COVID-19 activity is increasing across the U.S. and Virginia, including in the Fairfax Health District. Emergency department visits for individuals who are diagnosed with COVID-19 have increased to 3.3% of all emergency department visits—up from 1.2% in early June. Although still low overall, this is the highest proportion reported since late January 2024.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been surges in COVID-19 activity during the summer. This is likely due to a combination of factors including gathering indoors during high temperatures, new COVID-19 variants, and low COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

COVID-19 Prevention

You can take action to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

• Improve ventilation when gathering indoors. You can open windows when safe to do so, use ceiling fans to improve air flow, turn on exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen, turn the thermostat on the HVAC to the “on” position instead of “auto” to continuously run the fan, and use a portable air cleaner.
• Wash hands often.
• Clean high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow.
• Get tested if you have respiratory symptoms to know if you have a virus such as COVID-19. You may be eligible for treatment. You can also take a COVID-19 test before gathering with others to help protect people who are at a higher risk of getting very sick.
• Stay home when sick. Stay home and away from others if you have symptoms of any respiratory virus. You can return to your normal activities when the following are true for at least 24 hours:
  • Your symptoms are getting better overall and
  • You do not have fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
    
    After going back to normal activities, you may still be contagious. Consider taking added precautions for the following 5 days including keeping distance from others and wearing a well-fitted mask.

  

  COVID-19 Vaccines

  One of the best ways to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated. Only 24% of Fairfax residents received the most recent COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of illness and hospitalization by about 50% compared to people not up to date on vaccination. More than 95% of adults hospitalized due to COVID-19 in 2023-2024 did not get the most updated vaccine.

  The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get at least one updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. People who are 65 years and older or who are immunocompromised are should get an additional dose. If you are eligible to receive the vaccine but have not, talk with your doctor to determine whether you should get it now or wait until this fall when a new updated vaccine will be available.

  Recently, the CDC announced that an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine would be available this fall for everyone aged 6 months and older. This vaccine is designed to help protect against one of the most common variants expected to be circulating. Since protection from past infections and vaccinations declines over time, it is important to stay up to date on recommended vaccines to restore immunity. Make plans to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall when it becomes available—you can save time by getting COVID-19 and flu vaccines during the same appointment.

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