This story includes breaking updates from the week of March 30-April 5. You can follow the latest updates about coronavirus in the D.C. region here.


April 7, 3:45 p.m.: The federal government has designated the Baltimore-Washington Corridor and 12 jurisdictions in Maryland as a coronavirus hot spot, which will allow additional federal resources for the region.

“The corridor is home to the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Fort Detrick, critical health agencies which are on the frontlines of the battle against the coronavirus,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said.

Hogan added that the region is home to several facilities like Fort Meade, the National Security Agency, and the U.S. Cyber Command, which are critical for national security.

Hogan also continued to ratchet up measures to maintain social distancing. He announced an additional order that gives local health departments and law enforcement agencies the authority to modify or shut down businesses, including construction sites, that violate his previous executive orders.

“There are reports of a few businesses that are failing to comply with the law and who are potentially putting their customers and their staff at risk,” Hogan said.

Violators can be fined $5,000, face one year in prison, or both. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

More Stories From Sunday

D.C. Council Removes Provision From Bill That Would Have Granted Unemployment To Undocumented Residents

April 5, 8:28 p.m.: Just two days after releasing a draft of a wide-reaching coronavirus relief bill that would have extended cash assistance to people who don’t qualify for unemployment, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson has removed the provision, triggering backlash from local activist groups.

The original iteration of the bill, which was circulated on Friday, would have created a separate pool of money to hand out to “excluded” workers, or those who cannot apply for unemployment benefits. It would have included undocumented people and people who work in non-traditional jobs, like street vendors.

In a second version of the bill circulated Saturday night, that provision had been removed.

“In developing a consensus document with the Mayor, it was agreed that we did not have the $33 million necessary to pay for it,” Mendelson told DCist in a statement about why he chose to take out the provision. “But we also agreed that we need to look for alternative strategies to help undocumented residents who are hurting from the public health emergency.”

The bill is expected to be voted on Tuesday. A spokesperson from Mendelson’s office said that lawmakers are continuing to discuss the bill, and there will likely be more new drafts before the vote.

At-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who worked on the provision to provide cash assistance, told WAMU she was puzzled by Mendelson’s decision. She cited a recent move by Montgomery County to provide its in-need residents with $5 million in assistance.

“No one told me it was going to get pulled. I got no phone call, nothing,” Silverman said.

Local nonprofit D.C. Jobs With Justice is asking Mayor Muriel Bowser to make $5 million in cash assistance available for families and undocumented workers unable to collect unemployment.

“These ‘excluded workers’ include tens of thousands of immigrant families and other workers,” reads a statement from the organization. “These people make D.C. work, but their work is sometimes invisible.”

Elizabeth Falcon, the executive director of D.C. Jobs With Justice, said in an interview that the nonprofit plans on campaigning online and over the phone in the coming days. She added that the city is especially poised to allocate resources toward workers who cannot collect unemployment.

“I think we can really turn this around between now and Tuesday. Unfortunately, the federal government is not going to in particular serve undocumented folks, they just aren’t,” she said. “So either D.C. government will, or no government will, and I think that’s a case we can make and win.”

Silverman said she’s been in contact with local groups, trying to find ways to get money in the hands of residents who need it. “In order to recover from this crisis, we need to help everyone be as stable as possible, including these families,” she said. –Christian Zapata and Natalie Delgadillo

The lobby of the South Shore Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center, in Rockland, Mass. David Goldman / AP Photo

Hogan Orders New Protections For Maryland Nursing Homes

April 5, 5:47 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is ordering nursing homes to provide personal protective equipment for staff and is expediting residents’ coronavirus tests through the Maryland State Public Health Laboratory, according to a new executive order issued Sunday.

At least 81 nursing homes in the state have been hit with a new COVID-19 case or with “clusters” of cases, Hogan said on Twitter Sunday. That’s up from 60 facilities announced by the state Friday.

Nursing homes have been one place where the coronavirus has spread quickly. At one nursing home in Mount Airy, at least 99 residents and 18 staff have tested positive. Nine residents have died.

Hogan’s order also creates isolation areas for residents who tested positive. Facilities would have to designate a specific area and a unit of staff to care for coronavirus patients.

Nursing homes would have to request PPE from the Maryland Department of Health.

Lastly, nursing home residents who have been to the hospital must be allowed to return to their nursing home, “as long as the facility can follow the approved CDC recommendations for transmission-based precautions,” the order reads. Anyone who “knowingly and willfully” violates the stipulations of the order is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to jail time and up to a $5,000 fine, according to a release from Hogan’s office.

Older people with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to contracting and having worse cases of COVID-19.

“Of major concern is that we currently have cases or clusters of cases at 81 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state,” Hogan said. “Our highest priority is keeping Marylanders safe, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect the most vulnerable among us.” –Jordan Pascale

Uemployment claims have soared in D.C. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Unemployment Insurance Claims Soar Past 50,000 In D.C.

12:39 p.m. More than 50,000 D.C. workers have filed for unemployment insurance since March 13, the D.C. Department of Employment Services reported Sunday. [For full story, see here.]

The number of applications jumped by more than 1400 in just one day, and it is soon set to double the total number of applications filed in all of 2019.

The quickly escalating sum mirrors a national trend; the country has seen a 3,000% spike in unemployment claims over the last month. Some 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the last week of March.

As the city experiences industry-wide layoffs from the COVID-19 outbreak, employees, contractors and self-employed workers are turning to the city for help –– overwhelming the District’s application system in the process.

City officials are urging residents to file online, preferably with Internet Explorer, rather than call to apply. Yet users have struggled with several issues with an online system that was built nearly two decades ago and has been slow to reflect changes brought by newly passed federal legislation expanding program access.

At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who was fielding insurance-related questions on Twitter on Saturday, said the city is working with the U.S. Department of Labor to streamline the application process.

“I know this is a hard time,” she wrote.—Eliza Berkon

The COVID-19 testing site at FedEx Field in Prince Georges County, Md. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Maryland COVID-19 Cases Jump By Nearly 500 In One Day; D.C. Nears 1,000 Total Cases

April 5, 11:16 a.m.: D.C. and Maryland added 580 total new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, with 484 in Maryland and 96 in D.C.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland now stand at 3,609, with 484 new cases and 14 deaths within the past day, the Maryland Department of Health announced Sunday. The state has recorded 67 deaths since the outbreak began.

The new case total represents a nearly 16 percent increase in the number of Maryland cases in a 24-hour period.

In the District, confirmed cases now total 998, with the largest percentage among patients age 31 to 40. One death was reported Sunday, a 76-year-old woman, and total deaths in the District stand at 22.

Ward 6 has recorded the highest number of cases in the city, at 156, though the virus is spread throughout the city and officials say there are no hot spots.
Virginia has 2,637 confirmed cases and 51 deaths, bringing the region’s case total to 7,244, with 140 deaths.—Eliza Berkon

An infection Control Protocol poster sits on a nursing station desk at the Palm Garden of Tampa Health and Rehabilitation Center Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. Chris O'Meara / AP Photo

Nine Residents of Maryland Nursing Home Dead Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

April 5, 9:31 a.m. The death toll from a coronavirus outbreak at a Mt. Airy, Maryland, nursing home has climbed to nine, with three new deaths reported Saturday.

The deaths –– two women in their 80s and a man in his 60s with pre-existing health issues –– are the latest in a tally that is likely to rise at Pleasant View Nursing Home; at least 77 of the 95 residents and 24 of the roughly 65 staff members have tested positive for the virus.

At another senior residence in Carroll County with a COVID-19 outbreak, a woman in her 90s died from the virus, county health officials reported Saturday. The death at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster is the first reported death from the virus at the center.

Residents and staff members at some 60 nursing homes in the state have confirmed cases of the virus, Gov. Larry Hogan said late last week. The Maryland Department of Health ordered Friday that all staff at assisted-living facilities and nursing homes wear personal protective equipment when working with patients, just as a coalition of 30-plus senior-living centers sent a letter to the governor saying they aren’t prepared for the coming uptick of cases.

