Fresh off a successful appearance on the reality TV show “Shark Tank,” a Bethesda-based men’s fashion start-up will open its first physical store at Tysons Galleria this weekend.
The Collars & Co. pop-up will launch Sunday (Nov. 20) on the mall’s first floor in front of Saks Fifth Avenue. It will stay open through Thanksgiving weekend, departing after Dec. 4, the company announced Wednesday (Nov. 16).
“Inspired by holiday jet-setting, the pop-up store will highlight the comfort and versatility of Collars & Co.’s quality menswear products that make it the perfect clothing for holiday travel as well as the best gifts for men on-the-go,” the press release said.
The opening comes on the heels of Collars & Co. founder and CEO Justin Baer securing an investment deal worth $1 million on an episode of “Shark Tank” that aired Nov. 11.
Founded in 2021, the company has laid claim to inventing a “dress collar polo” as a more comfortable alternative to formal men’s dress shirts. It has sold 92,000 shirts and made $5.4 million with only online sales so far, Baer told the show’s panel of investors.
“It’s a stretchy, comfortable golf shirt, except the top has a firm collar on it, so it gives you the exact same look of a dress shirt, but it’s really just a comfortable polo,” Baer said in his pitch. “…We are helping guys look stylish and stay comfortable.”
The panel sounded impressed by the quality of the shirts, a few of which were handed out as examples, and the early success that the business has seen, but Baer nearly ended up empty-handed after he rejected a proposal from “sharks” Mark Cuban and Peter Jones.
The billionaire entrepreneurs offered to provide $300,000 in cash and a $700,000 line of credit for a 10% stake in Collars & Co., higher than the 3% Baer was seeking. He argued the offer was undervaluing the company, which led to comments about the unpredictable nature of fashion trends and fears of a looming recession.
“People aren’t buying shirts when they can’t pay their mortgage,” FUBU CEO Daymond John said, warning that “everything goes out of style.”
When Cuban and Jones said they wouldn’t invest for less than 10%, Baer relented and accepted their offer, which included market-rate interest.
“It’s first dollar in, meaning I get paid the minute you get paid by your customer,” Cuban said.
Open during regular mall hours, the Tysons Galleria store will have those signature dress collar polo shirts, a brand-new outerwear collection, and accessories. There will also be “an Instagram-worthy first-class travel photo opp” where shoppers can take pictures “in a space designed to look like the interior of a private jet,” the press release said.
Tysons ID Verification Company Under Investigation — ID.me may have misled the public and Congress with “baseless claims” that the U.S. lost $400 billion to fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims. A House subcommittee says new evidence suggests the company used claims of “rampant” fraud “to increase demand” for its services, making it harder for those who needed aid to receive it. [Gizmodo]
Mixed Bag for Metro — “New Silver Line riders, an increase in train availability, shorter wait times and an apparent decrease in fare evasion provided tempered optimism to Metro leaders in the face of a new financial snapshot Thursday that showed rail ridership continuing to struggle…Metro said it recorded about 7,000 trips Tuesday at the new Silver Line stations.” [The Washington Post]
Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying “Ghost” Gun — An Alexandria man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to having a gun with no serial number despite being barred from possessing firearms. 28-year-old Ajee Whitter, also known as “Glockz,” was convicted of felony robbery in Prince William County before getting arrested in an undercover drug operation by Fairfax County police on April 11. [DOJ]
Pedestrian Safety Advocates Plan Vigil — “For William. For Eileen. For Chris. For Elise. For your 20 @fairfaxcounty neighbors killed by a person driving while walking to work, home, the store, to school in 2022. We REMEMBER, SUPPORT and ACT – World Day of Remembrance – Sunday Nov 20 0 1:30 Oakton High School” [Fairfax Families for Safe Streets/Twitter]
Annandale Field Renamed For Park Advocate — “Friends and family, local officials and members off the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association will gather on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. to dedicate a field at Pine Ridge Park in honor of Wanda Rixon. The event is open to the public and honors Rixon, a longtime advocate and participant in women’s soccer.” [FCPA]
Affordable Apartments Open in Fairfax Corner — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) is now accepting applications for single-occupancy affordable housing at Coan Pond Residences…Prospective applicants must have a minimum annual income of $19,940 and earn no more than $59,820. Rent is set at 30 percent of tenant income.” [Housing and Community Development]
Local Venues for World Cup Watching — “After four long years (or eight if you’re cheering for U.S. Soccer), it’s finally time to dive back into World Cup action. If you’re looking to get your football on, here are the can’t-miss World Cup events for fans of all ages.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fire Department Has Thanksgiving Cooking Tips — “Cooking is the main cause of home fires any time of the year, but it is especially common on Thanksgiving…The firefighters and paramedics of the county’s Fire and Rescue Department want you to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Help them to help you prevent an unexpected visit to your home from our firefighters on Thanksgiving Day!” [FCFRD]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 48 and low of 30. Sunrise at 6:56 am and sunset at 4:54 pm. [Weather.gov]
It has been five years since U.S. Park Police officers pursued and shot McLean resident Bijan Ghaisar in Fort Hunt, ultimately killing him.
