Falls Church Farmers Market Suspended This Saturday

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The Falls Church Farmers Market is canceled for at least one upcoming date in response to new coronavirus, or COVID-19. The city announced the farmers market is suspended on Saturday, March 21.

The city has not announced a decision on future dates for the farmers market, as it is seeking guidance from the state regarding food sources and mass gatherings.

Falls Church's first presumptive case of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, was announced Thursday. The case involves a resident of The Kensington Falls Church, an assisted living and memory care facility. The patient has been in isolation since he began showing symptoms of respiratory illness on March 14. The Kensington and the Fairfaxis the spread of an illness with an unknown source of exposure. County Health Department are working together on preventing further spread.

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City government called for "vigilant social distancing" as public health officials have found evidence of community spread in Northern Virginia. Community spread is the spread of an illness with an unknown source of exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Social distancing is urged to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect older individuals and people with chronic health conditions who are at higher risk for severe illness. Recommended measures include maintaining at least six feet of personal space when possible, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding crowded areas and non-essential travel if you are over age 65 or have a chronic medical condition, and following local government guidance.

Questions about COVID-19 can be directed to the Fairfax County coronavirus line at 703-267-3511 from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The City of Falls Church has set up a public information line for questions on city services at 703-248-5200, available weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More public health information is available online from the Fairfax County Health Department, Virginia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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