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Header image with the City of Falls Church seal, the title, "COVID-19 Update" and the tag line "Vaccination + Masks + Washing Hands + Staying Home When Sick = Stop the Spread of COVID-19".
Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Virginia Mortgage Relief Program Offers Assistance for Virginia Homeowners Financially Impacted by the Pandemic


The Commonwealth of Virginia was awarded $250 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the U.S. Treasury to support homeowners facing housing instability resulting from the pandemic. Virginia Housing’s Virginia Mortgage Relief Program, or VMRP, is using these funds to assist eligible Virginians to help prevent and/or ease mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.
 
To see if you are eligible to apply and to understand qualified expenses, please visit www.VirginiaMortgageRelief.com for more information.
This graphic from the CDC is titled, "Viruses or Bacteria: What's got you sick?" The table describes if a common respiratory illness can be treated with antibiotics. These illnesses do not need antibiotics as they are caused by a virus: common cold and runny nose, sore throat (except strep), COVID-19, and the flu. Bronchitis and chest colds are caused by viruses or bacteria and also are not treated with antibiotics. Middle ear infection and sinus infetions might be treated with antibiotics. Strep throat and whopping cough are absolutely treated with antibiotics.
Feeling sick? Remember: Antibiotics do NOT treat viruses, like those that cause colds, flu, or COVID-19. Talk with your healthcare provider about how to relieve symptoms and what you can do to feel better: https://bit.ly/3rKkb7M.
Graphic of the starting screen of the video. One young boy in a mask sows his vaccine bandaid. Another boy runs in a field.

Is the Vaccine Safe for Children?

Yes, the vaccine is safe for children. Dr. Tabassum Shamim, MD, FAAP a pediatrician with Neighborhood Health, explains why it's safe in the video above. Her main points include:
  • The vaccine has met FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness, and it continues to be surveilled for safety;
  • mRNA technology has been in development for more than a decade;
  • The vaccine does not contain a live virus, and it doesn't affect cell DNA.

How to Find COVID At-Home and PCR Testing

Order Free At-Home Tests through CovidTests.gov
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free test-at-home Rapid Test kits from USPS.com, through a program managed by the Federal government. Orders have started to ship. Order here.

Community Testing Centers
Make an appointment for a PCR test (if showing symptoms) at the Fairfax Government Center. This program is managed by the Virginia Department of Health. Appointments typically become available 24 hours in advance. If you do not see openings, check back frequently as appointments are added regularly. Make an appointment now.

Fairfax Libraries
Fairfax County libraries get occasional shipments of test-at-home Rapid Test kits and are available while supplies last. City of Falls Church residents are eligible. You can call ahead to check availability; the closest branch to the City is the Tysons-Pimmit library.

Your Doctor
Check with your primary care provider or doctor.

Urgent Care Centers
Places such as urgent care centers, community health centers, and community-based clinics across the state evaluate patients who may have COVID-19 and do testing. Most clinics are set up to swab patients for testing on-site and many offer drive-up and walk-up testing options.

No Insurance and Trying to Find Testing and Care for COVID-19?
  • If you do not have a primary doctor, and you are concerned that you have symptoms of COVID-19, you can contact HealthWorks (703-443-2000) or Neighborhood Health (703-535-5568) to be evaluated and schedule a testing appointment. New patients are accepted with or without insurance and on a sliding scale fee if low-income and uninsured. Priority is given to patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
     
  • HealthWorks provides COVID-19 testing free for uninsured patients who meet eligibility for the sliding scale fee and do not already have another primary doctor. Patients should call 703-443-2000 to get a telehealth evaluation by a medical provider prior to scheduling a test.
     
  • Neighborhood Health provides COVID-19 testing free for uninsured patients who meet eligibility for the sliding scale fee. Patients should call 703-535-5568 to get a telehealth evaluation by a medical provider prior to scheduling a test.
     
  • Inova Cares Clinics for Families provides primary care services for patients with Medicaid or low-income uninsured patients up to 400% Federal Poverty Guideline and offers limited COVID-19 testing.
     
