Virginia officials are looking to ramp up COVID-19 testing efforts.
Gov. Ralph Northam has said that increasing testing capacity is key to determining when to walk back restrictions on businesses and large gatherings, WTVR in Richmond reported.
The article noted that Northam created a working group to address test backlogs, increase the number of test sites and tackle shortages of equipment needed for tests.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County and its towns and cities, has seen more than 13,000 test results, according to data earlier this week from the Virginia Department of Health.
Fairfax County has a list of resources for people seeking COVID-19 tests. In Tysons, places with testing include the Inova Urgent Care Center (8357 Leesburg Pike) and Kaiser Permanente (8008 Westpark Drive).
Let us know in the poll below if you have gotten a COVID-19 test.
If you live in Tysons, McLean, Merrifield, Vienna or Falls Church and have gotten a test or plan to, please contact us at [email protected] if you are willing to share your experience for an article.
Metro is gearing up for work this summer that will close all of the Orange and Silver line stations west of Ballston.
Last week, Metro announced it is expanding its work from just platform reconstruction at several Orange Line stations to include connection of the upcoming Silver Line Phase II stations, which run from Reston to Ashburn.
Low Metro ridership and severely reduced highway traffic due to Virginia’s stay-at-home order prompted the additional work, Metro officials said.
Starting Saturday, May 23, nine stations will be closed through the fall. Free express and local shuttle buses, along with Fairfax Connector routes, will help connect riders traveling around Northern Virginia.
Let Tysons Reporter know if the expanded summer work will impact you.
The Town of Vienna has a new survey to help town officials better understand how the coronavirus pandemic has affected local businesses.
The survey was created by the town’s economic development office with the input of the Town Business Liaison Committee and Vienna Business Association, according to a press release.
The survey includes questions about revenue losses, staffing capacities, preventative measures taken and any changes made since the pandemic started.
“Survey responses will be shared with town staff and councilmembers and will help inform strategies that may lead to relief programs for businesses in Vienna,” the press release said, adding that individual responses will not be published.
Business owners have until May 15 to complete the short survey.
Image via Survey Monkey
Today is National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.
The “holiday” started when Pajamagram started a campaign in 2004 to give people a chance to relax after filing their taxes, according to National Day Calendar.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, wearing pajamas while working from home might have been more of a rare treat than the “new normal” for many people.
For essential workers, teleworking isn’t always an option. And there are some people who get dressed up to work from home.
Whether you’re in cozy flannel, pairing a dress shirt with pajama pants or wearing your uniform, let us know in the poll below if you’re participating.
Photo by FLOUFFY on Unsplash
(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:
- 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.
- 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
More and more states are ordering eateries and entertainment venues to close or switch to delivery and take-out only to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
When the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to declare a local emergency earlier this morning, several supervisors mentioned how the county has limited authority to plan restrictions on eating establishments.
“We don’t have as much authority as people think we do,” Vice-Chair Penny Gross said. “We’re also at the mercy of the governor.”
A few days ago, D.C.’s mayor imposed new restrictions on restaurants and bars, prohibiting table seating and allowing them to offer delivery or take-out options. The restrictions also force nightclubs, theaters and health clubs to close for at least two weeks.
Municipalities have limited authority to take action because Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, Arlington Magazine reported, adding that Gov. Ralph Northam could issue a statewide declaration similar to Maryland’s.
Northam said this morning that the state will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to prevent gatherings of 10 or more people, but that he does not plan to place restrictions on restaurants, WHSV reported.
“Northam is “asking them to abide by the ‘rule of 10’ and… encouraging them to focus on delivery and takeout options, instead of in-house dining,” according to WHSV.
Northam says he doesn't anticipate shutting restaurants down in the future, saying 45% of Virginians get meals from restaurants.
"I think we've got to be very careful, very prudent. We want to keep Virginia healthy. But we also know that they need to eat."
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) March 17, 2020
“At least 20 states have ordered that their restaurants and bars close to in-person diners amid the coronavirus pandemic,” The Hill reported earlier today.
The limited authority didn’t stop neighboring Arlington County to plead with restaurants and bars to “take responsible action and switch from dine-in service to only offering carryout and delivery.”
While the statement noted that Arlington County does not have the legal authority to force the changes, it said that COVID-19 cases could overwhelm Arlington if restaurants don’t limit community contact.
As of Monday, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 10 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Fairfax County — a number that officials say is expected to grow.
Metro is currently seeking input on its proposed fiscal year 2021 budget, which includes changes impacting hours and fares.
The ideas include:
- keeping Metrorail open until midnight Monday-Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays
- adding more weekend service on Metro bus routes
- increasing Metrorail fares during peak periods
increasing bus fares for people loading their SmarTrip card with cash - creating a flat fare for Metrorail
- eliminating low-ridership bus routes
- eliminating transfer fares between Metro trains and buses
“Today, riders pay for Bus and Rail trips separately and get a $0.50 discount when transferring,” according to Metro. “Under this proposal, transfers between Metrorail and regular Metrobus services would be free.”
Before Metro’s budget year begins before July 1, people can submit comments via an online survey and provide feedback through March 2. Metro also plans to have open houses in Arlington, D.C. and New Carrollton.
What do you think of Metro’s ideas?
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. Whether you’re single, in a relationship or something else, there are plenty of opportunities in the Tysons area.
Tysons Reporter recently rounded up a list of events this week that are Cupid-themed.
Forecasters predict that the weather will be sunny but cold. For people who want to bundle up for some free outdoor activities, the Wolftrap Stream Valley Park will be open until 8 p.m., while the Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will be open until 4:30 p.m.
Let Tysons Reporter know what your plans are for Valentine’s Day.
After Forbes listed Tysons Corner as an upcoming travel destination, Tysons Reporter decided to follow up to learn more about the area’s potential as a staycation retreat.
Tysons Reporter wants to know how you’d spend some extra money around the area. What are your priorities when it comes to a vacation or staycation?
Let us know and then comment your favorite places to eat, shop, stay and play below or on social media.
Photo via Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner
Lord and Taylor is leaving Tysons Corner Center this month with a storewide sale.
Since the fall, everything in the store has been on sale with a 20-40% discount. Shoppers can clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and kids.
The store is still open as of today (Jan. 6), and an employee said that the store plans to close sometime in mid-January.
Let Tysons Reporter know if you have shopped at — or plan to visit — the store before it closes.
