Alexandria Officials Encourage New Year's At Home Celebrations

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Before we say goodbye to 2020, Alexandria and health department officials are urging residents to celebrate safely during the coronavirus pandemic.

The message from local officials is that celebrations should only be with members of the same household to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks. Residents are encouraged to avoid gatherings or traveling.

One celebration option for residents is First Night Alexandria. The New Year's Eve event has been changed to a virtual and drive-in format.

For restaurant takeout options, see our lists for Alexandria or Del Ray.

The guidance is the same message the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been promoting for the Thanksgiving and winter holidays. Virginia, like other states in the U.S., has seen higher daily coronavirus cases and current hospitalizations than previous months.

Alexandria has a seven-day average of 55 daily cases reported. The highest number of daily cases reported in the city was 127 on Dec. 20. As for hospitalizations, the highest daily hospitalizations were reported in the spring months. Cumulative numbers for Alexandria are 7,298 cases, 431 hospitalizations and 87 deaths.

There is a ray of hope heading into 2021 as vaccinations are underway for the first priority groups. As of Thursday, 642 doses have been administered in Alexandria, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Hospitals like Inova Alexandria Hospital received doses for their health care workers, and the Alexandria Health Department has been vaccinating health care workers who are not affiliated with hospitals. Vaccinations at long-term care facilities participating in a federal vaccination program with CVS and Walgreens begin during the week of Dec. 28 in Virginia.

The Alexandria Health Department plans to provide weekly and total vaccination numbers every week. This will include health care workers employed in the City of Alexandria. The VDH dashboard numbers reflect people who live in Alexandria.

City officials also reminded residents that the governor's latest executive order has restrictions that remain in place. Virginia is under a curfew from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Residents are asked to stay home, but there are exceptions such as traveling to and from work, for medical attention and for obtaining food and goods. Social gatherings are limited to 10 people, and masks are required for everyone aged 5 and up in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained and shared indoor settings.

Restaurants and bars must also follow physical distancing and sanitization requirements. On-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol must end at 10 p.m. in any restaurant, dining establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery, or tasting room. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms must close by midnight.

SEE ALSO:

• Details For Virtual, Drive-In First Night Alexandria
• New Year's Eve 2020 Specials Offered At Alexandria Restaurants
• New Year's Eve 2020 Specials Offered At Del Ray Restaurants
• What's Open, Closed For New Year's 2021 In Alexandria