Happy Friday. Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:

Non-Coronavirus News:

McLean Student Nabs State Pageant Title — “McKenzie Watt, the 9-year-old daughter of Philip and Andra Watt of McLean, has been awarded the title ‘Little Miss of Virginia’ 2019-20 and moves on to national competition.” [Inside Nova]

Religious Broadcaster Wants Tysons-Based Tegna — “Phoenix investment firm Najafi Cos. is teaming with a faith-based broadcaster in Texas in an effort to buy Tysons-based Tegna Inc.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Format for Vienna Candidates Debate — “The Vienna town government will record and repeatedly broadcast an audience-free Vienna Town Council candidate debate to be held April 2.” [Inside NoVa]

Coronavirus News:

FCPS Prepping for Distance Learning — “If FCPS schools cannot reopen as scheduled on April 14, our plan is to begin distance learning either online, or by learning packets at that time. Over the next two weeks, we will begin distance learning training for teachers and give teachers the opportunity to plan and prepare for distance instruction and reconnect with their students. ” [FCPS]

COVID-19 Hurting Little City Restaurants — “The hospitality industry in Falls Church and beyond is being hit especially hard with the public ramping up its social distancing effort and authorities implementing new restrictions on restaurant and bar service in an effort the prevent the spread of COVID-19.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Tysons CEO Slams Social Distancing — “Michael Saylor, the CEO and founder of Tysons technology firm MicroStrategy Inc., called social distancing measures enacted to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus ‘soul stealing and debilitating’ and stated the company would not close any of its offices around the world unless legally required to do so.” — [Washington Business Journal]

McLean Group Helping At-Risk People — “Unlike most of her peers, senior Sophie Howery has been spending her time off to help fight the spread of the virus. To do this, Howery created the Fairfax County Community COVID Aid Project, hoping to help support those who may be at risk of contracting the coronavirus.” [The Highlander]

How Will COVID-19 Impact the Local Economy? — The Stephen S. Fuller Institute at George Mason University’s recent report says that “the Washington region’s economy will also contract in the last three quarters of 2020, primarily because of decreased consumer spending and lost productivity.” [Washingtonian]

Tysons’ 1st Stage Theatre is taking it day by day as businesses around the Tysons area face closures and uncertain futures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The theater recently announced that the suspension of its upcoming productions due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus. Plans for “A New Brain,” which was set to run March 26-April 19, are still to be determined.

The coronavirus announcement came a few days after the theater unveiled its upcoming shows for the 2020-2021 season.

Tysons Reporter talked to 1st Stage’s Artistic Director Alex Levy about the upcoming season, impacts of the coronavirus and ways people can help support the Tysons theater.

Tysons Reporter: The theater announced that it will compensate the production personnel “most impacted by this sudden closure” and that the performers, designers and technicians for the show will be paid their full contract salary. Are other theaters doing that or just 1st Stage?

Alex Levy: I won’t speak for everybody else. I know a lot of other theaters are not able to do that. I’m really proud to be at this theater where all of the artists for this season and for “A New Brain” will get paid in full.

TR: Walk me through how you picked the five shows for the 2020-2021 season.

AL: It’s a long and complicated process. We read hundreds of plays every year to come to the right collage of plays to make up a season. We have an aesthetic here at 1st Stage.

As the only professional theater in our area, we are trying to provide something for everyone. The entire staff spends well over a yeat reading plays and fitting them together.

It’s a multitiered approach.

We have a database of plays we look at — playwrights who excite us or topics that are interesting to us or plays at other theaters. The rule here is that first reader should be thinking of anything practical — not if it will sell or who the actors will be — if they feel it would be right for us. If the second reader likes it, then it will go to the whole team.

Ultimately, it’s my decision, but with input from everybody.

TR: Is there usually a certain number of finalists?

AL: No. Excellence is at the top of our list. It’s about a season. We don’t stop until we get the right five plays.

We have things we look for in plays. We look for plays we think are worthy of really great artists and engaged audiences. We look for plays that have a unique place. We look for plays that have writing for the stage — we’re not looking for things that work in a movie or TV show or novel.

We also look at angles — music, comedy, drama, traditionally structured plays, more experimental work.

TR: So you’ve already started planning the 2021-2022 season?

AL: Yes. With the coronavirus, we have a lot more reading time lately. We are well into 2021-2022.

TR: How is the coronavirus impacting all of this?

AL: I don’t think I can overstate how scary this is for both organizations and for individuals. The idea of being out of business for a prolonged period of time is terrifying.