The state has 3,125 confirmed cases of the virus, with more than 367 new cases reported Saturday, and 53 deaths, an increase of 11 in 24 hours.––Eliza Berkon

City officials shut down the historic seafood market after large crowds visited on Saturday. John Sonderman / Flickr

D.C. Shuts Down The Wharf Fish Market After Large Crowds Gather

This story was updated at 7:30 p.m.

April 5, 8:40 a.m.:

Despite stay-at-home orders in the region to slow the spread of coronavirus, crowds have continued to pour into popular destinations, including The Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf.

The city closed the market on Saturday after large numbers of people visited the historic seafood hub, which is among the oldest of its kind in the country.

Food sellers, including farmers markets and coffee shops, are considered essential businesses and can generally stay open. But the fish market may be closed through April 24 or later, says one city official, unless vendors are able to provide a sufficient social-distancing plan.

One business at the fish market said it hired security to enforce social distancing, but patrons weren’t listening when large crowds grew Saturday evening.

Jessie Taylor Seafood said it hopes to reopen on Tuesday with new social distancing measures, according to a Facebook post.

“We tried really hard to maintain order at the Wharf by putting lines down six feet apart and by having security ask patrons to not crowd as they order, but it didn’t work,” the post said. “One of the main causes of crowding is when people are waiting to have the seafood cooked, so we will no longer be cooking the seafood after purchase.”

Food will be pre-cooked and sold in bushels. The business is encouraging patrons to call orders in ahead and only have one family member come to pick it up.

“We have lots of employees that need to continue to get a paycheck and really hate to put them out of work, but without the patrons’ cooperation we will have to close because we will not put our workers’ lives in danger,” the business said.

Most of the rest of the businesses at The Wharf have had to close or change their business model, including restaurants now providing take-out or delivery only.

Also on Saturday, the National Park Service temporarily closed parking-lot access to Great Falls Park in response to the volume of visitors. The Park Service has been monitoring park traffic and is urging park-goers to stay home, or opt for trails they can reach by foot or bike. —Jordan Pascale and Eliza Berkon

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from vendors at The Wharf’s Municipal Fish Market.

More stories from Saturday

Arlington County, Virginia, held its first drive-thru donation station for people to drop off unopened and unused personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and non-perishable food items. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Virginia Adds Three Field Hospital Sites, Including Dulles Expo Center

April 4, 7:25 p.m.: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Saturday that construction will begin soon on three alternative care facilities in the state in an effort to reduce strain on existing hospital beds.

Northam said the state has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the possible sites, which should open in about six weeks.

The locations are:

More than 2,400 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Virginia, with 390 requiring hospitalizations. Virginia may still be weeks away from its possible peak of coronavirus cases.

Though various models are predicting different peak dates, many of those models show the state’s health care system will be pushed to its brink, according to The Virginian-Pilot. —Carmel Delshad

D.C.’s population is just over 710,000 people, meaning that if Mayor Muriel Bowser’s estimates hold up, nearly one in seven residents will become infected with COVID-19, before the pandemic ends. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

D.C. Could Be Next Coronavirus Hot Spot, Officials Warn

April 4, 7:05 p.m.: White House officials are warning that a new hot spot for the coronavirus outbreak could be emerging in D.C.

“The next two weeks are extraordinarily important,” said Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House. “This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe and that means everybody doing the six-feet distancing, washing their hands.”

Birx, speaking during a White House briefing on Saturday, also predicted hot spots could appear in Pennsylvania and Colorado.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday that modeling done by the city shows the District could see between 93,000 cumulative coronavirus infections and between 220 and 1,000 deaths before the pandemic subsides. Bowser added that the peak in possible infections in D.C. would likely come in late June or early July, later than initially projected.

As of Saturday, D.C. had recorded 902 positive coronavirus cases and 21 deaths.

If Bowser’s estimates hold up, roughly one in seven of the District’s 710,000 residents will become infected with COVID-19 before the pandemic ends. –Mary Tyler March

Pistols for sale at Delta Arsenal in Wallingford, Conn., are pictured in this 2019 file photo. Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public Radio

Maryland Lawmakers Spar Over Gun Store Designation As ‘Essential Business’

Maryland lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling on Gov. Larry Hogan to determine whether the state’s gun shops and firing ranges should continue to be “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter sent to Hogan this week, a group of 58 Democratic Maryland state delegates all Democrats said allowing gun stores to remain open during the pandemic is “worrisome for many Marylanders.”

Members of the Maryland House Republican Caucus responded with their own plea to Hogan, accusing their colleagues of lacking necessary context. The Republican Caucus asked Hogan to “follow the federal guidance and allow gun stores to remain open.”

Read the full story here.

In this Aug. 9, 2018, photo, Safe Night Access Project in Seattle volunteers show some of the products they give away to sex workers and other people who ask for as part of providing harm reduction services along a north Seattle strip known for prostitution. Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

D.C. Releases Guide To Safe Sex During Pandemic

April 4, 2:20 p.m.: Weeks after New York City’s guide to safe sex during the pandemic made a splash, D.C. released its own list of best practices.

“You are your safest partner,” says the guidance from the mayor’s office, noting that “masturbation is always safe sex,” so long as people maintain proper hygeine by washing their hands and any sex toys for at least 20 seconds before and after.

Kissing can spread COVID-19, warns the mayor’s office, because the coronavirus can travel through saliva. So recommendations include checking in with a live-in partner before engaging in anything from kissing to sex and ensuring that no one feels ill or is exhibiting symptoms.

Additionally, the guidance asks citizens to “consider not kissing anyone you do not know.” The guidance namechecks rimming as a potentially risky behavior, because coronavirus has been found in feces.

In sum, the guidance urges people to take precautions, especially if feeling under the weather: “Sex and close contact will be waiting for you when you are feeling better.” —Rachel Kurzius

Many union members are asking governors for expanded paid sick leave, hazard pay, and masks, hand sanitizer and gloves for corrections staff. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

U.S. Attorney’s Office Opposes Release Of D.C. Jail Inmates Convicted Of Misdemeanors

April 4, 1:15 p.m.: The U.S. Attorney’s Office of D.C. is opposing a motion by lawyers in the D.C. Public Defender’s Service to release all misdemeanants in the D.C. Jail because it says the inmates convicted of misdemeanors include “violent criminals.”

The defendants, the U.S. attorney Timothy J. Shea said in a press release, include people “convicted of offenses involving vicious and armed assaults, assault on police officers and other first responders, bomb threats, voyeurism, stalking, indecent exposure to minors, and domestic violence.”

According to a previous court filing by the public defenders, 94 people in the jail are serving sentences for misdemeanors. The legal filing also outlines a number of alleged failings by the D.C. Department of Corrections to protect inmates from the spread of COVID-19.

Advocates have been calling for a large reduction in the jail population, particularly because people in close quarters with fewer opportunities for hygienic practices are vulnerable to the virus. At least 14 people in DOC custody have tested positive for the coronavirus as of this morning.

Recent emergency legislation passed by the D.C. Council gave the D.C. Department of Corrections discretion to release all people in the jail who have been sentenced on misdemeanor charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said it was “undertaking a careful, case-by-case review” with an eye towards releasing “some vulnerable, non-violent inmates who are not likely to pose a risk to public safety.” –Jenny Gathright

There is now a COVID-19 testing site at FedEx Field in Prince Georges County, Md. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Prince George’s Is Now Maryland County With Largest Number Of Confirmed Cases

April 4, 10:55 a.m.: Prince George’s County has surpassed Montgomery County for the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Maryland.

There are 3,125 confirmed cases in Maryland as of Saturday morning, according to the state’s health department data. Prince George’s leads the state with 653 cases—Montgomery County has 640.

Maryland now has recorded 53 deaths because of the virus, 11 more than yesterday, and 827 hospitalizations. The health department’s data also notes that 159 people have been released from isolation.

D.C. reported six new deaths because of the virus on Saturday morning. The District now attributes 21 deaths to COVID-19 and has 902 positive cases.

There are 2,407 confirmed cases in Virginia and 52 deaths in the commonwealth. — Zuri Berry

More Stories From Friday

Staff on the board of elections are now working from home. Penn State / Flickr

D.C. Elections Board Offices Close After Staff Comes In Contact With Infected Person

April 3, 7:45 p.m.: The D.C. Board of Elections has fully closed its offices to the public after a number of board employees came down with coronavirus symptoms after interacting with a member of the public who later tested positive for the virus. Staff will work remotely for the time being.