Still seeking closure and accountability for the officers involved, Ghaisar’s family will mark the five-year anniversary of the shooting with a candlelight vigil at the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. at 7 p.m. today.
The vigil is being organized by the Bijan Ghaisar Foundation, which was formed by the family to honor their loved one and advocate for victims of police brutality and gun violence.
“The pain, anger, and frustration never diminishes,” the organization said on Facebook. “…We hope you can join us and help keep [Bijan’s] spirit and memories alive, and to continue to demand accountability. We have not and will not stop fighting.”
Ghaisar died in a hospital on Nov. 27, 2017 — 10 days after two Park Police officers shot him nine times, concluding an extended chase from George Washington Parkway to the Fort Hunt Road and Alexandria Avenue intersection. He was 25 years old.
A criminal case against the officers, identified as Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard, was dismissed last year by a judge who said they “were authorized by federal law to act as they did.” A dispatcher initially said Ghaisar was responsible for a hit-and-run, but later clarified that his vehicle was in fact the one that had been hit, court documents said.
Mark Herring, Virginia’s attorney general at the time, appealed the ruling with backing from Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, but Attorney General Jason Miyares dropped the manslaughter charges against the officers in April after he took office.
After previously suggesting it would help with the prosecution, the Justice Department said in June that it won’t pursue federal charges against Amaya and Vinyard after all, stating that it “does not have an adequate basis to reopen its prior investigation.”
Ghaisar’s family still has a civil personal injury lawsuit against the Park Police pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria.
According to The Washington Post, Amaya and Vinyard declined to answer questions about their actions at depositions last month, prompting Ghaisar’s family to file a motion asking the judge to compel them to provide testimony. A hearing on that motion has been scheduled for Dec. 9.
In a joint statement released this morning, Virginia Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine along with Reps. Don Beyer and Jennifer Wexton said the Department of the Interior, which includes the Park Police, “has taken several positive steps” in response to Ghaisar’s shooting, including a new requirement that officers wear body cameras.
However, reiterating sentiments voiced by elected officials over the past half-decade, the legislators expressed frustration with the lack of accountability and transparency around the federal investigations into the shooting:
Today marks five years since Bijan was shot and killed by U.S. Park Police. While we appreciate that the current leadership of the Department of the Interior has taken several positive steps to ensure that the failures that led to the tragic death of this young man don’t happen again, we remain deeply disappointed that the Ghaisar family’s pleas for justice and closure have not yet been answered. Bijan’s friends and family deserve closure for the killing of Bijan, which includes making sure that the individuals responsible for his death are finally held accountable.
Investigations involving use of force should be handled in a timely manner and include constant information sharing with the families involved and the public. Failure to do so undermines public trust in law enforcement and our institutions. It is our sincere hope that through increased transparency and communication, the Ghaisar family will finally receive the closure they need.
Per the Post, Vinyard and Amaya are on paid administrative leave and haven’t returned to active duty since the shooting. The Interior Department moved to fire them last year, but they filed a challenge that is still pending.
The Town of Vienna is seeking a little guidance to determine what to do with the former Faith Baptist Church property on Center Street.
The town council approved an allocation of $92,500 on Monday (Nov. 14) to launch a study of potential long-term uses for the site, now known as the Vienna Annex.
After receiving two bids in response to its request for proposals, the town has contracted Pennsylvania-based firm Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site to conduct the study, whose findings will eventually be presented to the town council.
“The information from the Annex Long-Term Use Study will provide recommended land uses of the annex property based on the town’s strategic plan, [comprehensive] plan, extensive community engagement and available funding in the long run,” Vienna Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Herman said.
The town bought the 3-acre property at 301 Center Street South for $5.5 million in fall 2020, giving the Vienna Police Department a temporary base during the construction of its new headquarters. Though there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early September, some final work is still being done before the building can be occupied.
