As the COVID-19 pandemic roars through Northern Virginia and much of the rest of the country, residents are getting confused about what to do, how to get tested, how long to quarantine and more.
Here are some answers:
How bad is it out there?
It's bad. Alexandria area residents are testing positive for COVID-19 at the area's highest rate rate, worse than even the darkest days of last winter's COVID-19 surge. At least 400 new cases per day are being reported just in the City of Alexandria — and that doesn't include people who are testing positive with at-home tests and not reporting the results to their doctor or other healthcare providers.
While the majority of residents in Alexandria and Fairfax County are at least partially vaccinated, the virus is still spreading. Residents should wear masks indoors in all public places, and outdoors where social distancing is not possible.
What do I do if I feel sick or think I've been exposed to COVID-19?
Get tested as soon as you possibly can. While at-home tests may be difficult to find, many local testing centers are open or accepting appointments. You can find information about testing here.
Inova Emergency Departments across the area are asking residents NOT to go to the Emergency Room for a COVID-19 test.
Tuesday afternoon, Inova released this statement:
If you suspect you might be infected with COVID-19, please do not visit the emergency room for a COVID-19 test. Instead seek out a community testing site or a home test kit. Inova Emergency Departments are prioritizing patients with medical conditions requiring emergency care and those with critical illness. We strongly discourage patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms from coming to the emergency room so we may preserve resources for those in our community with emergent medical needs.
An Inova COVID-19 Vehicle-Side Testing Center is open M - F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., in Falls Church. We will provide PCR testing only, no rapid antigen testing is currently available. Asymptomatic patients or individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 without symptoms will not be tested. Appointments are required, please call us for an appointment at 571-472-6843. Learn more at https://www.inova.org/covidtesting.
What if I tested positive?
The CDC has been adjusting its guidance lately on quarantining and isolating after a positive COVID-19 test, which has caused some confusion. Here's the latest:
"People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter."
If you have symptoms, you should stay away from other people, including those you live with, as much as possible.
