Schools and businesses in Alexandria are essential in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Guidance listed on this page is designed to help businesses and school administrators continue to protect students, staff and the community against COVID-19. If you have further questions, please contact AHD. 

Schools, services or facilities licensed or operated by an agency of the Commonwealth, and summer camps (See: Section 32.1-37) are required to report disease outbreaks to their local health department. COVID-19 outbreaks are usually defined as 3 or more associated cases within a 14-day period. If you are an administrator reporting a suspected outbreak, please complete this online form. 

• How to Identify an Outbreak of COVID-19 
• Template Line Lists (electronic and printable versions) 

For questions, email alex_schoolteam@vdh.virginia.gov, and a representative from AHD’s COVID-19 School Response Team will respond within two business days. 

Please also see the following VDH and CDC resources for additional guidance regarding COVID-19 prevention and mitigation practices: 

• CDC: Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters 
• CDC: COVID-19 Community Level 
• CDC: Ventilation Recommendations 
• CDC: Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning 
• VDH: K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs 

Staying Healthy  

For questions about best practices in stopping the spread of COVID-19 among your customers and staff, please contact AHD. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has CDC Guidance for Workplaces and Businesses including information about: 

• reducing the spread of COVID-19 
• workplace cleaning and disinfection 
• dealing with potential or confirmed cases in the workplace
• healthy business operations 
• maintaining critical infrastructure. 

Virigina Department of Health requests that employers continue to report all COVID-19 employee cases.  If one of your employees has tested positive for COVID-19, please complete this confidential online report form. Once this report is received, AHD staff may contact you or the employee for further information to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community.    

Staying Open 

Support is available for Alexandria businesses facing the operational and financial effects of COVID-19.  

• View resources from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership about disaster assistance, tax and regulatory changes, support for affected workers and how to support small businesses. 
• Reach out to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for more business support.    
• Learn about the Alexandria Business Outdoors program, which allows for business and retail to take place in on-street parking spaces, on sidewalks and in private parking lots, allowing for social distancing and increased ventilation.  
• Restaurant owners and operators may obtain regulatory information and recommendations from the links below: 
• Alexandria Health Department Environmental Health Division 
• Virginia Department of Health Guidance for Restaurants 

Visit Alexandria is helping everyone experience Alexandria’s restaurants, shops and attractions from the comfort of their own home.