The arts usually have not been prioritized the way I think they ought to be in state and local governments. There is a fear that we’re not being remembered in conversations on how to boost businesses up.

For actors and staff, this is a gig economy. We’ve made a commitment to make sure all the artists get paid.

We are pausing our productions. We are hopeful the next show we produce will be “A New Brain.”

TR: What are some things people can do to help 1st Stage out financially?

AL: Subscriptions are a really great way to support us. It’s incredibly helpful to know people will come back.

We are a charitable organization, so people can make tax-deductible donations.

Our biggest concern right now is keeping everyone employed and paid.

TR: Are you planning fundraisers?

AL: We know that is going to have to happen. There will absolutely be opportunities to join us in the near future.

TR: Are you considering any digital or online alternatives?

AL: It’s complicated — it can be a significant expense and there are legal issues too. Some writers in the union are trying to relax those rules.

We are going to launch next week aggressive social media content with music and storytelling. People can look out for that.

We just want to put some good energy out to folks because times are tough. There’s a little piece of “A New Brain” that we recorded for our recent benefit on our Facebook page.

I suppose anything is possible. We are very aware that we don’t know what the future will look like. We have to wait and see how the changes, hopefully in weeks, not months.

This interview has been lightly condensed and edited for clarity. 

Images (2-3) via 1st Stage

Crews are working on the new Scotts Run Fire and Rescue Station 44 in Tysons East.

The project broke ground in September on the new fire station (1766 Old Meadow Lane), which will relieve the overburdened Fire Station 29 by the Spring Hill Metro station.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted yesterday (Wednesday) photos of the work being done to build the two-story station, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The fire station — which Fairfax County planners want to achieve LEED certification, according to TRINITY Group Construction — will have three bays, offices, living quarters for up to 12 crew members per shift and restrooms for people using the future adjacent athletic fields.

The parking lot for the fire station will have 22 spots for staff members and four public parking spaces.

The fire station was part of a proffer for Cityline Partners LLC’s Scotts Run Station South development.

Photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter

(Updated at 11 a.m.) A man living in a senior living facility in the City of Falls Church has tested positive for the coronavirus, Fairfax County officials say.

The Fairfax County Health Department announced today (Thursday) that the man, who lives at The Kensington (700 W. Broad Street), was isolated after he started having respiratory illness symptoms on Saturday, March 14.

“Specimens were collected on March 16 and sent to the Virginia state laboratory,” according to the county. “Health officials have been providing infection control guidance to the facility since testing was initiated, and visitor restrictions had already been in place.”

This is the first positive coronavirus case reported in the City of Falls Church.

More from the health department:

“When COVID-19 occurs in a setting where there are many older people with underlying health conditions, we are concerned” said Health Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu. “We’ll be working very closely with the facility over the coming days to protect other residents and staff and prevent further spread.”

Based on this positive result, FCHD has deployed an infection control team to the facility to initiate an investigation, including identifying the potential source of exposure. Working in partnership with the facility management, the team will:

• Evaluate all staff and provide them with personal protective equipment
• Interview residents and staff members to assess illness and exposures
• Collect specimens on any symptomatic residents or staff
• Provide guidance on infection control activities, including isolation and quarantine and environmental cleaning of the facility

“Our team has been working diligently since November 1 to ensure our infection control processes are strong and in place,” said Amy Feather, Executive Director, The Kensington Falls Church. “Residents have been monitored daily for fever and respiratory symptoms since news of the spread of COVID-19 became public. In addition, team members have been monitored for symptoms of flu and COVID-19 at the start of their shifts. Anyone with symptoms has been sent home, asked to contact their physician and to monitor their symptoms.

“Staff has been doing sanitizing within the community, particularly within high traffic areas. Deliveries have been restricted to outside entrances and retrieved by staff to those in the community. As per guidance from the CDC for health care communities, the community has limited visitors and canceled all events and outings. The Fairfax County Department of Health has been an invaluable partner in helping us mobilize the resources we need to test and monitor the health of our residents and staff. We are extremely grateful to them for their help.”

Seven other people who were sick at the assisted living and memory care facility received negative test results for the virus, the city said in a press release.

According to a statement from The Kensington:

A staff member was proactively taking their own temperature and called out on Friday. They have not returned to the building and are awaiting test results.

Another staff member was told to leave work after developing a fever during their shift. They have been tested and are awaiting results…

Residents have been monitored each shift for fever and respiratory symptoms over the past week. In addition, team members have been monitored for symptoms of flu and COVID-19 at the start of their shifts.

