The City of Alexandria has relaxed regulations regarding deliveries to grocery stores, allowing them to get more deliveries faster.
Residents have, in recent weeks, been posting images to social media accounts of empty grocery store shelves — particularly noting runs on toilet paper, baby formula, chicken, bottled water, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. (Soap remains in good supply, which is what experts say offers some of the best protection for individuals.)
In a release Monday evening, City officials acknowledged that many grocery stores in the region are having trouble keeping up with demand for products.
If you can avoid going to the grocery store — or at least use curbside pick-up or delivery services — that may be safest.
Federal officials on Monday recommended staying home when sick; working from home whenever possible; and avoiding social gatherings of more than 10 people, in addition to maintaining enough social distance (6 feet) from other people. The Alexandria Dept. of Health is following the CDC's March 15 recommendation to cancel or postpone in-person gatherings of more than 50 people.
In addition, Federal officials are recommending that people avoid discretionary travel and shopping trips; and avoiding eating or drinking in restaurants, bars and public food courts. The recommendation encourages the use of drive-through, pickup or delivery options when patronizing local businesses.
Many events in Alexandria have been canceled, and an increasing number of businesses are choosing to shut down operations or move entirely online to help prevent community spread of this novel coronavirus. Unlike Maryland and the District of Columbia, Virginia's bars and restaurants are not closed by state mandate at this time.
On Monday, Mayor Justin Wilson sent a letter to all Alexandria landlords of multifamily rental properties, asking them to consider what they can do now to ease the burden for tenants who will have difficulty paying rent because of illness or financial hardship related to ongoing COVID-19 related business disruptions and closures.
In addition, the City of Alexandria and its partners are working together to provide information and resources to offer support, security and stability for families in need due to the impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus response. The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has a list of available resources. Those in need should contact the DCHS Customer Relations Team at 703.746.5700 for assistance connecting residents to the appropriate resources.
