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News-Press Community News & Notes LOCAL FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COMPAGE 10 | MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2020

Chamber Encourages Notes For F.C. Seniors

The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce encourages local residents to mail letters, drawings and notes to residents at nearby senior living facilities. The two closest are The Kensington Falls Church (700 W Broad St., Falls Church) and Chesterbrook Residences (2030 Westmoreland St., McLean). Since senior living facilities are high risk areas for the spread of the novel coronavirus, few visitors have been allowed and residents have limited mobility within the facilities themselves. The contact through the mail has been deemed a safe way to communicate according to the latest research. Those interested in sending something to either facility should contact The Kensington’s Kitty Janney at kjanney@kensingtonsl.com or Chesterbrook’s Kelly Halteh at khalteh@cri-va.org.

F.C. Grocery Stores Reserve Time for At-Risk Shoppers

Aldi, Giant Food, Harris Teeter and Safeway grocery stores in the Falls Church area have announced dedicated shopping hours for seniors and at-risk shoppers during the coronavirus pandemic. At Aldi, the store has reserved the first hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. for vulnerable shoppers including senior citizens, expectant mothers and those with underlying health conditions. Aldi has three Falls Church locations, one at 155 Hillwood Ave. in the City, one at 5725 Columbia Pike and the other at 8100 Arlington Blvd. Giant’s stores, with locations at Bailey’s Crossroads (3480 S Jefferson St, Falls Church), the City of F.C. (1230 W Broad St, Falls Church) and Seven Corners (6360 Seven Corners Center) are now offering dedicated shopping hours, daily from 6 – 7 a.m., for senior citizens 60 and older and individuals with compromised immune systems. At Harris Teeter (301 W. Broad St., Falls Church), every Monday and Thursday from 6 – 7 a.m. is reserved for shoppers over 60. Safeway’s two Falls Church locations (7397 Lee Highway in the Shops at West Falls Church and in the Willston Center at 6118 Arlington Blvd.) have set aside the first two hours each Tuesday and Thursday, from 7 – 9 a.m., for seniors and at-risk members of the community.

FDA Monitoring Market for Potential Coronavirus Fraud

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it is actively monitoring the market for any firms offering products with fraudulent coronavirus (Covid-19) diagnostic, prevention and treatment claims. as part of the agency’s efforts to protect public health during this pandemic.

The FDA wants to alert the public that, at this time, it has not authorized any test that is available to purchase for testing Covid19 at home. The FDA does see the public health value in expanding the availability of Covid-19 testing through safe and accurate tests that may include home collection, and is actively working with test developers in this space.

The agency warns that fraudulent health claims, tests and products can pose serious health risks. They may keep some patients from seeking care or delay necessary medical treatment. The FDA reminds consumers to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines and speak to their medical provider if they have symptoms of Covid-19. A medical provider will advise a patient about whether they should

THE MEDICAL CARE for Children Partnership foundation’s mobile dental van has been repurposed for the coronavirus outbreak. It is now working in collaboration with MCCP partner organizations to ensure the most vulnerable members of the community receive healthy and nutritious meals each day. (Photo: Courtesy MCCP Foundation)

get tested and the process for being tested with an appropriate test.

The FDA will take appropriate action to protect consumers from bad actors who take advantage of a crisis to deceive the public by marketing tests that pose risks to patient health. This may include issuing warning letters, seizures or injunctions. The agency has already identified and issued warning letters to companies found selling and promoting fraudulent items, and it expects additional such actions will follow. Additionally, the FDA is stepping up enforcement at ports of entry, including international mail facilities, to ensure these fraudulent products that originate outside the country do not enter through U.S. borders.

The FDA asks all citizens to report any fraudulent test kits they are aware of to the agency.

W&OD Trail Detour at Lee Highway Changes

The Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail detour at Lee Highway (Route 29) in Arlington changed last Friday as construction of the new trail bridge over Lee Highway progressed. The new trail bridge is scheduled to open in the fall.

The current detour west of Lee Highway, which uses nearby streets, has been in place since construction began last April. Trail users will now travel on 200 feet of temporary pavement adjacent to the new bridge and original trail alignment. This new configuration will remain in place until completion of construction, with the occasional need to revert to the previous detour during certain construction activities.

Since construction of the new trail bridge began in April 2019, new bridge abutments have been built and bridge beams have been installed. Crews working on the bridge deck should be completed this April after installing steel and preparing for upcoming concrete deck pours.

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