Anyone with symptoms has been sent home, asked to contact their physician and to monitor their symptoms. Staff has been sanitizing within the community, particularly within high traffic areas. Deliveries have been restricted to outside entrances and retrieved by staff to those in the community.

As per guidance from the CDC for health care communities, the community had limited visitors and had canceled all events and outings.  “We had asked families not to visit or take residents out into the community,” said Feather.  “We had cancelled all but critical doctor’s appointments for residents. Our teams are creative and have set up virtual ways for residents and family members to connect in lieu of in-person visits.  They are arranging these virtual visits through Facetime or video chats.”

Feather explained that the community has had plans in place well ahead of this diagnosis.  “Because we deal with an at-risk group of people living in our community, we had detailed plans in place well before this development. The plan follows the CDC guidelines for all healthcare facilities,” said Feather.

The City of Falls Church, which is a part of the Fairfax Health District, declared a local emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, March 16.

“The virus has now hit home for our community as it has for so many communities around our country and around the world,” Mayor David Tarter said in the press release. “It underscores just how serious this pandemic is, and the importance of following the recommendations and mandates of our health care professionals.”

.@fairfaxhealth and The Kensington are fully collaborating on the investigation and taking immediate action to prevent further spread. The City is providing full support where appropriate and is staying in close contact with FCHD and The Kensington.

— City of Falls Church (@FallsChurchGov) March 19, 2020

Image via Google Maps

(Updated 4:55 p.m.) Drive-thru coronavirus testing sites are starting to pop up around the U.S. to screen patients for the virus.

Fairfax County doesn’t have any plans at the moment to open a drive-through testing site, Ali Althen, a spokesperson for Fairfax County, told Tysons Reporter yesterday.

“The decision to open sites would likely be made by the medical community and not the county government,” Althen said.

Earlier this week, Arlington County and Virginia Hospital teamed up for a drive-thru testing site to cut down on the number of people trying to get tested at hospitals and doctor’s offices.

“Arlington residents, county and school system employees and Virginia Hospital Center patients, who are experiencing symptoms consistent with coronavirus and have a written order from a healthcare provider, will be eligible for testing,” ARLnow reported.

While Fairfax County hasn’t teamed up with the hospital, there is a testing site atop the parking garage outside Kaiser Permanente’s facility in Tysons, WTOP reported.

“Kaiser has set up five different sites across the region for members with a doctor’s prescription for testing,” WTOP reported. “The health maintenance organization has testing sites in Baltimore, Largo, Gaithersburg, Tysons Corner and Woodbridge.”

As of Thursday morning, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 77 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth, with 14 in Fairfax County.

If the county does decide to open drive-thru sites, it would let people know “across our channels to help members of the public find and make use of those sites as necessary and appropriate,” Althen said.

On Thursday afternoon, Fairfax County released more information about testing sites:

Up until recently, COVID-19 testing was only available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state laboratories, with local health departments like ours helping to coordinate and facilitate those tests based on very specific testing criteria. Now that we have commercial laboratories testing capability, physicians have wider latitude to order testing.

Still, several challenges have limited testing for Fairfax County residents:

1. With shortages of personal protective equipment across the nation, health care providers who lack recommended protective equipment may not test because of the risk to their health and ability to continue providing care in the community.
2. The materials needed for specimen collection before being sent to the lab are in limited supply nationwide.

The Health Department does not evaluate patients or collect specimens for commercial testing because these functions are best performed by primary care providers, urgent care centers or Emergency Departments where a complete medical evaluation, radiology, and other types of laboratory testing are available.

Let us know what you think of the coronavirus drive-thru sites in the poll below.

Photo via CDC/Unsplash

The Vienna Police Department is making some alterations to reduce the chance of spreading the coronavirus.

Chief Jim Morris announced today (Wednesday) that the police department plans to increase social distancing by:

• taking police reports via phone for “minor and non-violent crimes”
• restricting access to the police lobby to “immediate police assistance”
• urging people to call the police at 703-255-6366
• suspending low priority services: Ride-Along, PIO public engagements, VIN verifications and child safety seats
  installations

“The process of handling some calls for service over the phone and limiting other services is temporary and will be continually reevaluated in the coming weeks,” Morris said.

Police will show up for incidents for evidence collection and when a crime is in progress, Morris said.

Now, when people call to file a police report, communications personnel will screen callers to see if they meet the criteria for a telephone follow-up.

“If so, you may be advised that an officer will call you back to assess the need to respond in person or complete the
report via telephone,” Morris said. “If you feel that an officer is required, you may make that request, and an officer will respond.”

