health | ARLnow.com

Published August 3, 2020 at 1:30PM

VIDA Fitness in Ballston (photo via VIDA Fitness/Facebook)

Ballston Business Improvement District (BID) is hoping to help locals shed their Quarantine 15, keep Arlington as the fittest “city” in the U.S., and provided some timely assistance to local businesses.

BallstonMOVES Fitness Week is a new initiative running this week from the BID that provides free access or certain discounts to the many gyms and fitness centers around Ballston — like the newly opened VIDA Fitness. The program started on Saturday, Aug. 1, and is scheduled to run until Sunday, Aug. 9.

News

Arlington Receives Grant for Jail-Alternative Mental Health Treatment Program

By Vernon Miles

Published July 21, 2020 at 1:30PM

Jail entrance at the Arlington County Detention Facility

Arlington County has accepted a grant that will help expand the county’s Behavioral Health Docket program — a service that diverts people with mental illnesses into treatment rather into jail.

The program accepts people who have diagnosed mental illnesses and have been charged with misdemeanors. Last November, a requirement for those in the program to plead guilty was eliminated.

News

Arlington Urges Caution With Start of Phase 3 Reopening

By ARLnow.com

Published July 1, 2020 at 10:55AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:14AM

Dinner hour in Shirlington Village (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia’s Phase 3 reopening starts today, with relaxed rules for restaurants, stores, fitness studios and social gatherings.

But as new coronavirus cases continue to surge in the South and West, the reopening raises the specter of Virginia’s waning epidemic returning.

Around Town

After Surviving COVID-19, Arlington Restaurateur Hopes to Bring New Meaning to His Life

By Vernon Miles

Published June 29, 2020 at 5:00PM

When he was in the midst of a protracted battle with a severe case of COVID-19, Arlington resident and former local restaurateur Mohammed “Jimmy” Khan said he realized he wished his life had more purpose.

Khan — who once owned Toscana Grill and Pines of Florence, among other restaurants — is currently at home in Arlington on the slow road to recovery since being diagnosed with the disease.

Ask a Dentist: Can Sparkling Water Damage My Teeth?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 18, 2020 at 1:15PM

Dr. Hartman and Dr. Morrow of Elite Dental in Clarendon address one of the rising topics of conversation in their office, eroding teeth and the impact of food and beverages on tooth breakdown. One surprising culprit — sparkling water!

Let’s back up a bit. Food and beverages have a pH value which indicates how damaging they can be to tooth structure. The pH scale ranges from 0-14 with a score of 7 being neutral, 0 – <7 as acidic and >7 – 14 as basic. In the dental world, we are most concerned with those in the acidic ranges.

News

Darna Lounge Owner Pushes Through Slow Recovery from COVID-19

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2020 at 2:10PM | Updated June 17, 2020 at 2:37PM

Ahmad Ayyad post-COVID 19 (photo courtesy Ahmad Ayyad)

There was a moment when Ahmad Ayyad, owner of Darna Lounge at Virginia Square, was sure COVID-19 was going to kill him.

“When I went to [Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C.] and they intubated me and I woke up in Baltimore at [Johns Hopkins Hospital],” Ayyad said. “I had this tube and all these things connected to me. I texted my best friend ‘I think I’m going to die.'”

Feature

Ballston Startup Aims to Help Keep Hands Clean and Safe Through Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published June 1, 2020 at 1:30PM

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. Monday Properties remains firmly committed to the health, safety and well-being of its employees, tenants and community. This week, Monday Properties is proudly featuring 1000 and 1100 Wilson (The Rosslyn Towers).

It could be a while before coronavirus leaves the public consciousness, and Ballston startup HandArmor hopes to help reduce the spread of the disease.

Around Town

Arlington Releases Guide for Handling Mental Stress of Social Distancing

By Vernon Miles

Published May 22, 2020 at 11:40AM

Among the ripple effects of COVID-19 is the psychological strain of isolation. While Arlington works to combat the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, the county is also launching initiatives to address the mental impact.

“We have a lot going on in terms of mental health programs and supports as we navigate through coronavirus,” said Kurt Larrick, assistant director of Arlington’s Department of Human Services.

News

Officials Say Arlington May Reopen in Mini-Phases

By Vernon Miles

Published May 15, 2020 at 3:55PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:20AM

(Updated 5/18) Large portions of the state partially reopened today, but not Northern Virginia.

As the region moves closer to a potential reopening after Memorial Day, however, Arlington officials say residents should expect things to move slowly, and a bit unevenly.

News

Walk-In COVID-19 Clinic to Open on Columbia Pike Tomorrow

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2020 at 2:20PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:20AM

Arlington County is planning to open a walk-up COVID-19 testing site tomorrow at the Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie Street).

The sample collection site is part of a partnership between Arlington County, the Arlington Free Clinic and the Virginia Hospital Center. The center is scheduled to open tomorrow (Tuesday) and will be open every weekday between 1-5 p.m.

News

Arlington Planning Walk-Thru Coronavirus Testing Center

By Vernon Miles

Published May 1, 2020 at 5:00PM

During an online town hall discussion today, county officials announced that a new walk-thru testing center for COVID-19 is coming to Arlington.

Assistant County Manager Jim Schwartz said the county is currently planning to open the site somewhere on the southern side of Arlington County. The site would be an addition to other drive-thru locations currently operating in Arlington.