March 31, 2020
Dear Neighbor,
As you are hopefully aware, Governor Northam has issued a statewide Stay at Home Order. The best way to protect yourself and your neighbors is to stay home whenever possible. More details on the order and a list of limited exceptions is below.
The Board of Supervisors Budget Committee met today to discuss both the current FY 2020 budget and the FY 2021 budget. While we don't yet know the full extent, we do know that the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic will have a significant short-term impact on our local economy and county budget.
In light of the changed circumstances, the Board of Supervisors will receive an updated FY 2021 proposed budget from the County Executive on April 7. In addition to the in-person town hall meeting held earlier this month, I am planning a virtual town hall meeting for Braddock residents to share their thoughts on the updated proposal. Information and instructions to participate in that town hall meeting will be included in the April edition of the Braddock Beacon, which will be in your inbox this Friday. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors will conduct public hearings with virtual participation options April 14-16.
Continue reading for more information on:
- Governor Northam's Stay at Home Order
- Coronavirus Scams
- Utilities Suspending Service Disconnections
- Trash and Recycling Changes
- Fairfax County Animal Shelter Changes
- Metro Closures and Updates
- County Food Resources
- No Kid Hungry State Emergency Text Line
Yours in service,
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Supervisor James Walkinshaw
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On March 30, Governor Ralph Northam issued a statewide Stay at Home order to protect the health and safety of Virginians and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The executive order takes effect immediately and will remain in place until June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by a further executive order.
The order directs all Virginians to stay home except in extremely limited circumstances. Individuals may leave their residence for allowable travel, including to seek medical attention, work, care for family or household members, obtain goods and services like groceries, prescriptions, and others as outlined in
Executive Order Fifty-Three
, and engage in outdoor activity with strict social distancing requirements.
The executive order also directs all Virginia institutions of higher education to stop in-person classes and instruction. Private campgrounds must close for short-term stays, and beaches will be closed statewide except for fishing and exercise.
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Fairfax County strongly urges residents to follow the
stay at home order
issued by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today.
This order is critical to help slow the spread of the coronavirus as cases continue to climb across the state with 245 confirmed cases in the Fairfax County Health District. Social distancing is the most effective method to
limit the disease’s transmission
.
The governor’s action, which currently remains in effect until June 10, means that
residents should stay in homes with only a few exceptions for essential activities
, including:
- Getting groceries or medicines.
- Caring for a sick family member or friend.
- Getting medical care for yourself .
- Going outside for exercise for yourself or pets (although not in groups larger than 10 people).
- Getting essential social or government services.
- Traveling to and from work or place of worship.
- Traveling required by court order or to facilitate child custody, visitation, or child care.
Do not go out unless you need to go out.
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As the coronavirus public health emergency continues, scam artists are taking advantage of the situation. This includes everything from selling products that supposedly will prevent, treat or cure the virus to asking for donations to aid people who are sick.
Click
here
to learn valuable tips on how to be aware of scams.
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As COVID-19 impacts continue, area utility companies are taking actions to help offer relief during this time. Here’s a current list:
CABLE TV/INTERNET
ELECTRIC POWER
- Dominion: Will not shut off power for nonpayment and reconnecting residential customers who had been shut off for nonpayment previously. No specific timeline given
- NOVEC: For 60 days, will suspend electric service disconnections
NATURAL GAS
- Washington Gas: Suspending disconnection and waiving late fees until the COVID-19 crisis is over. This will happen to customers automatically and does not need to be requested.
- Columbia Gas: Will suspend shutoffs for nonpayment and will suspend late payment charges until May 1.
TELEPHONE SERVICE
- RCN (In addition to Cox, Comcast and Verizon above): Allows special arrangements to be made to keep services active by deferring payments and waiving late fees.
WATER
- Fairfax Water: Current customers should contact the company directly to discuss payment options.
