To the Fairfax County Community,

I hope you were able to stay safe during our brush with Tropical Storm Isaias. This month the Board doesn't have any scheduled Board meetings and I will be reducing the number of email updates I send to once a week, unless there is a significant change or update that you need to know about. As news and information picks up in September, we will likely resume past email schedules.

This does not change however the urgency of COVID-19 and the importance of caring for yourself and others. COVID-19 is transmitted largely through respiratory droplets that can be carried through the air when coughing, talking, singing, or even breathing. We know how to mitigate the risk though; that hasn't changed. If we hope to see continued stability in our case numbers, everyone, including young people, must continue to wear masks, wash our hands, social distance, and get tested and stay home when you are sick. Today, Governor Northam announced a new app, COVIDWISE, which will notify you if you have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. This app does not track or store private information or your location. The more widespread the use of the app by Virginians, the more helpful it will be.

As a reminder, you can track our progress by looking at the Fairfax County case data dashboard and the Northern Virginia region's case data dashboard.

See below for the full August 5 edition of my newsletter. For the resources mentioned in past newsletters, visit my website. If you have a friend who would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can do so here.