Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.
Tysons-Based Gannett Furloughs Employees, Cuts Pay — “Gannett CEO Paul Bascobert said that the company will ask staff to make a ‘collective sacrifice’ to keep the mass-media holding company intact amid the crisis by cutting pay ‘as soon as this week.’… Many staffers will be furloughed for five days a month through June.” [The Daily Beast]
Communications Firm in Tysons Files for Bankruptcy — “According OneWeb, the company had a difficult time securing funding in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The firm expanded its presence in Tysons back in 2018. [Axios, Washington Business Journal]
Fairfax County Inmate Tests Positive for COVID-19 — “On March 30, 2020, an inmate in his 20’s at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC) tested positive for COVID-19. He has been incarcerated since January 29, 2020 and is now in isolation at the ADC.” [Fairfax County]
Though #FCFRD fire stations are closed to the public, it did not stop some neighbors of Station 1, McLean, from letting the firefighters and paramedics know how they feel. A wonderful note taped outside that made our day! We ❤️our residents! We are all in this together. pic.twitter.com/6kIKVbxJj1
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 31, 2020
The McLean Project for the Arts is looking for artist submissions for its upcoming festival in October.
MPAartfest is a free one-day festival in McLean that features a juried fine art show and sale. Attendees can enjoy the work of visual artists, along with mini art galleries, live music, food from local restaurants and activities.
The McLean Project for the Arts wants interested artists throughout the mid-Atlantic region to apply by June 15. Artists will keep 100% of the sales, according to a press release.
To apply, artists will need to submit an application with a $35 fee. If selected, the artists will pay a $350 participation fee.
While the festival is free, donations and funds raised during the event support MPA exhibitions and programs.
The festival returns to McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd) on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Photo via McLean Project for the Arts/Facebook
Along with urging people to stay at home as much as possible, Fairfax County officials also want residents to take the opportunity to respond to the 2020 census.
As of Saturday (March 28), the national response rate is 33%, while Virginia is at a 37% response rate, according to the U.S. Census.
Meanwhile, Fairfax County is one of the top 10 highest reporting counties in the state with a 42.6% response rate.
Previously, Fairfax County boasted a high response rate of 80% in the 2000 count — up from 76% in 1990, according to census data.
County officials want to see as many people as possible complete the questionnaire. “For each resident who does not respond to the census, Fairfax County could lose $12,000 in potential funding over the course of a decade,” according to the county’s website.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the deadline for submitting the census has been extended to Aug. 14 for households.
Households should have received mailers with information on how to complete the census, which can be done online, by phone or by mail.
Social distancing and at home today? Take a moment to complete your #2020Census online, by phone or by paper.
It takes less than 5 minutes and ensures our community gets its fair share of federal resources: https://t.co/ngn7c7nznk#BeCounted #FFXCounts pic.twitter.com/oRsFa8qRVY
— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) March 28, 2020
Map via U.S. Census
Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order for Virginia today (Monday) as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state continues to climb.
“Our message today is very clear — to stay home,” Northam said.
The order, which goes into effect immediately and will last until June 10, lets people leave their homes for essential services — including medical care, food, supplies, work and more — and social-distanced outdoor activities that do not involve gatherings larger than 10 people.
“Do not go out unless you need to go out,” he said. “This is very different from wanting to go out. Do not go out to the store just for one thing. Wait until you have a list of needs.”
Northam said that the order will limit access to the state’s beaches except for fishing and exercise, close private campgrounds and ban parties and gatherings with 10 people or more.
“If you can work remotely, you need to do so and companies need to allow that,” he said.
When announcing the new order, Northam said that recreational areas were “literally packed” this weekend. “Everyone who is gathering in a crowd around the state is putting themselves at risk,” he said.
Northam recently received pushback from some residents and local officials for not issuing a stay-at-home order on Friday.
