COVID-19 Update

Read about how Arlington Free Clinic is continuing to serve the community during the COVID-19 crisis here.

For Spanish version, click here.

If you are a current Arlington Free Clinic patient and think you have symptoms of COVID-19, please call (703)979-1400 first. DO NOT come in. Stay home and stay safe. If it is an emergency call 911 or go to the emergency room. 

 If you are not a patient of Arlington Free Clinic, please contact your healthcare provider if you have mild symptoms or call 911 if it is an emergency. If you are not a patient of Arlington Free Clinic and do not have a health care provider, you can call 703-912-0118.

For any general COVID-19 questions, you can contact the Virginia Department of Health public information line at 1-877-ASK-VDH3.

The health of our patients, volunteers, staff, and visitors is our top priority. We are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 virus and are staying vigilant with our preparedness protocols to ensure that Arlington Free Clinic can continue to care for our community.

We are working closely with Arlington County’s Public Health Division and with Virginia Hospital Center to support community-wide efforts to manage the effects of COVID-19.

If you are in need of emergency financial or resource assistance (food stamps, housing grants, emergency monies, housing, food, clothing), you can call Arlington County Community Assistance Bureau at (703)228-1300. View a video about these services in English and Spanish.



Accurate information is incredibly valuable during this time. Here is information on the steps we are taking to protect anyone in the Clinic from potential exposure to the virus.

What We are Doing to Prevent Exposure

Our staff leadership team, in coordination with our Medical Director, Dr. Joan Bowes Ritter, are monitoring the spread and management of COVID-19 and are communicating with County public health leadership. At this time, we have adopted the following recommendations to protect staff, volunteers, and patients from possible infection while continuing to provide care to those with other health needs.

Volunteer & Staff

  • We are urging our staff and volunteers to stay home if they are not feeling well. We are also encouraging those that may feel particularly vulnerable because of age or underlying health conditions to stay home as well.
  • We are encouraging everyone on the premises to prevent infection by washing their hands regularly, using hand sanitizer in between, wearing a mask, keeping their hands away from their face, and staying six feet away from others whenever possible.
  • Nursing staff and patient providers will wear disposable gloves and other appropriate PPE during patient contact.

Patient Care

  • Prior to all face-to-face scheduled patient appointments, we are making screening calls for COVID-19 symptoms. For patients with symptoms, we follow Arlington County Department of Health and CDC guidelines.
  • Current or new patients with no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 may be able to come in for scheduled appointments.

Prior to entering the Clinic, everyone, including all patients, will be checked for fever, cough, and respiratory symptoms. If they have symptoms, we will follow Arlington County Department of Health and CDC guidelines.

Facility Care

  • Cleaning and disinfecting will increase in frequency between appointments and throughout the day in both exam rooms as well as public spaces within the Clinic.

We will continue to monitor this situation as it evolves, and we will update our community with new procedures in an effort to protect our precious community. Should you have specific questions, please reach out to president Nancy White at nwhite@arlingtonfreeclinic.org