The board was working on a limited public schedule in recent weeks during the period when the public can challenge nominating petitions submitted by candidates to get on the ballot for the June 2 primary. But it was then that contact between an infected person and board staff occurred, said spokeswoman Rachel Coll in an email.

“A member of the public was ill but came to the office during the challenge hearings. We learned that that individual tested positive, and then members of our staff began to have symptoms. They have been instructed to remain home and quarantined for 14 days,” she wrote.

The office closing comes at a particularly inopportune moment, just as the elections board is encouraging as many D.C. voters as possible to request absentee ballots to minimize in-person voting during the June 2 primary and June 16 special election in Ward 2. But Coll says staff will continue working to process those requests.

“All emailed and online requests will be processed as usual,” she wrote. “A phone number has been provided for telephone requests to be made. These methods will be checked remotely. Mailed and faxed requests will be retrieved by staff when it is safe to do so.”

More information on how to get an absentee ballot—which requires no excuse—can be found here. –Martin Austermuhle

Metro will cut back weekday rail and bus service starting Monday, ending service one hour earlier. m01229 / Flickr

Metro Further Reduces Service, Closing At 9 p.m.

April 3, 5:55 p.m.: Metro announced new service restrictions Friday afternoon, following a steep decline in ridership and continued efforts to reduce Metro employees’ exposure to the public during the pandemic. Starting Monday, weekday rail service will end two hours earlier, operating from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Buses will end service earlier too, with the last trips departing at 11 p.m.

Metro has reported a more than 90% drop in rail ridership, since social distancing policies went into effect, and a 75% drop in bus ridership. The hours after 9 p.m. have had particularly low ridership, WMATA said in a statement announcing the new hours. All jurisdictions served by the transit system are currently under stay-at-home orders, and Metro advises trains and buses should only be used for “essential travel.”

Weekday trains currently run every 20 minutes on most lines (on the Red Line, trains are every 15 minutes). On the weekends, trains operate between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., every 30 minutes. Weekend bus service is limited to just 27 routes, with buses running every 30 minutes. Metro has also closed 19 stations. — Jacob Fenston

Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at a news conference, Friday, April 3, 2020, in Annapolis. Brian Witte / AP

Maryland Halts New Foreclosures, Enacts Other Economic Relief Measures

April 3, 5:34 p.m.: Gov. Larry Hogan announced measures prohibiting new foreclosures and allowing postponement of mortgage payments as part of an executive order intended to help Maryland residents during what he called a “huge battle against catastrophic economic collapse.”

The executive order does not relieve borrowers from their loan obligations, but bans mortgage lenders from initiating the foreclosure process during the state of emergency. Marylanders are also eligible for a 90-day forbearance and deferral on mortgage payments — during which no late fees will be charged and no negative information will be reported to credit bureaus.

During Friday’s press conference, the governor also announced that nearly 70 of the state’s largest banks and other financial institutions have agreed to provide extra flexibility to borrowers.

He noted specifically that certain lending limits would be suspended on a case-by-case basis in order to make more credit available to struggling small businesses.

An executive order issued by Hogan two weeks ago blocked residential evictions. Today’s order extends that prohibition to commercial and industrial evictions, and also blocks the repossession of cars, trucks and mobile homes.

The governor also announced the suspension of debt collection by executive state agencies.

“We’re going to continue to do everything that we possibly can to help get Marylanders through this, to help them weather the storm, and get back on their feet and help them recover,” Hogan said at the press conference. — Maureen Pao

Maryland Announces Coronavirus Outbreaks At Nursing Homes, Correctional Facilities

April 3, 2020, 4:00 p.m.: Maryland is intensely watching clusters of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state’s nursing homes and correctional system, Gov. Larry Hogan said today at a press conference.

There is a cluster of cases at 60 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state, he announced. The largest is at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Carroll County, with 99 confirmed cases among residents and staff.

Deputy Secretary of Public Health Fran Phillips announced the state would be issuing guidance to such facilities to help keep staff and residents safe, including universal use of masks for staff.

The governor also announced 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus at correctional institutions in Baltimore, Jessup, and Hagerstown: two parole and probation employees, three inmates, four correctional officers, and eight contractor staff.

Although the state is focused on these particular clusters, Hogan said, “I want to be very clear. We now have widespread community transmission. This virus is everywhere and it is a threat to nearly everyone.”

He and the other officials reiterated the importance of social distancing — particularly given evidence that asymptomatic transmission is happening and people of all ages are being infected by the virus. — Maureen Pao

Gov. Ralph Northam announced he’s directing $2.5 million in emergency funding to provide shelter for Virginia’s homeless population. VCU Capital News Service / Flickr

Virginia Announces Emergency Funding To House Homeless Population During Pandemic

April 3, 3:47 p.m.: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced he’s directing $2.5 million in emergency funding to provide shelter for Virginia’s homeless population during the coronavirus pandemic. The funds will provide temporary housing for approximately 1,500 Virginians who are either unhoused or live in shelters that require them to leave and come back every day.

This money will provide housing for people living in shelters that don’t allow for adequate social distancing.

Northam’s office said the funding would go toward hotel and motel vouchers, as well as food, cleaning supplies, medical transportation and case management. Officials want to provide alternative housing for around 10 percent of Virginians living in shelters so that remaining residents can better keep their distance.

“As we battle this unprecedented public health crisis, we must make sure no one is left behind,” Northam said, “I have issued a statewide stay-at-home order, but we know there are many Virginians with no home to stay in. With this funding, we will ensure people experiencing homelessness have access to immediate housing options and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Virginia has seen an increase in the number of older adults experiencing homelessnes, according to the governor’s office. And the state largely relies on “congregate shelters” which make it difficult to practice social distancing in line with recommendations from health experts. Already in D.C., five homeless shelter residents have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Department of Health have issued guidelines for shelters during the pandemic which encourage them to, whenever possible, place beds six feet apart and arrange them head to foot, or string shower curtains between beds. The guidance also recommends that shelters stagger meals; avoid shared utensils or cups; and make sure all guests and staff wash their hands frequently.

The commonwealth is providing the money upfront to help residents get into the hotel and motel rooms. But funds from FEMA and the CARES Act, passed by Congress last month, will be used to repay Virginia and provide other services for the homeless population, according to a DHCD spokesperson. — Hannah Schuster

The Old Soldiers’ Home, which houses 260 residents, is ramping up measures to make sure it stays that way. Tyrone Turner / WAMU


April 3, 2:30 p.m.: The Armed Forces Retirement Home in Petworth has so far avoided any confirmed coronavirus cases, and a spokesman for the facility — which houses 260 residents with an average age in the mid-80s — says measures have been ramped up to ensure it stays that way.

“AFRH initiated plans to protect our residents and staff in February. This included reminding residents of frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizers prior to entering communal areas such as our dining, wellness center, fitness, and other facilities,” says Chris Kelly in an email. “By early March we established social distancing guidelines, mandated the use of hand sanitizer at all building entrances and throughout the community, and limited visitors.”

As of this week, the restrictions have increased. Residents are required to stay on campus and limit contact with each other, communal dining facilities have been converted to carry-out, and visits — even from family and friends — have largely been suspended.

The measures reflect the danger the coronavirus poses to the elderly, especially those living in congregate settings. Cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, have been reported at 10 nursing homes in Montgomery County, while on Thursday D.C. officials said they had identified four nursing homes in the city with positive cases. And in one particularly aggressive case, more than 99 positive cases — and five deaths — have been reported at the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Carroll County, Maryland.

Maryland has had reported cases at 60 nursing homes and long-term care facilities statewide, Gov. Larry Hogan said at a press conference Friday

Kelly says testing of residents showing symptoms and those who came in contact with people suspected of being infected has happened through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities, but so far all tests have come back negative.