Earlier today, Maryland’s governor put the state, which has surpasses 1,400 COVID-19 cases, under a stay-at-home order that goes into effect tonight at 8 p.m., NBC 4 reported.
Statewide, 1,020 cases of the virus have been identified, according to the Virginia Department of Health — up from 890 cases on Sunday.
As of today, there are 225 coronavirus cases in Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county — almost double the number of cases on Friday (March 27).
Expanding testing capacity in the state could explain the increase in confirmed cases.
Statewide, 25 people have died from complications of the virus, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Two people in Fairfax County have died from the respiratory illness.
Northam also noted that almost half of the COVID-19 cases in the state are affecting people who are under the age of 50.
“Every age group needs to act responsibly,” he said.
Image via Governor of Virginia/Facebook
Work has recently started to realign Old Meadow Road at Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) in Tysons.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Silver Line project is doing the work to realign the road with the main entrance to the Capital One complex, according to the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.
The work started on Sunday (March 29) and will continue until Friday (April 3).
More from the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project:
Nighttime closures are planned this weekend to permit the installation of Jersey barriers. The right turn lane of northbound Route 123 will be closed at Old Meadow Road as well as the right eastbound lane of Old Meadow Road to facilitate construction. At least one lane of Old Meadow Road will remain open at all times in each direction.
The first phase of the project will take approximately eight weeks to complete and includes demolition of existing sidewalk and curb and gutter. Follow-on work includes installation of new storm drainage; installation of a new traffic lane, new sidewalk and new curb and gutter; and installation of new signaling equipment. Please drive carefully and safely in the area and remain aware of pedestrians and construction workers.
People can expect the left turn lane to Old Meadow Road from southbound Route 123 and the right turn lane to Old Meadow Road from northbound Route 123 to be closed from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday.
Meanwhile, the right lane of eastbound Old Meadow Road will be closed from Route 123 to Colshire Meadow Road during the same days and times.
Image via Google Maps
Local residents can expect changes to their trash and recycling starting today (March 30).
Fairfax County announced on Friday that the Solid Waste Management Program is making some changes to trash and recycling collection to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
“These changes will remain in effect until the public health emergency passes,” the county said. “Additional changes may be announced if the situation worsens in our area.”
The county says that administrative buildings and donation stations are closed, along with the household hazardous waste and e-waste stations at the I-95 landfill complex. People can still find those stations at the I-66 transfer station.
The glass recycling drop-off bins have been temporarily suspended, and people are now asked to bring their glass recycling to the I-66 transfer station and I-95 landfill complex or to place the glass items in the trash.
Here’s what else has been suspended:
- yard waste collection
- 30-day prior notice requirements for change of collection schedule or services
- support for community clean-ups
- bulk/brush and electronic waste collection
- support for the litter removal program
- secure document shredding events
“These changes apply to all private haulers (90 percent of county) and county collections customers (10 percent),” the county said.
To help protect sanitation workers and residents from the coronavirus, the county asks that people reduce the amount of waste they generate, bag all trash and refuse, empty and clean containers that contained liquids and residue from food and regularly disinfect cart handles and lids.
Photo via City of Falls Church
Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.
Fava Pot Owner Shares COVID-19 Impacts — “Her 2-year-old restaurant had been doing well — until the first week of March, when she first noticed a 30% drop in business. Then, she said, it kept dropping “like crazy” every day thereafter. By the second weekend in March, she saw sales plummet 80%.” [Washington Business Journal]
Profile of a Falls Church Barbershop — “On the surface, Smitty’s looks and feels like any black barbershop… But Smitty’s is much, much more to the immediate community. It’s an institution. And even in this time of terrible uncertainty for our older generations around the world, Smitty’s — now owned by Smith, 79, and his wife, Marcia — has been a comforting constant for the black and elderly of Falls Church and, more broadly, Fairfax County.” [Washington Business Journal]
Plans OK’d for Tysons Transmission Line — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on March 24 unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the proposed undergrounding of a Dominion Energy electricity-transmission line in Tysons… The proposed Tysons project would underground a transmission line between the existing Tysons substation and future Spring Hill substation.” [Inside NoVa]
Repaving Map Now Online — The Virginia Department of Transportation has started its 2020 paving season to resurface roads. People can look at an interactive online map to see which roads are scheduled to be resurfaced this year. [VDOT]
An employee at an affordable senior living facility in Tysons has tested positive for COVID-19, according to memos from the building’s management.
