the new location in Tysons Corner Center can try a Spanish latte, which is usually sweeter than traditional lattes.
Photo via SHOTTED/Facebook