The Armed Forces Retirement Home has two locations: one in D.C., the other in Gulfport, Mississippi. Veterans can choose to retire in either location, and in D.C. they have access to a nine-hole golf course, bowling alley, art studios, theater, gym, ponds stocked with fish, and a bar called the Defenders Inn. To sustain operations as federal support declines, the home is moving forward with a plan to redevelop an 80-acre portion of the campus along Irving Street. – Martin Austermuhle

Lyft is offering free scooter rides to essential workers in D.C. Jacob Fenston / WAMU

Lyft And Capital Bikeshare Offer Free Scooters And Bikes To D.C.’s Essential Workers

April 3, 2020, 12:20 p.m. (Updated at 3:15): Starting today, Lyft will offer free scooter rides to first-responders, healthcare, and transit employees in D.C. and Montgomery County. Capital Bikeshare, which is operated by Lyft in partnership with local governments, is offering free 30-day memberships to essential workers.

The free scooter program is part of LyftUp, which gives free Lyft rides to essential workers, low-income seniors, and other vulnerable groups who need a safe, socially distant way to get around in the wake of the pandemic, among other services.

“Lyft scooters can play a unique role in providing essential transportation to critical workers on the frontlines against COVID-19,” Caroline Samponaro, the company’s Head of Micromobility and Transit Policy, said. “In a time of crisis, we know Lyft can be an essential lifeline, and we are proud to support first-responders, transit, and healthcare providers as they serve the public throughout the Washington, D.C. area”

A number of other scooter companies have temporarily suspended service in cities across the country during the crisis, but Lyft is still operating in many locations, and is rolling out free scooter programs for essential workers in Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, and more.

Employers can email HeroScooters@Lyft.com to obtain enrollment information for their staff. The offer will run through April 30, and each free ride is good for up to 30 minutes. Employers can sign up for the free bikeshare membership by submitting a short form online..

Lyft is working to disinfect frequently touched surfaces on the scooters, like the handlebars and brake lever, each time they’re recharged. Lyft will also deploy a higher number of scooters near local hospitals, to make it easier for hospital staff to find a ride. Capital Bikeshare bikes are being disinfected more often as well — each time they are rebalanced within the system.

The initiative is one of a number of projects and programs looking to help the District’s essential workers commute. Earlier this week, two Washingtonians launched BikeMatchDC, which pairs people who have a spare bike with workers in need of a set of wheels. —Nathan Diller

The Mystics were set to open the season in May. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Washington Mystics React To WNBA Season Postponement

April 3, 11:55 a.m.: The 2019 championship-winning Washington Mystics were supposed to start their season on May 16 with a home matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. That is, until today, when the WNBA officially postponed its 2020 season.

“We will get through this difficult time together and look forward to seeing our fans and defending our championship as soon as safely possible,” said Mystics general manager and head coach Mike Thibault.

Purchased tickets to postponed games will be honored when the games are rescheduled. No games have yet been cancelled.

The championship parade for the Mystics is still on the city’s schedule for May 12. The parade is set to begin in front of the National Museum of Women in the Arts on New York Avenue NW and end near Capital One Arena. — Mikaela Lefrak

Hospitals across the region are limiting in-person visits. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Maryland Governor Hogan Signs Bills To Increase Access To Telehealth

April 3, 11:45 a.m.: Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed multiple bills today expanding access to telehealth, allowing residents to seek medical attention without having to go to a doctor’s office.

Under the new law, Marylanders who get sick, but might not have the coronavirus, can speak to a doctor via video chat. The new law would assist in the government’s efforts to minimize direct contact, especially for those who may be sick, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mary Alvord, a psychologist in Rockville, is a strong proponent of telehealth.

“Telehealth is a powerful tool,” Alvord said. “And we now have significant amounts of research on its effectiveness.”

Alvord says that while Maryland’s laws are a good first step, she wants to make sure regulations–including HIPAA –are still being followed by practitioners seeking to partake in telehealth. During the state of emergency, the federal government has said using Skype and Facetime is allowed for practitioners.

“There have to be requirements set up for HIPAA to secure privacy,” Alvord said. “Maybe they think that’s a short-term solution, but I worry the long-term fallout might be huge.”

During Maryland’s state of emergency, the new laws allow doctors to prescribe opiates to patients within federal and state regulations for controlled substances.

Earlier this week, Hogan had signed an executive order making it easier for health care providers to use telehealth, but the measure would have expired when Maryland’s state of emergency is lifted. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

Many union members are asking governors for expanded paid sick leave, hazard pay, and masks, hand sanitizer and gloves for corrections staff. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Corrections Officers Demand More Protections From Governors

April 3, 11:01 a.m.: The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), One Voice, and several corrections officers unions are calling on governors across the country to take immediate steps to protect corrections officers in the country’s prisons and jails.

Their demands, which they sent to the National Governors Association (NGA), include expanded paid sick leave, hazard pay, and masks, hand sanitizer and gloves for all staff.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is chair of the NGA.

Only 7% of respondents to a national survey of corrections officers by One Voice said their facility was “very” equipped to handle this emergency before it hit. And 67% of the respondents said corrections officers had not been invited to help the managers of their facilities come up with new coronavirus protocols.

Prisons and jails have been the location of a number of coronavirus outbreaks across the country. At least one inmate and two non-correctional contract employees at facilities in Maryland have tested positive for COVID-19, the Baltimore Sun reported earlier this week. “It remains unclear how many inmates are being tested and screened,” the outlet wrote. –Jenny Gathright

Schools across the region are providing “grab and go” meals for kids while school is closed. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Loudoun Schools Staffer Who Helped With Food Service Tests Positive For Coronavirus

April 3, 11:06 a.m.: A Loudoun County Public Schools staffer who tested positive for coronavirus had helped with the school meal service program, according to an email sent to parents.

The person worked in the Potomac Falls and Dominion high schools region on March 26 and showed symptoms two days later, the email said.

Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Eric Williams told families that the staffer did not come into “close contact” with the public and the Health Department says there’s no evidence of COVID-19 being passed on through food.

The email went out to those who attend Potomac Falls High School, Dominion High School, River Bend Middle School, Seneca Ridge Middle School and Algonkian, Countryside, Potowmack, Horizon, Lowes Island, Meadowland and Sugarland Elementary schools.

“The staff member is self-isolating, and we wish them a swift and complete recovery,” Williams said in the email.

The Loudoun County Health Department will conduct an investigation, the Loudoun Times-Mirror reports. –Jordan Pascale

Local grocery store workers are now at the frontlines of a pandemic Mikaela Lefrak / WAMU

D.C. Council Members Call On Mayor Bowser To Declare Grocery Workers “First Responders”

April 3, 9:31 a.m: At least five D.C. Council members are calling on Mayor Muriel Bowser to declare grocery, pharmacy and food processing workers as “first responders” in the coronavirus pandemic. Council members Elissa Silverman (At-Large), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), Robert White (At-Large), Vincent Gray (Ward 7) and Trayon White (Ward 8) support the declaration, which would ensure that those workers could receive access to free testing, treatment and protective equipment.

States like Minnesota and Vermont have already made such a designation. Late last month, Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan already classified food distributors and processors as “essential personnel” making them eligible for child care services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The move is supported by the local United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents employees at Giant and Safeway stores in the District. The union is also making additional demands of state and local governments.

“More must be done,” said Union President Mark Federici in a statement. “We are calling on Governor Hogan and every state to declare all grocery store, pharmacy, and food processing workers as ‘first responders’ so they may also be eligible to get free coverage for all coronavirus treatments and tests, as well as the medicines and personal protective equipment they need to stay safe on the job while they continue to serve our communities.”

Earlier this week, an employee at the Giant in Columbia Heights tested positive for COVID-19 and three others were quarantined. Council member Brianne K. Nadeau, who represents Ward 1 where the grocery store is located, says grocery store workers are “undeniably on the frontlines.”

“Not only do these jobs not allow for workers to practice social distancing, but they require close interaction with residents, some of whom may be a part of our vulnerable populations. We must make every effort possible to protect our workers,” Nadeau said.

