April 10, 2020
To the Fairfax County Community,

I have been hearing about a noticeable amount of used gloves, masks, and wipes discarded onto the ground throughout the community. Please remember to dispose of these materials correctly and help us communicate that improper disposal is a public health hazard for your neighbors and our waste collection workers that must clean them up. Another concern is that these items get washed into the waterways and into the Chesapeake Bay.

Also, below you can view a short clip from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. I was happy to participate in their message about COVID-19 with my partner mayors and chairs from area local governments. I participate in several calls a week with these elected officials and it's important we work closely together and think regionally as we tackle the pandemic.

See below for the full April 10 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.
New County Resources

  • Language Portal: This page highlights all language content in Fairfax's top seven non-English languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Urdu, and Farsi.
  • Geospatial Resources Platform: This page highlights resources such as maps and interactive applications with important data that is relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic in Fairfax County. 

Groceries

  • Local grocery stores have adjusted their operating times and sanitation guidelines to accommodate for COVID-19.
  • Click here for more information, including hours of stores that open earlier for vulnerable populations.
  • For opportunities to purchase directly from farms in the region see this map.

From the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH)

  • OPEH has received additional local budget authority to move forward with providing transportation and additional shelter capacity for homeless people affected by COVID-19.
  • Staff is also working with local hotels to secure rooms for symptomatic individuals and are also securing contracts for cleaning and meal delivery.
  • Most symptomatic homeless individuals to date have been tested at the hospital when seeking care for their symptoms.
  • OPEH staff are working on formal agreements with local transportation companies that are willing to transport homeless individuals who are sick and support shelter providers.  

From the Department of Family Services

  • The Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging will receive about $487,705 in emergency federal funding to support home congregate meals and home delivered meals.  
  • Financial assistance is available to foster parents who take in a child as an emergency placement or a child who requires quarantine or isolation. Foster families would get a one-time payment of $2,000.

Extensions on plans, plats, and permitting

  • On Tuesday, the Board will consider an emergency ordinance to extend the validity of approvals from Land Development Services.
  • This includes approval extensions for site-related plans, plats, permits, parking reductions, and Public Facilities Manual waivers, for 60 days beyond the end of the COVID-19 emergency. 
  • The Board will also consider authorizing certain local bodies that act on applications relating to development and construction to meet electronically to address the COVID-19 emergency.

May/June Elections

  • Governor Northam has requested that the General Assembly move all special elections scheduled for May 5, 2020 to November 3, 2020.
  • He has moved June primary elections from June 9, 2020 to June 23, 2020.
  • Read more.

Trash and Recycling

  • Fairfax County residents are strongly discouraged from taking their yard waste to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill. 
  • Glass recycling has been temporarily suspended.
  • Some best practices for getting rid of trash:
  • Reduce the waste households generate so the system isn’t overwhelmed. (Postpone spring cleaning.) 
  • Wipe and disinfect cart handles and lids. 
  • Stop setting out yard waste at the curb. Implement mulching or backyard composting. 
  • Seal sharp medical objects in a rigid plastic container with sturdy tape and label it “sharp.” 
  • Bag all trash to limit workers’ exposure to harmful materials. 
  • Read more.

Fairfax Connector

  • Starting tomorrow April 11, Fairfax Connector will be making service adjustments.
  • Fairfax Connector will continue to provide regular service on 37 routes; provide Saturday service during weekdays on 14 routes; and discontinue service on 40 routes. See the changes here.
  • Customers are still required to enter and exit the bus using the rear doors, with the exception of customers needing a wheelchair ramp. Fares are not being collected.

How You Can Help

  • Contribute to George Mason University students who need support funding their educations. (Separately, you can also fill out this survey to help inform the University Master Plan).
  • Local media need support to pay their staff. Donate to the Falls Church News Press here and Inside Nova here.

Other News

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 recommends wearing non-medical masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. Read here for more and to learn how to make your own.

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 |