People are advised to meet police outside and stand several feet apart.  All of the reports will go into the same records management system, Morris said.

“By using telephone reporting, you will help us limit exposure,” Morris said.

Photo via Facebook

Movie theaters and performing arts venues in the Tysons area have shut down the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The temporary closures come on the heels of the White House recommending that gatherings with 10 people or more be avoided.

Yesterday (Tuesday), Gov. Ralph Northam issued an order “that allows law enforcement to enforce a ban that prohibits more than 10 patrons in places such as restaurants, fitness centers and theaters,” Inside NoVa reported.

The newly opened Showplace Icon (1667 Silver Hill Drive) in The Boro is now “temporarily closed until further notice,” according to its website.

Over at Tysons Corner Center, which is open with reduced hours, AMC Tysons Corner 16 “is temporarily closed in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines,” according to the AMC website.

“It will re-open when those guidelines allow,” the site said. “Please continue to check back here for updates.”

Yesterday, the Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District announced a temporary closure.

“The health and well-being of our guests and our theater teams is our top priority, and we believe that this step will be the most effective way to both retain that priority and mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” says a note on the theater’s website.

The theater did not say when it plans to reopen.

Tickets bought in advance –either from Angelika or from a third-party vendor — for movie showtimes that won’t play due to the closure can be refunded.

Performing arts-goers will have to wait to watch their next play or concert in the Tysons area.

Tysons’ 1st Stage Theatre announced yesterday that it’s suspending upcoming productions.

Plans for the theater’s upcoming production of “A New Brain,” which was set to run March 26-April 19, are uncertain at this point.

The Alden Theatre at the McLean Community Center is closed until April 12.

Wolf Trap is postponing all of its performances, classes and events between March 13-31.

“We are working with the artists to reschedule their performances for future dates and will share that information as it becomes available,” according to Wolf Trap’s website. “All current tickets will be honored for the rescheduled performances.”

All of the public shows between now and April 3 are postponed at The State Theatre in Falls Church.

As concerns grow about the coronavirus, state and county officials, along with Dominion Energy, want residents to beware scams related to the virus.

“As the coronavirus public health emergency continues, scam artists are taking advantage [of] the situation,” one of the many alerts from Fairfax County said.

Coronavirus Scam Prevention

Due to Virginia’s declared state of emergency, the county noted that it is unlawful of suppliers to sell, lease or license any necessary goods and services “at an unconscionable price.”

As of yesterday (Tuesday), spokespeople for Fairfax County and FCPD haven’t received any reports about scams related to the coronavirus.

Earlier in March, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring urged residents to be wary of coronavirus scams, which could include products for sale claiming to prevent the virus, misinformation or fake solicitations for coronavirus victims, according to a press release.

“Unfortunately, scammers oftentimes take advantage of natural disasters or public health fears like the coronavirus to make a buck,” Herring said in the press release.

The press release offered tips for people to combat scams:

• Look out for emails that claim to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying that they have information about the coronavirus. For the most updated information you can visit the CDC and the World Health Organization websites.
• Do not click on any links from unknown sources. This could lead to downloading a virus on your computer or phone.
• Ignore any offers, online or otherwise, for a coronavirus vaccine. If you see any advertisements for prevention, treatment or cures ask the question: if there had been a cure for the disease would you be hearing about that through an advertisement or sales pitch?
• Thoroughly research any organizations or charities purporting to be raising funds for victims of the coronavirus.
• Look out for “investment opportunities” surrounding the coronavirus. According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission there are online promotions claiming the products or services of certain publicly-traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure the disease and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase because of that.

“It is so important that Virginians stay vigilant and do their research before giving their money to anyone purporting to sell preventative medications or raising funds for victims,” Herring said.

Scams Often Target Seniors

Dominion Energy is working with police to get the scammers’ phone numbers shut down, according to Peggy Fox, a Dominion Energy spokesperson.

“Dominion Energy will never make threatening phone calls, demand you pay over the phone or ask you to pay with prepaid cards,” Fox said.

Often, the scammers — claiming to be from Dominion Energy — will call people and threaten to cut off service if payments aren’t made immediately, Fox said.

“They direct their victims to another number and when you call it (which I have) you may hear our Dominion Energy voice recording — which they’ve stolen,” Fox said, adding that they will also tell people to buy pre-paid cards for payment.