  • The Fairfax Health District has many low-cost health care resources for individuals who lack health insurance. See Coronavirus (COVID-19): Health Care Options for the Uninsured

    You can also call our Coordinated Services Planning service at 703-222-0880, TTY 711 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) to talk with someone about your needs and receive advice on services available to you.
The City of Falls Church -- and the entire commonwealth -- continues to be in a High Level of Transmission of COVID-19. Community members should continue to take precautions by getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing masks, staying socially distant, and staying home when sick.
Map of the Commonwealth of Virginia showing high level of transmission in every locality.

Vaccine Data

The following is from the Virginia Department of Health and Fairfax Health Department.

Any drop in data is due to either a regular data audit or adjusting for addresses not within the City of Falls Church limits.

City of Falls Church
Date Doses Administered Received At Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated Third Dose or Booster Ages 5 to 11
Feb. 8 29,957 12,514

(85.5% of population;
92% of adult pop.)		 11,270

(77% of population;
82.8% of adult pop.)		 7,090

(48.5% of population;
58.8% of adult pop.)		 1,038

(74.1% of that population)
Feb. 1 29,791 12,475

(85.3% of population;
91.9% of adult pop.)		 11,243

(76.8% of population;
82.7% of adult pop.)		 6,987

(47.8% of population;
58.1% of adult pop.)		 1,026

(73.2% of that population)
Jan. 24 29,268 12,434

(85.1% of population;
92.2% of adult pop.)		 10,897

(74.6% of population;
80.2% of adult pop.)		 6,484

(44.4% of population;
54.6% of adult pop.)		 1,016

(71% of that population)

Fairfax Health District
Includes the City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, and towns within the county
Date Doses Administered Received At Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated Ages 5 to 11
Feb. 8 2,167,073 955,090

(90% of
population;
80.7% of
adult population)		 861,866

(81.9% of
population; 
72.8% of
adult population)		 58,255

(54.4%
of that population)
Feb. 1 2,138,740 951,712

(89.8% of
population;
80.4% of
adult population)		 842,636

(80.1% of
population; 
71.2% of
adult population)		 56,047

(52.3%
of that population)
Jan. 24 2,124,455 949,105

(89.7% of
population;
80.2% of
adult population)		 840,040

(80% of
population; 
71% of
adult population)		 55,131

(51.5%
of that population)

Virginia
Date Doses
Administered		 Doses Administered
Daily Average		 Received at Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated Third Dose or Booster Dose Ages 5 to 11
Feb. 8 14,959,159 8,259 6,794,614

(79.1%
of population;
89.9% of
adult pop.)		 6,041,076

(70.3% of population;
80.4% of
adult pop.)		 2,647,871 280,403

(38.7% of that population)
Feb. 1 14,853,104 8,377 6,764,033

(78.7%
of population;
89.7% of
adult pop.)		 6,009,384

(70% of population;
80.2% of
adult pop.)		 2,599,348 268,897

(37.1% of that population)
Jan. 24 14,604,770 14,888 6,732,054

(78.9%
of population;
90% of
adult pop.)		 5,858,656

(68.6% of population;
78.7% of
adult pop.)		 2,380,250 263,378

(36.4% of that population)

Case Data

The following is from the Fairfax Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health.

City of Falls Church
Date Cases Hospitalizations Deaths # Cases per
100,000 People
Feb. 8 1,841 29 14 12,462.8
Feb. 1 1,783 29 14 12,070.0
Jan. 24 1,674 29 14 11,332.3

Fairfax Health District
Includes the City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, and towns within the county
Date Total Cases Hospitalizations Deaths
Feb. 8 173,117 4,426 1,339
Feb. 1 170,074 4,422 1,284
Jan. 24 164,209 4,400 1,272

How to Get a Replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Card or QR Code
If you misplaced your card, or would like a QR code for your COVID-19 vaccination record, complete this process through the Virginia Department of Health. 

Please note:
  • Your vaccination record will only show COVID-19 immunizations.
  • If you received vaccines out of state or if a federal agency administered your vaccines, they will not show up in this self-serve portal.
  • This portal is not a “vaccine passport” but serves as a way to prove you were vaccinated for COVID-19.

For additional questions, email the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) help desk at vaccinerecord@vdh.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA.

Where to Find Important Information
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The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).