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DEC. 29, 2020

New Year's Eve During COVID

The safest way to celebrate the new year is to celebrate at home with the people who live with you, or virtually with friends and family. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others.

• If you are celebrating the New Year with people outside your household, make sure you follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19: Wear a mask; Stay at least 6 feet apart; Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces; Wash your hands; Stay home if you are sick.
• If you do host or attend a small gathering, everyone can take steps to make celebrating the New Year safer.
• Consider other activities to celebrate New Year’s, including virtual celebrations with loved ones, a New Year’s party for the people you live with or picking up a special meal from a local restaurant to share with your household.

Updates on Vaccine Distribution

Vaccines are now a reality, and an important tool and in preventing the spread of COVID-19.  We share your enthusiasm about the distribution of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Virginia, and we appreciate your patience during this initial rollout, as quantities will be limited over the coming weeks and months.

While vaccines are a major step to ending the pandemic, it will take months to vaccinate everyone who wants to be vaccinated. Everyone should continue with other strategies that are helping stop the spread of the virus – wear a face mask, physical distance, wash hands often, and limit the size of social gatherings.

Currently, vaccine distribution is limited to those in priority group 1a – healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents – as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH), but will be expanded as supplies and resources to administer the vaccine increase.

• More information about VDH’s COVID-19 Vaccination Response Plan
• CDC: When Vaccine is Limited, Who Gets Vaccinated First?

• The first shipments of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Virginia; Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are being distributed to 96 sites across Virginia

• 8 Things to Know about the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program

COVID-19 Utility Relief

Arlingtonians who are having trouble paying their water and sewer bills due to pandemic-related economic hardship may be eligible to have their bills paid through the County’s new Utility Relief program.

• Apply online by Jan. 15 or by calling 703-228-5080 weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Program FAQ
• Arlington County will not shut off any water service for non-payment during this outbreak

COVID-19 News & Notes

COVID-19 Testing Holiday Hours: The Walk-Up and Drive-Through Testing Sites will both be closed Friday, Jan. 1. The Walk-Up Testing Site will also be closed Saturday, Jan. 2.

• All ART buses will resume front door boarding and fare collection starting Sunday, Jan. 3
• Get answers to frequently asked questions about the Governor's latest mitigation efforts to slow COVID-19, including a modified stay at home order and general questions for businesses

• Governor Northam allocated an additional $20 million in CARES funding to the Rebuild VA economic recovery fund

• Governor Northam announced temporary changes to Virginia's Unemployment Insurance (UI) program to support workers and businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis

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Questions about COVID-19? Call the County's public information line at

703-228-7999, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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