The local workers’ union is also seeking to institute new policies to protect workers and customers, including:

          • Mandating 14 paid sick days for employees
          • Mandating 12 weeks of paid leave for employees at high-risk of contracting the virus
          • Access to free child care
          • Limiting the number of customers in the store
          • Increasing pay for workers 
          • Requiring workers to wear masks and gloves even if they’re not sick
          • Requiring six feet in distance between customers in checkout lines

—Dominique Maria Bonessi

The Wilson Building. Suzannah Hoover / WAMU

D.C. Council To Consider Offering Unemployment Benefits To Undocumented Residents

April 3, 8:58 a.m.: A sweeping emergency bill the D.C. Council is expected to vote on next Tuesday would create a mechanism to give unemployment benefits to “excluded workers,” which could include undocumented residents or workers in non-traditional jobs.

The provision is part of a 76-page bill that’s being drafted to address the coronavirus pandemic and touches on everything from unemployment and housing to criminal justice and how the city will conduct its June 2 primary. And it follows a first bill passed in mid-March that eased qualifications for receiving unemployment benefits, a move aimed at addressing what has since been a flood of claims — 46,356 as of April 2, almost double the number for all of 2019.

But advocates say the current unemployment benefits system excludes a significant portion of the workforce, including undocumented immigrants and people who may not have traditional jobs.

“There are just thousands of people who work in D.C. who have been cut off from their paychecks and don’t have Social Security number,” says Elizabeth Falson, director of D.C. Jobs With Justice.

“There are also lots of people who don’t have proof of income in the way it’s defined by the unemployment system. This creates another mechanism where people can come and say I am a daily laborer or I clean people’s houses or I’m a street vendor, people might have legal status but not have traditional proof of income that is eligible for unemployment benefits,” she adds.

Under the bill, those workers would not be paid out of the current unemployment benefits fund, but rather another pool of local money identified by Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The bill also addresses a number of other issues. It would expand an existing program that lets small businesses get tax credits for rent or property taxes they pay, require mortgage companies to create programs to let certain homeowners defer payments for 90 days, expands tenant protections, mandates the creation of a “Funeral Bill of Rights” to help prevent price gouging, prevents debt collectors from filing lawsuits during a public health emergency and within 60 days of one ending, expands good-time credits to prisoners who committed a felony before 2000, and creates a system for “compassionate release” of felons older than 60 or in frail health.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to better allow the city to conduct a majority of its June 2 primary using absentee ballots, and allows D.C. CFO Jeffrey DeWitt to borrow $300 million to help cover “significant cash flow issues” the city is facing because of the dramatic economic downturn. —Martin Austermuhle

More Stories From Thursday

Metro will operate 27 buses every 30 minutes on April 4 and 5 and trains twice an hour. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Metro Buses and Trains To Continue Running Limited Schedule This Weekend

April 2, 9:50 p.m.: Metro will continue running an abbreviated schedule this weekend to provide travel for essential needs.

The bus and rail system will operate 27 buses every 30 minutes on April 4 and 5, and operate trains twice an hour, according to a schedule posted to Metro’s website.

Metro officials urged people to stay at home unless they are traveling for essential purposes, such as first responders and hospital staff who must report to work.

DC, Maryland, and Virginia issued orders this week directing residents to stay home except for essential work and errands. —Debbie Truong

The lobby of the South Shore Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center, in Rockland, Mass. A majority of residents at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy and eighteen staff members have tested positive for coronavirus. David Goldman / AP Photo

More Cases Reported At Maryland Nursing Home

April 2, 6:45 p.m.: A Maryland nursing home that has been the site of a deadly coronavirus outbreak reported more cases Thursday.

Seventy-seven of the 95 residents at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy have now tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a press release from the Carroll County Health Department. Eighteen staff members also tested positive.

Five Pleasant View residents have died after contracting the coronavirus, according to health officials. The county health department has stationed a physician at the nursing home to help care for residents.

Carroll Lutheran Village, a retirement home in Carroll, also reported three additional coronavirus cases. A total of six residents and one staff member have become sickened by the virus. —Debbie Truong

MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

D.C. Needs An Additional 3,600 Hospital Beds To Face ‘Medical Surge’

April 2, 4:30 p.m.: In a letter sent to D.C. hospitals on Wednesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city will need 3,600 additional hospital beds to address the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, but she is worried over whether that will be attainable.

“We are working aggressively with local and federal partners to meet the deadline of making the first 1,000 of the additional 3,600 estimated medical surge beds in the District available to meet your medical surge needs by April 15, 2020,” she wrote. “I am concerned, however, that our collective ability to meet this deadline is compromised by a lack of information from our health system partners.”

In the letter, Bowser said that D.C. currently has 2,517 operational beds at seven hospitals, but would need more than 5,600 in the event of a medical surge. She asked hospitals and healthcare providers to offer more information on expanding bed capacity within their facilities and also in clinical and non-clinical space they may have available.

Bowser said the city is creating a $25 million fund to “help defray the costs of hospital surge activity.” –Martin Austermuhle

Hope Village consists of six buildings in Southeast D.C. and is the city’s only halfway house for men. Jenny Gathright / WAMU

Prisoners Sue D.C.’s Federal Men’s Halfway House Over Conditions

April 2, 3:00 p.m.: Two people confined in Hope Village, a 300-bed federal men’s halfway house in Southeast D.C., are bringing a class-action lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the D.C. Department of Corrections, and Hope Village Inc, the company that runs the halfway house.

The lawsuit alleges that Hope Village has failed to provide prompt medical attention and testing to those with COVID-19. It also claims that men at the halfway house are forced to clean their facilities themselves but adequate supplies have not been provided to do so. And it argues that keeping men confined in close quarters, despite the fact that many at Hope Village are eligible for home confinement, is unacceptable given the public health crisis and the particular risks involved for those living in congregate situations. —Jenny Gathright

Read the full coverage of this story here.

The National Archives is donating its extra personal protective equipment that its employees use while working on damaged documents. Flickr / James McNellis

National Archives Donates Stash Of Protective Gear

April 2, 2:42 p.m.: The National Archives donated a host of supplies — including N-95 masks, nitrile gloves, gowns, Tyvek suits — to D.C.’s Emergency Management Response Team for use by health care workers and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Archives’ supplies are usually for when they have to work with collections and records that have been damaged by floods, fires, and mold.

Chief Operating Officer William Bosanko said in a statement that these were surplus supplies and they “need to keep a minimal amount for our own use, but other than that, let’s work together to get what we don’t need into the hands of those working hard to save lives and keep our communities safe.”

The National Archives credits motion picture preservation specialists Heidi Holmstrom and Audrey Amidon as well as Rachel Bartgis and Vicki Lee of the agency’s Conservation Lab for recognizing the supplies they used regularly could be of help for this national health crisis.

“I know what we have is only a drop in the bucket,” says motion picture preservation specialist Audrey Amidon in the statement, “but they’re on our shelf and could help save lives.” —Matt Blitz

The District asked FEMA for 20 ventilators, but received none, according to new documents released form a Congressional Oversight Committee. Flickr / A.Currell

FEMA Delivers Fraction Of Medical Supplies Requested By Region

April 2, 2:15 p.m.: Virginia asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for half a million swabs, which are used to test for the coronavirus. It received none. Washington, D.C. asked for 20 ventilators and got zero. Maryland requested 15,000 body bags. Not one was delivered.

These gaping shortfalls were revealed in documents released Thursday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), called on the president to marshal federal power to deliver supplies.

“The new documents we are releasing today confirm the urgent warnings we have been hearing from our nation’s governors and health care professionals for weeks—they do not have enough personal protective equipment and medical supplies, and the Administration has provided only a tiny fraction of what they desperately need,” she said.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) amplified the call in a Twitter town hall Thursday.

“The lack of a national supply chain to get us the equipment we need has been frustrating,” he said.

In its announcement of the documents, the committee quoted FEMA officials who reportedly told members of Congress that the agency’s efforts to buy masks on the open market were like “chasing rabbits in an open field,” because of the high demand nationwide and globally. Still, FEMA shook off suggestions that it should play a central role in sourcing, and said it was trying to help the private sector “adapt.” –Daniella Cheslow

Several staff members and one patient at St. Elizabeth’s have tested positive. Several more employees are in self-quarantine. Unsplash

Five Employees And One Patient At St. Elizabeths Test Positive

April 2, 12:57 p.m.: Five employees and one patient at St. Elizabeths, D.C.’s public psychiatric hospital, have tested positive for the coronavirus. A spokesperson for the Department of Behavioral Health said 22 additional employees are in self-quarantine based on D.C. Health guidance. The Washington Post was the first to report the news. 

