June 23, 2020
To the Fairfax County Community,

Today, Governor Northam announced that Virginia will be moving into Phase 3 of reopening on Wednesday, July 1. I am hopeful that we can move into Phase 3 with the rest of the state. While I am awaiting a formal report from our health directors on the data, preliminarily, our data continues to meet the necessary criteria. I’m glad that our regional health statistics continue to improve because of County and community efforts to test, trace, and practice responsible social distancing. I hope to provide this data to you in the coming days.

It's important to note however that this progress doesn’t mean we are without risk. All residents must continue to practice social distancing, hand washing, and wear a mask.

We also passed some significant motions at today's Board meeting, including partnering with the My Brother's Keeper Initiative and the approval of Paid Family Leave for Fairfax County employees. More is detailed below.

See below for the full June 23 edition of my newsletter. 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.
Forward Virginia Phase 3

  • Today, Governor Northam announced Virginia will enter Phase 3 of reopening on July 1.
  • Phase 3 guidelines can be found in English here and in Spanish here. Governor Northam's presentation outlining Phase 3 can be found here.
  • Key changes:
  • Non-essential businesses, restaurants, and beverage services may fully reopen.
  • Entertainment venues may open at 50% capacity.
  • All open facilities must continue to maintain physical distancing practices and enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices.
  • Gatherings of up to 250 people will be allowed.
  • Teleworking is still strongly encouraged.
  • Face masks are still required.
  • Phase 2 guidelines are here.

Today's Board Meeting

  • The Board approved six weeks of Paid Family Leave for Fairfax County employees. Especially in these difficult times, I was proud to be able to push this needed flexibility for our staff with the partnership of the Service Employees International Union.
  • This leave can be used for events such as the birth or adoption of a child or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
  • I asked that Fairfax County's Successful Children and Youth Policy Team facilitate a partnership with the My Brother's Keeper Initiative.
  • The Initiative was launched by President Obama in 2014 to work across sectors to implement policies and actions that improve literacy and college and career readiness for young men of color. It also aims to address the disproportionate contact between men of color and the criminal justice system.
  • Supervisors Foust, Storck, and I directed additional measures be taken to address COVID-19's impact on housing and homelessness.
  • Staff will develop a Housing Partnership Pledge. This will bring together leaders from the landlord and lending community to develop a pledge providing relief to borrowers and tenants by deferring actions such as foreclosures and evictions.
  • The Department of Housing and Community Development will update guidelines for emergency rental assistance.
  • The Redevelopment and Housing Authority will explore additional flexibility it may have in its programs to provide emergency rental assistance.
  • Supervisors Palchik and Alcorn requested that the Fairfax County History Commission prepare a report listing a full inventory of Confederate street names, monuments, and public places in Fairfax County and on Fairfax County-owned property. This inventory is set to be complete by the end of 2020.
  • You can see the full Board package here.

Car and Real Estate Tax Payments

  • Also at today's Board meeting, we voted to reduce penalties for late personal property and real estate tax payments this year.
  • For late payments, the penalty was cut in half from 10% to 5%.
  • The additional 15% penalty for car taxes on payments more than 30 days overdue was also eliminated.
  • Read more.

Inova

  • Inova is sharing information on their comprehensive care program to ensure everyone feels safe when visiting their facilities.
  • Safe@Inova provides details about facility practices, their strict PPE requirements, and cleaning protocols.
  • They want residents to know that it is safe to go to the hospital. This is especially important if you are experiencing an emergency.

Temporary Shelter for Vulnerable Communities

  • The County is providing Quarantine, Protection, Isolation/Decompression emergency housing for those who are unable to practice infection control and meet eligibility criteria.
  • The isolation/quarantine hotels are temporary sheltering sites only and do not provide health care services.
  • If you have additional questions about whether you meet the criteria for these temporary shelters, call the Fairfax County Health Department Call Center at 703-267-3511.
  • Learn more.
Health
Common Health Questions:

  • People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms reported - ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. You might experience:
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Chills, repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste and smell
  • 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. It is now required in Virginia.
  • The New York Times (access to COVID-19 content is free) spoke with infectious disease experts, aerosol scientists, and microbiologists to find out if COVID-19 can land on your clothing, hair, shoes, and mail.

Resources:

  • Fairfax County Health Department
  • To view the number of cases in Fairfax County this page is updated at noon daily.
  • Visit the County site on COVID-19, Health Department Website, and see their FAQs.
  • To view multilingual health materials visit the County's Language Portal.
  • Sign up for text message alerts: text FFXCOVID to 888777. Para inscribirse, textear FFXCOVIDESP a 888777.
  • Call the Health Department from 9:00 am - 7 pm weekdays and 9:30 am - 5 pm on weekends: 703-267-3511
  • Email: ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8 am - 8 pm.
  • Inova has a helpful FAQ.
We recognize that we are in very trying times, but I hope you see in these newsletters that positive change has occurred over the last several months.

As I often say, we are truly lucky to live in Fairfax County where we have the resources to overcome challenges and a community who rises to the occasion.

Jeffrey C. McKay
Contact the Office

chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov | 703.324.2321 |