Reston's Plague Year: Week 8 (Updated 5/12)

At the behest of the state, we finally have Zip code-level COVID data for Fairfax County, and... it's not surprising.

Nearly 250 cases overall. South Reston has 480.6 cases per 100,000, while the middle part of Reston, including RTC, has 599 cases per 100,000. Fancypants North Reston has far fewer cases per capita -- 129.1 per 100,000. And Herndon is one of the county's most afflicted Zip codes, with 746.9 cases per 100,000. As with everything, (relative) affluence -- and who can (and can't) work from home -- is pretty clearly revealed by these numbers. Just ask the folks across Rt. 7 in Great Falls, which has the lowest per-capita rate in the county, except for two Zip codes with no reported cases thus far.

With three-quarters of all new cases -- and all but two of the newly reported deaths -- in Northern Virginia, it's not surprising that Gov. Northam is likely to exclude the region from the first phase of reopening later in the week. (Update: It's official: NoVa reopening has been pushed back by at least two weeks.) Just as predictably, that's bringing out the intelligentsia:

Of course no one wants to re-open. Those that can work from home are loving the zero commute time, And those that can't work are suckling off the government teet making more on unemployment than they did at their meaningless job as a barista or sales associate at The Gap.

We'll have what he's having, thanks.

This week’s "why is the police helicopter hovering overhead?" is less of a reason to celebrate than last week’s:

Our Search and Rescue Team is still working to find #missing Michael Delaney. They are in the area of the Reston hospital and neighborhoods around North Shore Dr. Below is a picture of him from last night when he went missing. Please call 703-691-2131 if you see him. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/6xT9rhclNB

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 12, 2020

Police have also been out on trails for the last day after Delaney walked out of Reston Hospital late Sunday night. Still missing as of Tuesday morning.

As the Reston public chalk art challenge continues, other auteurs are exploring the use of different mediums to slake their creative juices. Confidential Restonian Operative "Terry" shared this cellular telephone photo of one "entry":

Same. But this is a better use of the medium:

Chalk Hooligans left some love graffiti for the medical staff at Reston Hospital. Thanks for working hard for us. @Reston_Hospital #CoronavirusUSA pic.twitter.com/ZK4ZaY4IcH

— Chalk Hooligans (@ChalkHooligans) May 11, 2020

Watch out for the Chalk Hooligans in dark alleys, lest you wind up covered in teal dust.

Finally, another missed birthday celebration -- sort of:

Happy Birthday Mikey! Thanks for allowing Station 25, Reston, C-Shift to be a part of your special day! #FFXstrong #FCFRD #HappyBirthday 🎂🚒🚑 pic.twitter.com/qWPHUkDQau

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) May 4, 2020