Tips from Dominion Energy on how to spot scams:

• While robocall scams can be relatively easy to spot, effective scammers continue to make personal phone calls. Some scammers may employ scare tactics, while others will try to gain your trust by sounding friendly and sympathetic.
• Many utility scammers try to instill fear and a sense of urgency by threatening immediate service disconnection if you don’t provide payment information over the phone or agree to pay your energy bill with a prepaid debit or gift card.
• Dominion Energy does not make calls requesting immediate payment or require customers to pay with prepaid cards of any kind.
• Some utility impostors may falsify their caller ID to appear they are using a local number or even Dominion Energy’s customer service number. When in doubt, hang up and call the number located on your energy bill.
• Don’t let anyone into your home unless you have a previously scheduled appointment or have called about an issue. Always check for proper identification before letting personnel in. Additionally, utility workers won’t ask you to pay an energy bill in person.
• Hang up. Customers can always verify their account balance and payment due date by signing into their dominionenergy.com account or calling 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).

“These scams are widespread in each of the 18 states we serve. They’re relentless in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where we provide electrical service,” Fox said, adding that they often target seniors.

Additionally, Dominion Energy is waiving reconnection and late fees, along with donating $1 million to relief organizations to help people impacted by the coronavirus.

Suspect It’s a Scammer?

So what happens if a scammer calls? Hang up and call these places.

People who have questions or concerns about scams can contact the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Section at 800-552-9963 or the county’s Consumer Affairs Branch at 703-222‐8435, TTY 711.

People who think they’ve received a scam call regarding Dominion Energy should hang up and report the calls to Dominion Energy and the police.

Photo by Jonah Pettrich on Unsplash

Updated 12:45 p.m. — Updates information on the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on March 24.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission has canceled its meetings for the rest of March. Here are the proposed projects that have delayed for consideration this spring.

The Planning Commission was originally set to hold a public hearing tonight (Wednesday) on a continuing care facility near Wolf Trap. The facility would have 172 beds at 9439 Leesburg Pike, according to county documents.

Now, the Planning Commission will consider the proposal on April 22.

A public hearing on plans to open Valo Park, an office park in Tysons, to the public and add restaurants, a 9/11 memorial and a bocce court has been postponed from the now-canceled meeting next Wednesday (March 25) to April 2.

London-based Tamares is looking to redesign roughly 19,000 square feet of the ground floor space and some areas of the garage to accommodate new retail and restaurants, according to the applications submitted to the county.

The plans also include an outdoor gaming area with a bocce court, horseshoes, cornhole and a fire pit. The public would be able to use a 20,000-square-foot health club, along with a possible rock climbing facility.

While the county’s Board of Supervisors will have its meeting on Tuesday (March 24), the public hearing on the office tower near the McLean Metro station will be postponed, according to a county spokesperson.

It’s unclear yet if coronavirus-prompted changes will impact the dates for two mixed-use projects by the Spring Hill Metro stop, which are set to go before the Planning Commission on April 22, and the commission’s hearing in June on a late-night cafe at 7787 Leesburg Pike.

Photo via Valo Park

An employee at a building in Fairfax Square in Tysons has tested positive for coronavirus, JBG SMITH said.

“We were notified that an employee of one of our tenants at 8075 Leesburg Pike had tested positive for COVID-19,” JBG SMITH said in a statement to Tysons Reporter.

Located along Leesburg Pike directly behind Tysons Corner Center, Fairfax Square consists of several buildings with commercial and office space.

The building at 8075 Leesburg Pike houses Mynd Spa, Elegance by Roya, Roche Bobois Paris and Liljenquist & Beckstead on the ground floor, along with several office tenants.

JBG SMITH did not say which tenant the coronavirus patient works for.

More from the statement:

The ongoing health and well-being of our tenants, employees, vendors, and visitors to our buildings is our top priority.  We are regularly monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and will continue to follow all of the guidance provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and local health authorities.

A notification was then issued in the building and work began to “fully disinfect and sanitize the tenant’s interior space and common space,” the statement said.

An environmental contractor disinfected and sanitized the building’s lobby and common areas, the statement said.

“We also maximized the fresh outdoor air coming into the building and replaced all air filters,” JBG SMITH said. “After the close of business that same day, we brought in another environmental contractor to perform a second deep clean of all common areas in the building.”

Arjun Chaudhary, an employee at Roche Bobois Paris, told Tysons Reporter that building management has been keeping the furniture retailer regularly updated.

“They are doing a fairly decent,” he said. “There are so many hand sanitizers at every entrance.”

Chaudhary said that the sick employee did not work at Roche Bobois Paris, which is currently open to shoppers.

Ashley Hopko contributed to this story

Image via Google Maps