The patient and the employees were living and working on unit 1D, the portion of the hospital where people charged with crimes receive evaluations and treatment ahead of legal proceedings. All of the patients in the unit are now quarantined.

In a statement emailed to WAMU, a DBH spokesperson said the hospital has instituted several measures to slow the spread of the virus, including an isolation unit for patients who have tested positive for the virus and patients who have symptoms associated with the virus. The hospital suspended public visitation in mid-March, and anyone who enters the hospital now gets a temperature check. DBH also said additional personal protective equipment (PPE) is issued to staff as needed.

Andrea Procaccino, a staff attorney at Disability Rights DC, told the Post that the public psychiatric hospital “does not have as robust of an infectious disease department as medical hospitals do,” and as a result, advocates for patients in the facility fear it is not equipped to handle a larger-scale outbreak. DBH says the hospital is actively seeking input on patient concerns and reviewing infection control practices with its Patient Advisory Council. — Jenny Gathright

Evangel Cathedral in Maryland. Shardayyy Photography / Flickr

Maryland Church Closes After Holding Services Sunday

A church in Prince George’s County has closed it’s buildings after it held services on Sunday, in violation of the Maryland’s stay-at-home order.

According to NBC4, pastor Erik Meares of Evangel Cathedral Church held services for an estimated 40 to 49 people, who sat spaced out in pews. The church also streamed the service online.

Governor Larry Hogan ordered a 10 person limit for gatherings, because of the possible spread of COVID-19.

Maryland state troopers confronted Meares about the violation but allegedly after they left, he continued services, including laying hands and blowing on some church-goers.

Since then the lead pastor of the church has said the church would remain closed as long as Hogan’s order is in effect.

No charges were filed nor were there any arrests made. Meares could not be reached for comment. —Kavitha Cardoza

A new coronavirus testing facility is opening in D.C. Ted S. Warren / AP Photo

D.C. Is Opening A Testing Site At United Medical Center

April 2, 11:54 p.m.: A drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing site will open Friday at United Medical Center.

The facility will only be available to healthcare workers, first responders, and residents who are older than 65 or have underlying health conditions. But they must be showing symptoms and be referred by a doctor.

“Don’t just show up,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference.

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White said that he welcomed the facility. His ward has seen the fewest number of cases, so far, which the councilmember attributed to people not knowing where to go to get tested.

D.C. recorded another death yesterday, bringing the total to 12, as the city reaches 653 total confirmed cases. Health director LaQuandra Nesbitt says there have been cases at four different long-term care facilities, including one at UMC. –Rachel Sadon

Jacob Fenston
The D.C. region, like the country at large, has seen a record number of unemployment benefit applications. Jacob Fenston / WAMU

D.C. Region Sees Explosion In Unemployment Claims

April 2, 10:16 a.m.: In the Washington region, a record number of unemployment applications have been filed since the outbreak of COVID-19. Businesses in the D.C. area and across the country have closed due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and have laid off millions of workers.

New numbers released by the Department of Labor for the week ending March 28 show jobless claims in the Washington region have shot up. In Maryland, 83,536 people have filed jobless claims, 35 times as many as a year ago; in Virginia, there were 114,104 claims, 50 times as many as last year; and in DC, there were 14,868 claims, 35 times compared to last year.

Experts say the actual number of unemployed people to be even higher, because not everyone who is eligible for benefits has filed and some have had difficulties filing their application.

The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance call center has extended its hours of operation to handle the increase in people trying to file claims. Experts expect the actual number of unemployed people to be even higher, because not everyone who is eligible has filed for benefits.

Nationwide, new unemployment claims also are at the highest they’ve ever been since the Department of Labor began tracking the numbers. In the week ending March 28, more than 6.6 million people filed for unemployment insurance. That’s more than three million people over the previous week. The previous high was 695,000 in 1982. —Kavitha Cardoza

More Stories From Wednesday:

Public tennis courts in Montgomery County are now closed. Marco Verch / Flickr

More Recreational Closures In Montgomery County

April 1, 8:38 p.m.: Tennis and pickleball courts in Montgomery County parks were closed Wednesday to help curtail the spread of the new coronavirus.

Officials with Montgomery Parks, which manages 422 parks in the Maryland suburb, said in a news release that use of the courts violates social distancing guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended people maintain a distance of 6 feet from others to keep the virus from spreading.

The parks system previously closed playgrounds and basketball courts, removing basketball hoops when people have violated the order (D.C. recently did the same), according to the release.

Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks, also urged people who visit the county’s trails to maintain social distancing and limit groups to 10 or fewer people. —Debbie Truong

Two more inmates at D.C.’s Department of Corrections have tested positive for coronavirus. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

DC Department Of Corrections Announces 2 More COVID-19 Cases

April 1, 8:25 p.m.: Two additional residents housed in D.C.’s Department of Corrections have tested positive for the coronavirus. The total number of cases in the department is now up to eight.

One resident, a 48-year-old male, was quarantined on March 26 after an individual from his unit tested positive for COVID-19, says Keena Blackmon, a spokesperson for the DC Department of Corrections. He is currently in isolation.

The other individual, a 30-year-old female, was housed in a separate building within the facility and has also been moved to isolation. She is the first female to test positive for COVID-19 in the department.

The American Civil Liberties Union of DC and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia are suing the corrections department in a class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 1,600 inmates alleging that the department has not adequately screened them for coronavirus or done enough to prevent its spread. Corrections officers at the facility have since sided with inmates. –Christian Zapata

Total cases in the Washington region reached 4,055 as of Wednesday afternoon, with 76 reported deaths. Ted S. Warren / AP Photo

More Than 4,000 Cases Reported In The D.C. Region

April 1, 5:20 p.m.: More than 4,000 people in the Washington region have now been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the most recent data from local health departments. Total cases reached 4,055 as of Wednesday afternoon, with 76 reported deaths.

In Maryland so far, 1,985 cases have been confirmed, 1,484 in Virginia and 586 in the District of Columbia.

Numbers have increased exponentially in the past few days, as testing capacity has grown. But health officials in Virginia are predicting that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in this region is still several weeks away.

Maryland, Virginia and D.C. residents are all under “stay-at-home” orders. Residents are required to be in their homes at all times, unless they are performing an essential activity like grocery shopping, attending to medical needs, solitary exercise or traveling to work at a business or workplace deemed essential and permitted to stay open. Penalties for violating the order include jail time or up to a $5,000 fine in some cases. –Julie Depenbrock

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, seen here on March 19, 2020. Brian Witte / AP Photo

Hogan Issues Two New Emergency Orders

April 1, 5:10 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued two new emergency orders on Wednesday to give health care providers in the state more flexibility during the coronavirus pandemic.

The first gives healthcare providers the ability to administer services to patients over email, expanding a previous directive that allows healthcare workers to communicate with patients over the phone.

The second directive deems workers who provide support services to people with disabilities as health care providers. The designation permits support workers to travel to a person’s home or a residential facility to provide services, including in-home care, interpretation services, social services and care for substance abuse and mental illness.

“The orders I have issued today help ensure that Marylanders of all ages and abilities can continue receiving essential services throughout this public health crisis,” Hogan said in a statement. —Debbie Truong

Local businesses need government funding to stay alive, and fast. Chris Campbell / Flickr

Prince George’s County Creates COVID-19 Business Relief Fund

April 1, 3:50 p.m.: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced Wednesday afternoon that a $15 million fund has been created to provide financial relief for small, local, and minority-owned businesses that are trying to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community,” Alsobrooks said. “It is vitally important that they survive through this crisis.”

According to Angie Rodgers, the county’s deputy chief administration officer of economic development, relief will go to businesses in the form of loans up to $100,000 and grants up to $10,000. Businesses must apply for the state and federal funding opportunities in order to be eligible to apply for the county funds.