Managed by Polinger, Tysons Towers Apartments (8500 Tyspring Street) offers a federally-assisted rental program for people ages 62 and older and people with disabilities.
Tysons Reporter obtained copies of two memos signed with the name of a Polinger employee.
A memo dated Thursday (March 26) says that a Tysons Towers employee went to the hospital with coronavirus symptoms, later receiving a positive test result for the virus on Thursday.
An earlier memo says that the building management can’t provide more information on the case, citing HIPAA laws.
The employee was last in the senior living facility’s community on Friday, March 20, according to the memos.
“At this time, we have closed the Management Office and have sent all employees home until further notice,” the most recent memo says, adding that half of the staff was sent home on Monday (March 23).
The memo says that the building received a deep cleaning earlier this week, cleaning of common areas has since increased in the building and visitors are being screened with a questionnaire.
The memo includes information on preventing the spread of the virus — like reminding people to wash their hands and social distance.
The Polinger employee who signed the memo did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Health Department declined to comment on the Tysons Towers case.
“We currently have 124 cases of COVID-19 in Fairfax County, including 44 cases new cases that were reported today,” John Silcox, the spokesperson, said. “As our numbers increase, we won’t have information on every new case in the community.”
As for cases in assisted living facilities or skilled nursing facilities in general, Silcox said that the health department works with the building’s management on infection control policies.
“These include isolating all residents who have symptoms of illness; restricting congregating and eliminating gatherings; screening of staff for symptoms at the beginning of each shift; discouraging cross-facility employment; guiding appropriate use of personal protection equipment (PPE); providing guidance on enhanced cleaning practices; and implementing visitor restrictions,” he said.
Image via Google Maps
A man in his 60s is the second person to die from complications from COVID-19 in the Fairfax County, according to officials.
The Fairfax County Health Department announced Friday evening that the man acquired COVID-19 through travel and later tested positive for the virus.
“This is a tragic loss and our hearts go out to his family and friends,” Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, the health department’s director, said in the announcement.
On Saturday, the county announced that a man in his 60s, who got sick through contact with a another coronavirus person, was the county’s first COVID-19 death, WJLA reported.
Earlier today (Friday), the number of known COVID-19 cases jumped to 124 in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county.
Expanding testing capacity in the state could explain the increase in confirmed cases.
Inova Urgent Care locations in Chantille, Arlington and Tysons recently turned into respiratory illness clinics that offer the test.
“This most recent death, along with the increasing numbers of coronavirus cases we are seeing, is a reminder that we all need to be diligent in doing our part to help slow the spread of virus in the community,” Addo-Ayensu said.
“Please continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands and avoid touching your face, and stay home when you are sick,” she said.
Vienna police are investigating reports of a vehicle getting vandalized with paint and a suspicious chalk message outside someone’s home.
Last Friday, a man reported that someone used paint vandalized his vehicle while it was parked in the 400 bock of Church Street NE, police said.
In a separate incident, a woman who had recently received solicitations for people claiming to be from T-Mobile reported that someone wrote “T-Mobile” on her driveway in chalk, police said.
The chalk message happened during the day on Monday (March 23) in the 500 block of Nanterry Circle SW, police said.
“Someone did the same thing on the curb earlier in the week,” police said.
On March 17, police issued a summons to the men and charged them with Soliciting Without a Town Permit after receiving several reports about two men allegedly claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or T-Mobile.
The men were released on their signatures.
Photo via Facebook
