April 4, 2020
To the Fairfax County Community,

Governor Northam announced yesterday that the Dulles Expo Center in Fairfax County will likely be the site of the first field hospital in Northern Virginia. After the decision is finalized, the hospital should be operational in about six weeks. As I have more information, I will continue to update you.

See below for the full April 4 edition. For the resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website . If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.
Some good news

  • FCPS has been serving 14,000 meals a day on average to students and their families. As of April 1, the total meals served was 170,434. You can donate to the Foundation for FCPS here.
  • The Community Foundation of Northern Virginia launched the COVID-19 Response Fund to provide flexible funding resources for nonprofit organizations and other programs in our region. This week they awarded $360,000 to 28 organizations in the area meeting basic needs and offering emergency financial assistance. Learn more and donate here.
  • Uber is providing ten million free rides and deliveries for frontline healthcare workers, seniors, and people in need. They are working through existing organizations to help implement. Organizations looking for support with rides or food deliveries can reach out to impact2020@uber.com.
  • Northern Virginia Community College provided 516 computers to NOVA students who expressed need in order to take online classes. You can support students at NOVA by donating to the NOVA Foundation here.

FCPS

  • Distance learning packets for students PreK through Grade 8 should be arriving in mailboxes in the next week.
  • Food distribution will continue during the week of Spring Break April 6 - 10 with some changes to hours.

Homeless Shelters

  • Governor Northam announced yesterday an initial $2.5 million in emergency funding to shelter Virginia’s statewide homeless population.
  • This emergency support will provide temporary housing for the approximately 1,500 Virginians who are currently unsheltered or rely on shelters.
  • The funding will also provide housing for individuals in shelters that may need to be quarantined, or where social distancing is not feasible.
  • Read more.

Visit Fairfax

  • Fairfax First details all the ways you can support and enjoy Fairfax County from your home. It includes virtual tours, how to support local businesses, and wellness options.
  • Here is a restaurant list for take out and delivery options. Similarly, you can also follow the Fairfax County Take Out Trail.

Financial Updates

  • Our business website has information on collecting unemployment and other information for workers and employers.
  • The Virginia Employment Commission is reminding those filing for unemployment insurance benefits to do so weekly after you have filed your initial claim.
  • If you are in need of financial counseling, the Financial Empowerment Center is supported by Fairfax County.
  • Call 703-704-6101 or email info@fecsoco.org
  • They are also looking for professional banking/lending volunteers to virtually assist applicants of small business loans. They are especially in need of volunteers speaking Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish. Contact Dawn Sykes at dsykes@britepaths.org for more information.
  • The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people.
  • Residents will receive direct cash assistance of $1,200 per person earning up to $75,000 or $150,000 for married couples filing jointly; an additional $500 cash payment available per child.
  • Seniors who receive Social Security will automatically receive checks.
  • However, those individuals that don’t receive Social Security and did not file a tax return last year will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.
  • Read more.

County Jails

  • Only the courts have decision-making authority regarding who goes to jail and the length of their sentence.
  • Fairfax County's Commonwealth's Attorney is reviewing case files and will petition the courts to release selected non-violent inmates with limited time remaining on their sentences.

Legal Resources

  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia is providing free legal counsel to low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families.
  • Some areas they are working on: unemployment claims, housing evictions and foreclosures, and protective orders.
  • Call: 703-778-6800; Monday - Thursday; 9:30 am - 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Health
Common Health Questions:

  • Not every case of coronavirus has symptoms, but those that do may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Some of the symptoms you might experience are below:
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Continue to follow the health guidelines:
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if that isn't an option (especially when in public places)
  • Cough and sneeze into your sleeve
  • Don't touch your face
  • Social distance
  • What it means to social distance, self-isolate, and quarantine.
  • The CDC has updated its guidance on face masks. They recommend the use of non-medical masks as a community mitigation tool.

Resources:

As we have more information to share, my office and Fairfax County Government will continue to update residents.

Thank you for your support and patience as we work to manage this challenging, complex, and rapidly evolving situation.

Jeffrey C. McKay
Contact the Office

chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov | 703.324.2321 |