“They really are meant to be used together,” Rodgers told reporters.

Small businesses and contractors with fewer than 10 employees can apply for a grant up to $5,000. Small businesses with more than 10 employees can apply for a grant up to $10,000. Larger businesses that can take on debt can apply for loans of up to $100,000 from the county.

“We wanted to give businesses in our community the flexibility to apply for either a loan or a grant,” Rodgers said.”

Businesses can also apply to the state for up to $50,000 in loans and $10,000 in grants. The Federal Small Business Administration is also making loans available up to $2 million per business.

While the application process for the state and federal financial assistance may take longer, Rodgers says, the county is not looking for businesses to have approval of those funds before receiving county assistance. The funds can go toward critical operating costs like payroll and supplies for businesses.

The application for county loans and grants will be open from April 13 to May 15. –-Dominique Maria Bonessi.

NSO Musicians Say Kennedy Center Violated Labor Laws With Furlough

April 1, 3:30 p.m.: Lawyers representing the National Symphony Orchestra say the Kennedy Center violated a collective bargaining agreement and federal labor laws when it furloughed 96 musicians over the weekend.

Kennedy Center leadership reportedly told the musicians’ union on a call earlier this week that they could suspend the collective bargaining agreement due to “exigent circumstances,” according to a letter from the musicians’ lawyers obtained by Washingtonian.

Despite receiving $25 million in federal stimulus funding, the performing arts center has laid off 750 part-time and hourly workers and furloughed the NSO musicians and 60% of its full-time administrative staff. The center closed to the public in mid-March and has canceled all performances through mid-May.

The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment. —Mikaela Lefrak


Under Armour Says It Will Make Up To 500,000 Masks Out Of Its Baltimore Facility

April 1, 3:15 p.m.: Local sports apparel brand Under Armour will start production of no-sew masks to assist the University of Maryland Medical System’s 28,000 health care providers and staff. The company announced the move Tuesday.

Production of the origami-style masks will take place at the brand’s Lighthouse innovation space in Baltimore.

Under Armour is also looking into creating other personal protective equipment (PPE) like gowns and specialized fanny packs. It has already delivered 1,300 face shields to UMMS.

The brand is trying to coordinate with Johns Hopkins and MedStar to deliver PPE.

“Their willingness and ability to immediately pivot their manufacturing focus to help meet our personal protective equipment needs will save lives,” Mohan Suntha, President and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System, said in the release. “Under Armour is a model for corporate responsibility and their partnership is instrumental in Maryland’s success during this most critical time.”

Under Armour is not the only sports apparel brand pivoting to help health care providers. New Balance, which specializes in footwear and is located in Lawrence, Massachusetts, has started prototyping masks, while sportswear giant Nike is prototyping facemasks for doctors and nurses in Oregon where their headquarters is located. Sports apparel brand Fanatics is also creating masks out of baseball jersey fabric. –Julia Karron 

Virginia has gotten more facemasks and other protective equipment from the national stockpile, but Gov. Ralph Northam said the state will need more. WAMU / Tyrone Turner

Virginia Receives More Medical Supplies From Stockpile, But Says It’s Not Enough

April 1, 2:30 p.m.: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said a third shipment of protective equipment arrived from the national stockpile, but said more would be needed to handle a surge of patients linked to the coronavirus that he anticipated would arrive in late April or early May.

“We need as much as we can get, bottom line,” Northam said.

Virginia reported 234 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total positive cases to 1,484. Nearly 110 patients are in intensive care. The state reported seven new deaths, bringing the toll to 34.

Northam said the highly contagious coronavirus presents an unprecedented demand on personal protective equipment (PPE).

“We just literally burn through PPE to the tune of 240 sets of PPE per patient per day,” Northam said.

As for testing, Dr. Denise Toney, the Director of the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, said the state had about 2,000 tests and has been able to double its processing capacity to about 200 patients a day. Private labs have conducted the majority of tests in Virginia so far.

Meanwhile, the state is preparing for the surge of patients. Northam’s team has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to identify three sites for field hospitals across Virginia, including the ExxonMobil facility in Fairfax County. Three other potential sites have also been scouted. — Daniella Cheslow

At 101 cases, Ward 6 has the District’s highest number of coronavirus cases. Kazuhisa OTSUBO / Flickr

Coronavirus Cases Are Split Across D.C., With The Highest Total In Ward 6

April 1, 11:34 a.m.: The coronavirus has spread throughout all eight wards, according to a breakdown of cases released by the District government. The highest total is in Ward 6, which has the highest population of any ward, at 101 cases, followed by Ward 4 at 85 cases.

“My message is not to read anything into the ward breakdown,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference today. She added that city health officials “draw no conclusion from the data as reported, except we don’t have any hot spots in the city.”


D.C. recorded two COVID-19 related deaths yesterday, bringing the total to 11. One of those was a 71-year-old female who may have died at home, according to Bowser.

The city registered 91 new positive cases yesterday, bringing the total number in the city to 586.

Officials also released data by age and gender, with the highest number of positive cases among people who are 31-40 and 19-30.


“It is time for us to stay home as much as possible. We are staying home for our first responders,” Bowser said, “for everyone who is working in our grocery stores and providing an essential service.” —Rachel Sadon

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The Federal Bureau of Prisons says that inmates in all of its institutions will be “secured” in their cells or quarters for 14 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Ichigo121212 / Pixabay

Federal Prisoners Have Been Placed On A 14-Day Lockdown In Response To Virus Spread

April 1, 9:52 a.m.: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has announced that inmates in all of its institutions will be “secured” in their assigned cells or quarters for a 14-day period to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. After two weeks, BOP will decide whether it will extend the order.

“This modification to our action plan is based on health concerns, not disruptive inmate behavior,” said the BOP action plan released Tuesday. BOP is also working to “significantly decrease” the number of incarcerated people being transferred into federal institutions.

The BOP said people will still have access to programs like mental health treatment and education “to the extent practicable.” Limited group gatherings will also be allowed to facilitate access to commissary, laundry, showers, telephone and computer system access.

According to the BOP website, 29 inmates and 30 correctional staff in the system have tested positive for the coronavirus.

As of February, about 4,000 people from D.C. were confined in federal prisons. The city has no prison of its own, so people convicted of D.C. code offenses serve longer sentences in federal prisons around the country. —Jenny Gathright 

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Prince George’s students in need will get assistance with computers and internet. pxhere

Prince George’s Schools Allocates $2 Million To Bridge ‘Digital Divide’

April 1, 9:35 a.m.: Prince George’s County Schools CEO Monica Goldson has set aside $2 million to pay for expanded internet connectivity for students who don’t have access to technology. With schools closed because of COVID-19, the school district has partnered with Comcast and Verizon to provide broadband access, and students will also receive laptop computers.

“Many of our families and students have access to internet services to complete assignments online, while for others, this may be a completely new experience,” Goldston said. She says helping out with costs associated with online learning will help all students keep learning.

The school system received a $100,000 donation from former PGCPS student Sam Brin as well as a $20,000 contribution from UnitedHealthcare. Goldston says this will ensure every senior in need has internet access for the rest of the academic year.

PGCPS is encouraging local partners, businesses, nonprofits and churches to help by opening their internet networks and wireless hot spots for children around the county to use. The school district will turn on WiFi access points at several schools to allow students and staff to connect from the parking lot of these sites, starting Tuesday, April 14.

Prince George’s County Public Schools has more than 136,500 students and 22,000 employees. Chromebook distribution will be held Wednesday, April 1 through Friday, April 3 at students’ boundary school in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. —Kavitha Cardoza

Elvert Barnes
Five D.C. homeless shelter residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. Elvert Barnes / Flickr

Five D.C. Homeless Shelter Residents Test Positive For COVID-19

April 1, 8:45 a.m.: Five people, living in three separate shelters in the District, have tested positive for COVID-19, Street Sense Media first reported.

All of them have been quarantined or hospitalized and are receiving medical care, according to D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Laura Zeilinger. She says their top priority is making sure people are safe and their exposure to the coronavirus is limited.

