PAGE 8 | MARCH 19 – 25, 2020
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Metro Curtails Rail & Bus Service, Stresses Essential Travel Only Metro’s Pandemic Task Force has announced major service reductions during the ongoing pandemic response. In a statement, WMATA said that “the changes further draw-down service to protect frontline employees, while maintaining regional mobility for essential trips taken by hospital staff, government officials, and emergency responders. The reduction takes into account the urgent public guidance from regional leaders, along with emergency orders to cancel events, close schools and offices, and limit social gatherings across the nation.” New rail system hours are weekdays, 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. effective March 18 until further notice. Metro stresses these new hours are to support essential travel only. Trains will run every 15 minutes on each line at all times, including the Red Line. All trains will operate with eight cars, the maximum possible length, to help maintain social distancing between customers. Metro bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule with supplemental service on select routes. Again, customers are strongly encourages to travel only when absolutely necessary. Metro ridership was down nearly 70 percent across the board Monday, it was reported.
Virginia Hospital Center Begins Drive-Through Coronavirus Testing
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Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington has opened a temporary site for limited drivethrough COVID-19 testing, the County announced Tuesday. It is the second drive-through testing site in the Northern Virginia area with Kaiser Permanente offering testing for members at its Tysons location. All patients will need to have a referral from a doctor and an appointment, and they will need to be residents of Arlington County, employees of the county government or public schools, or patients of hospital staff. “Arlington County is appreciative of our partnership with Virginia Hospital Center to facilitate sample collection for our community at this drive-through center,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in the release. “This is an important collaborative effort at a critical time.” Only people exhibiting symptoms including fevers, chills, coughing or shortness of breath and who have received a written orders for COVID-19 testing from a licensed medical provider will be eligible for testing. Patients who aren’t showing any symptoms will not be tested, even if they were in contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. The center, located at 1429 N. Quincy Street, will be open on weekdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Virginia Hospital Center says test results will be available within five to seven business days. To schedule an appointment, patients should call 703-558-5766 between 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Virginia Supreme Court Stays Evictions
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The Supreme Court of Virginia Tuesday issued an order declaring a judicial emergency suspending all non-essential, non-emergency court proceedings for the next 21 days, including new eviction cases, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring issued the following statement, “It would be an absolute outrage for Virginians to be evicted from their homes during this emergency, especially as we are asking them to practice social distancing and stay home to prevent further spread of COVID19. This temporary eviction suspension is particularly important for hourly wage earners who are more likely to lose income and not be able to pay their rent because of business closures. I want to thank the Supreme Court of Virginia for making this important decision to protect Virginians during these unprecedented times.” Additionally, following Attorney General Herring’s request, the State Corporation Commission ordered a halt on disconnections by regulated utilities for 60 days during the state of emergency. Last Friday, Attorney General Herring filed an emergency petition requesting a freeze on disconnections.
F.C. Shelter Shuts Down 2 Weeks Early Over Coronavirus Concerns The Falls Church Homeless Shelter announced the decision to close the hypothermia shelter on March 16 in response to the growing spread of the coronavirus. Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter board of directors chair Robert Fletcher told the News-Press the unprecedented action was made in conjunction with the City of F.C. and shelter operator New Hope Housing. Staff worked on transitioning the shelter’s 11 guests to the Bailey’s Crossroads Shelter and Supportive Housing facility last weekend as the closure comes two weeks earlier than usual. Several of the shelter’s services will remain operational through March 31 as planned, including support of a case manager, bus passes and personal laundry. The shelter said although none of its guests, workers or volunteers contracted the virus or were exposed to anyone who has it, it opted for a proactive approach in order to curb COVID-19’s dissemination.