As officers prepare to move out at some point, town leaders have been debating the best long-term use of the former church and have, thus far, come up with a big question mark.
Herman initially proposed utilizing the building temporarily as an annex for recreational activities to supplement the Vienna Community Center, but the town council feared that would cut off other long-term possibilities, particularly since a previous study estimated the conversion would cost $1 million.
The council authorized the removal of a cross from the building’s steeple in September but declined to fund roof repairs, saying it didn’t want to invest in a building that may ultimately be torn down.
When asked by Councilmember Ray Brill, Kimmel Bogrette confirmed that it will consider the possibility of demolishing all existing structures when exploring options for the site.
“Our approach to community engagement is to try to help folks see beyond what they see there today and look at the possibilities,” Kimmel Bogrette president and co-founder Martin Kimmel said.
Town staff will meet with the consultant next week to determine a detailed timeline for the study, according to a Town of Vienna spokesperson.
“Public engagement is expected to take place in January and February, 2023 and a final report is expected to be presented to Town Council in June,” Vienna Public Information Director Karen Thayer told FFXnow.
Drivers on the Dulles Toll Road can expect to pay higher tolls beginning next year.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Board of Directors voted yesterday morning to increase fees for users of the toll road — bringing tolls to $6 for the average driver.
The increase is expected to cover highway operations and maintenance costs, along with a dedicated set-aside for phase two of the Silver Line, which opened Tuesday (Nov. 15). The increase does not directly fund cost overruns associated with the project and has long been anticipated as part of a long-term funding plan.
At the main line plaza, tolls will rise from $3.25 to $4 for two-axle vehicles, $6.50 to $8 for three-axle vehicles, $7.75 to $9.25 for four-axle vehicles, and $9 to $10.50 for five-axle vehicles.
At the ramps, tolls will increase from $1.25 to $2 for two-axle vehicles, $3 to $4 for three-axle vehicles, $3.50 to $4.50 for four-axle vehicles, and $4 to $5 for five-axle vehicles.
The next toll increases is slated for 2028, according to MWAA’s board. “Modest” toll rate hikes are generally expected every five years, MWAA wrote in a statement.
MWAA also plans to collect a $1.60 administrative fee to process tolls for drivers who do not pay with the EZPass. The move comes as the toll road makes a shift to all electronic collections next year.
MWAA plans to eliminate toll boots at existing toll lanes in the coming months.
“Eliminating toll booths is expected to speed traffic flow and benefit the environment by reducing emissions that would have been produced by vehicles waiting in toll-booth lines,” MWAA wrote in a statement.
Reminder: I-495 Exit to Toll Road Changes Today — “Beginning on or about November 17, drivers traveling on northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway) to westbound Dulles Toll Road will take an earlier exit, rather than the existing left exit (Exit 45), which is closing to allow room for construction of a new, replacement I-495 bridge over the Dulles Toll Road ramps.” [VDOT]
FCPS Considers Changes to Grading Policies — Fairfax County Public Schools is considering altering its high school grading policy for the first time in five years “after principals reported variation in grading processes from school to school.” Possible changes include whether to continue with a 100-point scale or shift to “a standards-based scale,” and how to determine a student’s final grade. [WTOP]
Silver Line from D.C. to Dulles Airport Reviewed — “Taking a 90-minute train ride instead of a 35-minute drive to catch a flight might not sound like an ideal transportation swap. But it’s a choice I made hours after the Silver Line extension opened and one that local officials hope you will make now that Metrorail goes to Dulles International Airport.” [The Washington Post]
Prince William Data Center Could Affect Fairfax County Water — “Action earlier in November by one of Fairfax County’s neighbors may negatively impact the Occoquan Watershed, primary source of water for Fairfax Water’s Occoquan Reservoir.” A comprehensive plan amendment approved on Nov. 2 by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors would allow a large, much-debated PW Digital Gateway data complex to be built. [The Connection]
County Offers Toolkit to Help Address Food Insecurity — Started by a local parent, the Fairfax County Health Department’s “Care to Share” initiative encourages schools and other organizations to donate extra food to food banks and pantries in need. The program is active at “several sites” in the county, and a new toolkit provides information for groups looking to start their own. [FCHD]
Fairfax Auto Dealer Acquired — “Springfield’s Safford Automotive has purchased Fairfax’s Brown Automotive Group in one of the largest dealership transactions in the country this year…With the acquisition, Safford adds Brown’s 14 franchised car dealerships, one used-car outlet and a muscle and classic car shop to its roster.” [Washington Business Journal]
FCPS Will Have Covid Testing After Thanksgiving — “COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county November 28-30 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID.” [FCPS]
Virginia Gets $5 Million to Expand Broadband — “Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $4,999,975.50 in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding for…the Commonwealth. Awarded to Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, this first phase of funding will allow Virginia to develop their plans for deploying funding made available under the bipartisan infrastructure law to expand access to high-speed internet.” [Mark Warner]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 33. Sunrise at 6:55 am and sunset at 4:55 pm. [Weather.gov]
Rainbow Road will pass through Tysons Corner Center this winter holiday season.
