More than 40,000 people have registered online or by phone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the Fairfax County Health Department. The Health Department is working around the clock to schedule appointments and vaccinate as many as possible. But due to the limited vaccine supply, it may take a few months to get through these priority groups.

The Fairfax County Health Department has not yet received a sufficient supply of vaccine doses from the Virginia Department of Health, which has not yet received a sufficient supply from the federal government. Unfortunately, as the Washington Post and Wall St. Journal have reported in recent days, the federal government has given conflicting information about when and how many vaccine doses will be released to states.

I hope you will take the time to review the information below. You can also visit the Fairfax County Emergency Blog to learn more.

While the vaccine supply is very limited, the Health Department expects to receive enough doses each week to provide second doses to people who have already received their first dose. The Health Department will send you an invitation to schedule your second dose during the most appropriate window based on your first dose date. You do not need to contact the Health Department to schedule your second dose and you do not need to complete the registration form again.

If you have registered to get vaccinated and already have an appointment scheduled to receive your first dose, please keep your appointment. The Health Department has adequate vaccine supply for appointments that have already been scheduled.

On a different note, tomorrow, January 18, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As I mentioned in a previous message to the community, I hope everyone will take the day to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.'s contributions to our society. One way you can safely celebrate is by participating in the Volunteer Fairfax Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service. As Dr. King famously said, "Everybody Can Be Great, Because Anybody Can Serve."

In observance of tomorrow's holiday, the Fairfax Connector, Metro, and VRE will be operating on a modified service schedule. Because this upcoming work week has two holidays, many public transportation options will be operating on a modified service schedule from the time you receive this email, until Thursday, January 21. Continue reading below to find detailed information on these service changes so you can plan accordingly.

Finally, Inauguration Day is normally a time when our nation comes together to witness a peaceful transition of power less than 20 miles from the Braddock District. But due to the recent attack on the Capitol and threats of further violence, I'd like to echo Chairman Jeff McKay, state officials, and regional leaders in urging families and individuals to stay home and avoid downtown Washington D.C. on January 20.

Supervisor James Walkinshaw

P.S. Forward this message to your neighbors in the Braddock District! Residents can use our sign up feature or email braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov to subscribe to the monthly Braddock Beacon newsletter and Advisories like this.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will support the United States Secret Service Joint Transportation Plan and close multiple bridges and roads leading into Washington D.C. beginning Tuesday, January 19. These closures will take place in efforts to ensure public safety during Inauguration Day.

Beginning Tuesday, January 19, from 6:00 a.m., until Thursday, January 21, at 6:00 a.m., I-66 and I-395 bridges into D.C. will be closed and traffic will be diverted as follows:

I-66: Eastbound traffic will be diverted at Route 110 (Exit 75).

I-395: Northbound traffic will be diverted at the George Washington Memorial Parkway (Exit 10B).

I-395 Express Lanes: When the lanes are northbound, all traffic will be diverted into the main lanes near Edsall Road.

Please plan ahead, avoid the area, and use alternate routes during this time. Those needing to travel in and around Northern Virginia between January 19 and January 21 should check VDOT's website before they travel.

Read VDOT's press release for more detailed information on road and bridge closures.

Tomorrow, Monday, January 18, the Fairfax Connector will operate on Holiday weekday service in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

All routes operate on regular weekday service except:

Route 980 will run every 12-15 minutes instead of every 6-8 minutes.

On Inauguration Day, Wednesday, January 20:

Currently in effect:

Fairfax Connector Routes 697 (Stringfellow Road Park and Ride - Downtown D.C.) and 699 (the Government Center - Foggy Bottom) will operate as free shuttles to the Vienna Metrorail Station through Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Passengers should take the Metrorail Orange Line to complete their trip into Washington, D.C.

To receive notifications for your bus route, sign up for BusTracker email or text alerts.

Tomorrow, Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Metro will operate rail and buses on a Saturday schedule. Trains will run every 15-20 minutes on all lines except for the Red Line, which will have trains every 12-15 minutes. Stations will be open from 5:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day, and parking will be free at all facilities.

Metro has closed 13 stations inside their security perimeter. These stations will remain closed through the end of service on Thursday, January 21. During this time trains will pass through the closed stations without stopping.

In addition, 26 bus routes will be detoured around the expanded security perimeter beginning through Thursday, January 21. Metrobus will operate normal service on these weekdays to accommodate customers making trips outside the zone, with the exception of January 20, when buses will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Until January 21, trains will operate on a Saturday schedule (every 12 minutes on the Red Line/15 minutes on all other lines), bypassing all closed stations while residents are urged by local officials to stay out of the downtown area.

For additional information read Metro's full press release. You can also sign up for Metro Alerts for the most up-to-date Metro news.

In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, on Monday January 18, and enhanced security surrounding Inauguration Day, on January 20, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is suspending service tomorrow, Monday January 18, through Wednesday, January 20. Normal Service will resume January 21.

VRE Service Adjustments:

You can also sign up for VRE Train Talk Alerts to receive status updates.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, tomorrow, Monday 18, and Inauguration Day, Wednesday, January 20. There will be no classes or meal service for school students who receive meals from this program on these two days.

However, FCPS Bus routes and Grab and Go locations will serve two days' worth of meals on Tuesday.

Important Reminder:

All FCPL branches are providing curbside and virtual services only. Curbside pickup of materials is available Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The decision to return to curbside and virtual services was not made lightly, we know how critical library services are to our residents. It was based on the rising positivity rates and case counts in the Fairfax Health District. Specific information about COVID-19 case data in the Fairfax Heath District is available on the County dashboard.