Second New Coronavirus Case Found At The Kensington Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A second presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been identified at The Kensington Falls Church, an assisted living and memory care facility. The Fairfax County Health Department made the announcement Sunday.

The health department did not provide immediate details on the patient. The first case involved a resident at The Kensington who has been in isolation since he began showing symptoms of respiratory illness on March 14.

This is the second case of COVID-19 in the City of Falls Church. As of Sunday, there are 31 presumptive positive cases in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, the City of Falls Church and City of Fairfax. The health department reported the first death related to COVID-19 in the health district, which marks the third death in Virginia. The patient, a Fairfax County resident in his 60s, died of respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Virginia's other two deaths happened in the southeastern Peninsula region. Presumptive positive cases are tested at the state or local level and must be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Upon announcing the COVID-19 case at The Kensington Wednesday, the health department said it was working with the facility to prevent further spread. An infection control team was deployed to The Kensington to identify the potential source of exposure. The team is evaluating all staff and providing them with personal protective equipment, interviewing residents and staff members to assess illness and exposure, collecting specimens for residents or staff showing symptoms, and giving guidance on isolation, self-quarantine and cleaning of the facility.

The Kensington have been taking steps to respond to the COVID-19 situation. Employees are being monitored for symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 when their shifts begin, and residents are monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms daily, according to a statement from The Kensington Falls Church. Visitation was limited, and family members were urged not to take residents outside the community. The facility set up virtual ways for families to connect.

The City of Falls Church is holding a virtual town hall meeting to address the COVID-19 situation at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Mayor David Tarter, School Board Chairman Greg Anderson, City Manager Wyatt Shields, and Superintendent Peter Noonan will give updates on the city and school operating status as well as impacts of COVID-19 in the community. The live stream and a recording will be available at www.fallschurchva.gov or through Falls Church Community Television (Cox channel 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Questions for the Q&A session can be sent to townhall@fallschurchva.gov.

More public health information on the new coronavirus can be found from the Fairfax County Health Department, Virginia Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. Questions about services in Falls Church can go to the public information line at 703-248-5200, available weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.