The D.C. area’s biggest mall is one of 15 locations across the country that will host a “Wishlist Wonderland” pop-up from Nintendo, the video game company behind the Mario and Animal Crossing franchises announced last week.
Focused on giving customers a chance to play with and learn about Nintendo’s Switch console, the pop-up will arrive at Macy’s Court in Tysons Corner Center on Friday (Nov. 18) and remain through Dec. 27, a mall spokesperson confirmed.
From Nintendo’s event page:
Wishlist Wonderland with Nintendo Switch is a pop-up experience coming to select markets this holiday season. It’s a hands-on opportunity to learn about the Nintendo Switch family of systems and the extensive library of Nintendo Switch games! With demos of some of the latest Nintendo Switch games, interactive displays, My Nintendo Rewards check in, and more, this event will help you and your family find the perfect Nintendo products for your holiday wish list.
The games available for demonstrations will include “Nintendo Switch Sports,” “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Booster Course Pass,” and the 2023 edition of “Just Dance,” which is set to be released on Tuesday (Nov. 22).
However, the games won’t be available for purchase at the pop-up, according to Nintendo, which says they can be bought through retailers and its online store.
No registration is required for the pop-up, but the company says patrons must wear “secure footwear,” such as sneakers or closed-heel, flat sandals, to play “Nintendo Switch Sports.”
“Secure footwear reduces the risk of tripping, falling, or footwear dislodging when playing,” the event page says.
The pop-up’s arrival will come on the same day as Tysons Corner Center’s annual holiday tree lighting, which will take place on The Plaza from 6 to 8 p.m. The mall kicked off its holiday festivities last week with the start of Santa photo sessions.
A plan to turn the Vienna Courts offices into duplexes has been downsized again, as the developer and town leaders try to make the complex fit in without sacrificing its viability as an alternative multifamily housing option.
After initially proposing 15 two-floor buildings with one unit on each floor in September, BFR Construction President Steve Bukont agreed on Monday (Nov. 14) to drop a building and some guest parking so the development will occupy a little less of the 1.66-acre lot at 127-133 Park Street.
The project had already been reduced by one building before getting the Vienna Planning Commission’s approval on Sept. 28, so it will now have 12 buildings with 24 units.
However, Bukont told the Vienna Town Council that the smaller footprint means he can no longer guarantee that the residences will have solar panels, geothermal heating and other energy efficiency measures as previously offered.
“The green energy thing would be a goal. We couldn’t commit to doing it, but we would certainly make every attempt to do it,” he said. “Unfortunately…the cost of construction since we started discussing this project is up by double digits, and it doesn’t look like it’s going down.”
The developer confirmed that the project will still underground power lines along Park Street Northeast and install street lights similar to those on nearby Church Street, as stated in a Nov. 1 proffer agreement.
A lack of green space has been a sticking point for the Vienna Courts redevelopment from the start.
Intended to primarily serve older individuals and people with disabilities, the buildings will be small, with units topping out at 1,779 square feet. But the size and shape of the lot mean that most of it will be filled, raising fears about density on a site between Vienna’s commercial center and single-family residences.
“It doesn’t feel like we need density,” resident Brian Goldberg said at Monday’s public hearing, which was continued from Oct. 24. “Let Tysons have the density. Let Reston have the density. Let all these other areas that seem to have an appetite for going tall have it. Why do we need to do that in a residential area like we have?”
BFR Construction had requested a modification to let the development take up 70% of the lot, but the planning commision only approved 68%. Down to 13 buildings, the developer came to the town council this week seeking an allowance for 66.8%.
That still didn’t satisfy council members, who worried allowing that lot coverage could be a “slippery slope” in a town where only one development has exceeded 60% in the past 55 years, according to town staff.