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Trash and Recycling Changes
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Several changes to Fairfax County’s solid waste collection requirements were made Friday, March 27. The changes, which went into effect Monday, March 30, are temporary and in response to the current public health emergency. There are several reasons why the changes were made, including:
- Protecting the workforce to ensure that personnel remain available to collect trash and protect public health.
- Minimize workers’ physical contact with surfaces where the coronavirus can survive for several days.
- Follow social distancing guidance by reducing crew sizes and using automated collection vehicles.
Changes include:
Glass Recycling
Temporarily removing the purple, glass-only recycling containers not only eliminates additional driving routes, it also eliminates a place where people may congregate during the Virginia Governor’s stay-at-home order. Glass can be stored at home until the purple containers return or placed in the trash.
Yard Waste
The county’s Solid Waste Management Program is no longer requiring licensed companies to collect yard waste separately. Yard waste can be placed in the trashcan, but not left on the curb in bags or bundles. Residents are encouraged to manage yard waste on their property by mulching, backyard composting, or not generating yard waste at all if possible.
Best Practices for Residents
Residents can help reduce the volume of trash and create safer working conditions for workers by following these best practices:
- 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 “sharps.”
- Bag all trash to limit workers’ exposure to harmful materials.
These changes are only temporary
.
Full service will be restored when the public health emergency is over. Thank you for your patience as we work to protect the men and women who keep Fairfax County’s communities clean and healthy.
Click
here
to learn more.
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Fairfax County Animal Shelter Changes
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The Animal Shelter has paused the following programs and services until further notice:
- Adoptions – have paused while they determine how to safely proceed; They hope to provide an update on Monday.
- Volunteer program – for the safety of volunteers and staff, the shelter has paused the in-house volunteer program and no one except staff will be allowed in the building.
- Elective veterinary procedures – this includes spay/neuter
- Donations – no donations will be accepted at the Shelter. Please do not leave items outside the Shelter doors. However, their operations continue and if you would like to support the shelter please visit their donations web page for remote options.
- Shelter Tours and Reading Tails
- Workshops, group meetings, events
- TNR clinics
- Dog licenses – no dog licenses will be sold at the Shelter. Click here to purchase them licenses.
The Animal Shelter has cancelled the following programs and services:
- April 5 low-cost rabies clinic; later dates TBD
Click
here
to learn more.
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Metro continues to urge the public to travel if absolutely necessary during the COVID-19 public health emergency to ensure that limited transit capacity is available for those who need it most and to allow for safe social distancing.
As frontline transit employees work to keep trains and buses running for essential trips, additional protections are being implemented to keep Metro’s workforce safe during the COVID-19 public health emergency. As of Monday, March 30, Metrorail customers are no longer able to board the front or rear cars of the train to create an additional buffer between the train operator’s compartment and the general public.
When a train arrives at the station, the doors of the first and last railcars will remain closed when the doors on the remaining six cars open. Metrorail customers will only be permitted to occupy the train’s “middle” (second through seventh) cars.
Despite the fact that rail ridership is down about 93 percent, Metro will continue to operate all 8-car trains—the longest possible length—to allow plenty of room for safe social distancing in the remaining six cars.
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As the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency continues to evolve, we understand that individuals and families in our communities may have food assistance needs.
Fairfax County and
Fairfax County Public Schools
have worked together to develop a searchable map that includes community food distribution sites, including FCPS grab and go locations, community meal distribution sites, food pantries, and other related services.
Please click
here
to view the map.
Please click
here
to locate FCPS Emergency Meal locations, Food Bus Routes, and Pop-up Meal locations.
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If you know of any family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers who have children experiencing hunger in other parts of Virginia, please refer them to No Kid Hungry's Emergency Text Line.
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No Kid Hungry has launched a texting hotline to provide information about emergency food distribution sites in communities where schools have been closed due to #COVID19. To find food near you text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877.
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No Kid Hungry ha lanzado una línea de texto para encontrar sitios de distribución de alimentos en comunidades donde las escuelas han cerrado debido a COVID-19. Para encontrar comida cerca de usted, envíe un texto con la palabra COMIDA al 877-877.
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