(Updated at noon) After a week that saw four days of single-digit growth in cases, COVID-19 is making a bit of a comeback in Arlington.
The Virginia Dept. of Health has reported 106 new cases in Arlington over the past four days. The seven-day trailing total of new cases is now 140, compared to 84 as of Friday.
(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) After rising above 300 to end the month of May, the rolling seven-day new coronavirus case total in Arlington has dropped precipitously.
A total of 84 cases have been reported over the past seven days — 12 per day, on average — according to the latest Virginia Dept. of Health data. Twenty-three new COVID-19 cases were reported overnight, only the second double-digit daily case count in Arlington since May 31.
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As Arlington’s restaurants try to return to some semblance of normalcy during the first phase of reopening, some local restaurants are anxiously awaiting Arlington County approval of temporary outdoor seating permits.
Owners of two eateries along the Columbia Pike corridor, Ethiopian restaurant Dama Pastry & Cafe (1505 Columbia Pike) and Ididos Coffee and Social House (1107 S. Walter Reed Drive) said getting access to outdoor dining is a crucial part of getting business back to normal.
Some currently closed amenities at Arlington County parks will be reopening Friday.
Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation announced this afternoon that park amenities which can be utilized safely while maintaining social distancing will be reopening. That includes athletic fields, batting cages, tennis courts, tracks and picnic shelters.
The number of new coronavirus cases reported overnight in Arlington was in the single digits for the third time in the past four days.
There are now 2,142 known COVID-19 cases in Arlington, according to Virginia Dept. of Health data, an increase of nine cases since Tuesday. Two additional hospitalizations were reported overnight, bringing the rolling seven-day total down to eight.
Virginia will enter Phase 2 of its reopening on Friday, but Northern Virginia and Richmond will remain in Phase 1.
Gov. Ralph Northam made the announcement Tuesday afternoon, saying that key health metrics point to it being safe to further reopen in most parts of the state. He did not, however, give a timeline for when Northern Virginia — including Arlington — would advance in its reopening. The region started to reopen this past Friday, May 29, two weeks after much of the Commonwealth did.
(Updated 6/8) Arlington Public Library is preparing to start allowing pickups for books, but the staggered reopening will not immediately resemble the pre-pandemic library experience
The first step towards reopening will be a book pick-up from the Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street).
Arlington County is planning to start regular testing of public safety personnel and critical employees, ARLnow has learned.
The county has acquired a rapid testing machine, which is currently undergoing a certification process. Once its accuracy is certified, it will be used to regularly test law enforcement, fire department and emergency communications personnel, as well as public health and other critical county employees.
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It could be a while before coronavirus leaves the public consciousness, and Ballston startup HandArmor hopes to help reduce the spread of the disease.
Arlington County Board member Katie Cristol says she was wrong to suggest that a local beer garden should be shut down over the weekend.
Cristol retweeted a photo posted by Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko on Friday night, which showed a large crowd — none wearing masks — outdoors at The Lot beer garden near Clarendon.
If the data is accurate, Arlington has seen a big drop in new coronavirus cases over the past few days, despite a big increase in testing.
As of Monday morning, data from the Virginia Dept. of Health shows only 34 new COVID-19 cases reported in Arlington since Friday. That brings the trailing seven-day total of new cases in the county to 250, the lowest level since April 21.