“It frightens me, because I always keep going back to what happened with the [Maple Avenue Commercial zone] and the mistakes that came in there and spreading things out a little too much on each lot,” Councilmember Steve Potter said.
Stating that reducing the lot coverage would require tradeoffs, Bukont argued there should be flexibility for a project offering perks like undergrounding utilities and solar and geothermal energy.
“Nobody around here does that, because it’s just crazy expensive,” Bukont said. “But I really think for some of the things we’re considering, if we’re serious about climate change, some of these other things are arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Ultimately, Bukont consented to eliminating one building and providing fewer parking spots, getting the lot coverage down to 61.8%. He estimated the guest parking would need to go from 19 to six spots, though each building would still have a two-car garage for residents.
The council deferred a final vote to Dec. 5, but it’s unclear whether the project has enough support to pass. Councilmember Howard Springsteen said he’s “still not sold” but wants to see the revised site plan, while Nisha Patel noted that the changes don’t address her concern that there isn’t enough space between the buildings.
Before the plan was revised, Chuck Anderson said he would support more lot coverage in exchange for keeping the parking and green energy proposals, noting that the town’s coverage standards were written in the 1950s “to discourage multifamily housing.”
Vienna’s first comprehensive zoning code update since 1969 is underway, with a draft currently not expected until next summer.
“It would be easy to take out the green elements and maybe save some money, but I think going forward that this is important for our town,” Anderson said.
Developers Hope Silver Line Opening Will Boost Activity — “Officials responsible for building and operating the 11.4-mile, $3 billion extension…have insisted that it will spark and sustain considerable development…For developers, they’re hoping those words ring true, that it supercharges multimillion-dollar investments they’ve bet on, but also brings more riders back to the office from previously hard-to-reach residences” [Washington Business Journal]
Herndon Election Results Certified — The Fairfax County Board of Elections has certified the results of the Nov. 8 contests, cementing Herndon Mayor Sheila Olem’s reelection. Town Council candidate Stevan M. Porter fell just 119 votes short of Donielle Scherff, one of five victors, but said he won’t call for a recount. [Patch]
Silver Line Boosted Tysons Office Rents — “After Phase 1 opened with four stations in Tysons, that area’s office market experienced an acceleration in rent prices compared to nearby Reston, data shared with Bisnow by CompStak found. Since 2014, average effective rents were up 26.6% in Tysons and up 17.7% in Reston” [Bisnow]
Herndon Man Arrested for Carjacking Attempt — A 40-year-old Herndon man was arrested on Nov. 7 and faces charges of attempted carjacking, aggravated assault of a police officer, simple assault and destruction of property. The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. and led to him being treated at a hospital for minor injuries. [Herndon Police]
Feedback on Middle School Recess Positive — “At the beginning of this school year, Fairfax County Public Schools introduced middle school recess after a pilot program showed this age group does better in the classroom when free play factors into their day. According to principals, students, and teachers, that decision, along with the move to eliminate cell phone usage, is already paying dividends.” [FCPS]
General Assembly Gets Bill on Trans Students in Sports — Republican Del. Karen Greenhalgh of Virginia Beach has introduced a bill that would bar transgender students in K-12 and colleges from competing on teams that correspond with their gender identity. The bill would require athletics to allow students on teams based on their sex assigned at birth and could even affect private schools by banning them from playing against public schools unless they also comply. [The Washington Post]
FCPD Hires Incident Support Services Director — “Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Vera Daniel as Director of FCPD’s Incident Support Services. In this role, Director Daniel will work with Major Greg Fried to develop prevention strategies, techniques, and training aimed at supporting officers who may have been impacted by traumatic events.” [FCPD]
County Adds Public Health Training Program — “The ‘Public Health Youth Ambassador Program,’ coordinated by the Fairfax County Health Department, is a free educational program that trains local high school students from the African, African-American and Hispanic communities as community health workers. Thirty local high schoolers are currently enrolled. The program seeks to enroll an additional 60 students between now and June 2023.” [FCHD]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 51 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:54 am and sunset at 4:55 pm. [Weather.gov]
Teddy bear with a face mask and stethoscope (via Myriam Zilles on Unsplash)
(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) While the wave of COVID-19 cases seen over the past two winters hasn’t yet materialized this year, increased reports of other respiratory illnesses have local hospitals and health officials bracing for a particularly tough cold season.
Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia public health leaders are urging community members “to maintain their vigilance” and help prevent the spread of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which are both surging earlier than usual.
“This is especially important because as temperatures cool, we spend more time indoors with others, and may travel to gather with friends and family for celebrations who are at increased risk of severe complications from infection,” the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) said in a news release yesterday.
Inova activated its emergency plan to handle a surge in patients last month. The health care provider resumed normal operations on Nov. 8, but said “volumes continue to be high across the health system, particularly in pediatric services.”
HCA Healthcare, which owns Reston Hospital Center and Tysons Emergency, said its facilities in the area have also seen an increase in flu and RSV cases.
“We have been able to manage this increase in volume. We are increasing our staff and streamlining our processes in anticipation of a challenging winter season,” Reston Hospital Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carnell Cooper said.
Flu season is here
The Fairfax County Health Department confirmed that both flu and RSV cases have been rising locally.
“There is an increasing trend in visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for influenza-like illness and laboratory results of confirmatory tests, and we have investigated a higher number of outbreaks than expected for this time of year,” the FCHD told FFXnow.
Virginia is seeing a very high level of activity for influenza-like illnesses (ILL), as of the week that ended Nov. 5, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The rating by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based on outpatient visits to health care providers for respiratory illness involving a cough or sore throat and fever.
Per VDH, 9% of emergency department and urgent care center visits in the state are ILL-related, with kids 4 and younger making up 21.4% of visits — continuing a trend that health officials fear signals a worse flu season than in recent years, according to the NVRC.
While no deaths have been reported, Virginia has recorded 5,997 infections and 58 outbreaks so far this flu season, which started in mid-October and typically peaks between December and February.
“While it is unclear what exactly is driving this earlier increase in ILI activity from previous years, based on recent flu season reporting from the Southern Hemisphere, we anticipated this early peak to our own flu season,” the FCHD said.
County health officials recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older. Shots are available from the county by appointment and at pharmacies, doctor’s offices and other locations in the community.
What to know about RSV
In addition to the disproportionate number of flu infections, young kids are getting hit hard by RSV, a common virus that produces usually mild, cold-like symptoms but “can be very dangerous for babies, young children or those who are immunocompromised,” the NVRC says.
“Emergency department and urgent care visits with diagnosed RSV have been increasing rapidly since early September,” the commission said.
According to CDC data, the weekly hospitalization rate for RSV of 3 per 100,000 people was about three times higher as of Nov. 6 than at the same point in 2021. The overall rate for this season is 13 out of every 100,000 people.
Though RSV doesn’t appear to be more transmissible or severe than in the past, limited prior contact with the virus due to social distancing, masking and isolation during the first two years of the Covid pandemic may mean kids have built up less immunity, leading them to get sicker when infected, health experts told The Cut and The New York Times.
While there’s no vaccine for RSV, the NVRC says preventative measures like regular hand-washing with soap and covering coughs and sneezes can reduce the risk of infection.
What about COVID-19?
Covid levels in the community remain low, with the Fairfax Health District averaging 126.4 cases a week, per VDH data.
The district, which includes the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax, has seen a total of 248,068 cases, 5,086 hospitalizations, and 1,683 deaths during the pandemic. 86% of residents have gotten at least one vaccine dose, and 78.3% are considered fully vaccinated, according to the FCHD.
Through the NVRC, regional health officials continue to encourage vaccinations, even with many mass clinics winding down, and offered tips to prevent the spread of all respiratory illnesses:
- Get all members of your family age 5 years and older fully vaccinated with COVID-19 booster shots, and have everyone age 6 months and older get their flu shot.
- If you are sick, do not host or attend any holiday gatherings. Stay at home and consider getting tested if you’re having any symptoms of the flu, RSV or COVID-19.
- Socially distance — stay six feet from others as much as possible. Consider wearing a mask if you cannot keep a safe distance from others, particularly if you are at increased risk of complications from infection.
- If you are having a gathering, consider hosting it outside, or in well-ventilated areas. If inside, consider limiting the number of people at your gathering to allow proper distancing.
- Avoid crowded and indoor areas where distancing is not possible, or where you will be in close contact with anyone who is not a member of your household, or whose vaccination and illness status may be unknown.
- If you think you may have COVID-19 or may have been exposed, get tested and follow guidelines for isolation and quarantine. Testing is also available if you think you may have the flu.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available. This will help prevent many diseases, including the seasonal flu.
Photo via Myriam Zilles on Unsplash
