By Denise Dunbar | [email protected]

Alexandria is in the midst of an extreme surge in cases of COVID-19, with cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day moving average of cases almost tripling in the last week.

On Nov. 30, the city’s seven-day moving average of cases was 13.1, but by Tuesday that number had swelled to 35.7. Likewise, just one week ago Alexandria was in the “substantial transmission” category with 55.96 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents, but by Tuesday the city had experienced 152.1 new cases per 100,000 residents and had climbed well up into the “high transmission” category.

Possible reasons for the sudden case surge include colder weather driving people indoors and making it more difficult to gather or dine outside; the Thanksgiving holiday, during which many people gathered with family and friends both inside and outside the city; and Hanukkah and Christmas gatherings that are taking place around the city.

There have been no announced cases of the omicron COVID-19 variant in Alexandria