Staff at each of the shelters—Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter, Patricia Handy Place for Women and the Community for Creative Non-Violence—were told about the positive cases on Sunday. Authorities are tracking down the individual’s recent interactions so they can notify the people who might have come into contact with them.

Zeilinger also told Street Sense Media that DHS has secured rooms in three local hotels to house individuals who have either tested positive and don’t require hospitalization, are symptomatic and are awaiting test results, or may have been exposed to an infected individual. —Kavitha Cardoza

More Stories From Tuesday

Corrections officers are siding with inmates suing D.C.’s Department of Corrections for putting them at risk of contracting coronavirus. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

In D.C., Officers To Side With Inmates In Suit Against Department Of Corrections

March 31, 9:38 p.m.: Corrections officers are siding with inmates who filed suit against the District’s Department of Corrections for what they say are unsanitary conditions that put them at risk for getting infected with the coronavirus.

“The lion lies down with the lamb,” said attorney J. Michael Hannon, who represents the Fraternal Order of Police/Department Of Corrections Labor Committee. The union is holding a press conference on the decision to file an amicus brief Wednesday morning.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, D.C. and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia filed the class-action suit Monday on behalf of inmates. They note that staff complained that as of March 25, 2020, they had no masks, no gowns, no disinfectants, and insufficient gloves. Staff also cited no regular comprehensive cleaning and no screening of new arrivals for COVID-19.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction directing the Department of Corrections to reduce its inmate population; adhere to expert guidance for reducing the spread of COVID-19, and appoint an independent monitor to check compliance. –Daniella Cheslow

Editor’s note: We’ve updated the headline to more accurately reflect the union’s position in the lawsuit.

The deaths include a female and two males over 60. Kimberly Smith / CDC

Three Additional Residents At Maryland Nursing Home Die

March 31, 8:53 p.m.: Three more residents of the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy, Md, have died from the coronavirus, according to the Carroll County Health Department.

The deaths include a female in her 60s and two males in their 70s. All had underlying medical conditions.

The nursing home became a hotbed of coronavirus cases after the first was discovered on March 27. Since then, 77 residents have tested positive. Two other residents had previously died. Eighteen of the facility’s 95 residents tested negative.

The health department had put in place prevention measures to stop the transmission of the virus and deployed a National Guard medic unit to help assess all residents. A number of patients have been transferred to hospitals for a higher level of care.

A nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., was among the early breakout spots for the disease. Thirty-five residents there died. –Jordan Pascale

George Mason University’s Fairfax City campus has been identified as a potential site to house additional COVID-19 patients. Exchanges Photos / Flickr

Three Possible Field Hospital Sites Identified In Northern Virginia

March 31, 8:24 p.m.: Virginia has identified three potential sites in Northern Virginia for field hospitals to house COVID-19 patients, according to a briefing given Tuesday by Prince William County Executive Christopher Martino to the Board of County Supervisors.

The possible sites are:

  • George Mason University in Fairfax City with 500 beds
  • The Dulles Expo Center in Fairfax County with 500 beds
  • The National Conference Center in Loudoun County with 1,000 beds.

These would only be needed if hospitals reach their capacity, even after adding beds in current facilities. Other smaller sites have also been identified if they’re needed.

Board Chair Ann Wheeler said the plans gave her a measure of relief as she anticipated an influx of patients that could overwhelm the county’s three hospitals.

“What none of us knows is exactly what that surge is going to look like in terms of length and breadth,” she told WAMU. “Having a regional facility — the more that we can have, the better.”

Prince William County has seen one fatality from COVID-19 and 103 positive cases, the Virginia Department of Health reported Tuesday. The state has 1,250 confirmed cases.

Some Virginia counties including Arlington have opened testing facilities. Wheeler said she is “in constant contact” with her county’s hospitals to discuss testing. However, “the issue we have right now is there aren’t enough tests to have the drive-through testing done.” –Daniella Cheslow

D.C. sent out an alert reminding residents to stay home as much as possible. Some people are now receiving robocalls from the mayor. Mary-Tyler March / WAMU

Mayor Bowser Sends Out Robocalls Telling Residents To Stay Home

March 31, 7:34 p.m.: Some District residents are getting a robocall from Mayor Muriel Bowser. The calls are going out to a mix of cell phones and landlines on a “community list,” the Mayor’s office said in an email.

The message, narrated by the Mayor, says:

“I’m Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Together we represent the nation’s capital region, home to over six million people. Stay home. Pandemics don’t care about borders. That’s why we are all doing the same thing. And we are telling everyone in the capital region, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, please stay home. But if you leave your house, practice social distancing and stay six feet apart. We will get through this. Stay home.”

The robocalls come after jurisdictions around the region sent out emergency push alerts to residents reminding them to socially distance and stay inside except for essential activities. –Jordan Pascale

Community gardens in Rock Creek Park, north of Military Road NW, in Washington, D.C. Mr.TinDC / Flickr

D.C.’s Community Gardens Will Remain Open

March 31, 6:58 p.m.: While just about every other public facility is closing, D.C.’s community gardens will remain open for the tending.

The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation on Tuesday announced it is closing just about every remaining facility that was still accessible to the public, including courts, dog parks, athletic fields, and outdoor spaces. That follows the move 10 days ago to close playgrounds, pools, and rec centers.

A spokesperson for Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday said that the almost three-dozen community gardens across the city will remain open for now, letting users tend to their crops as the weather warms.

Additionally, D.C.’s stay-at-home order, which takes effect on April 1, permits gardening as an allowable outdoor activity — though gardeners are still encouraged to practice social distancing. –Martin Austermuhle

A collection site for people being tested for COVID-19 in Arlington, Va. The county is accepting drive-through donations on Friday. WAMU / Tyrone Turner

Arlington Will Collect Protective Medical Gear Donations On Friday

March 31, 6: 38 p.m.: Arlington County is holding a drive-thru donation drive on Friday for unused, unopened containers of gloves, masks, surgical gowns, cleaning supplies, and shelf-stable food.

It will also accept homemade masks and highlighted sewing patterns published by the Million Mask Project.

The county says people should bring those items to the Central Library parking lot, 1015 N. Quincy St., from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday.

Donations will go to Arlington healthcare workers, first responders, county, and community workers “whose essential jobs put them at risk of coronavirus exposure during this public health emergency,” the county said in a release.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has also urged corporations to donate supplies last week by signing up online. —Daniella Cheslow

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An inmate at the Fairfax County Detention Center has tested positive for COVID-19. Blogtrepreneur / Flickr

Fairfax County Inmate Tests Positive For COVID-19

March 31, 4:50 p.m.: An inmate who has been incarcerated for the last two months at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office. The first known COVID-19 case in the facility comes as the criminal justice system across the region grapples with the coronavirus amid a shortage of tests.

The Sheriff’s Office says the inmate is in his 20s and was incarcerated on January 29. He is now in isolation at the detention center, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Like other jurisdictions in the region, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has moved to stop the spread of the coronavirus by suspending all visits at the prison and introducing stricter cleaning protocols. The office says it is now working to identify other people who may be infected.

“While we are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of illness, it is possible that additional cases will occur since individuals already could have been exposed,” the Sheriff’s Office acknowledged in a statement.

Inmates in Washington, D.C. sued the District’s Department of Corrections on Monday for what they say is inadequate screening and testing for the coronavirus. Five inmates in D.C. have tested positive for COVID-19 so far.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano tried to get testing for about a dozen prosecutors who are still on the job, spokesperson Antonio Peronace told WAMU. Peronace said Descano was told no tests would be available unless a prosecutor developed symptoms of the virus. He said Descano had approved about three dozen inmates for early release to help reduce the risk of contagion. —Daniella Cheslow

Kennedy Center furloughs 60% of its staff despite emergency federal aid. Geoff Livingston / Flickr

Kennedy Center Furloughs 60% Of Full-Time Staff Despite Receiving $25 Million In Federal Aid

March 31, 4:25 p.m.: A week after receiving $25 million in federal stimulus funding, the Kennedy Center has announced it’s furloughing around 60% of its full-time administrative staff for at least five weeks.

The furlough comes four days after the Kennedy Center laid off all 96 members of the National Symphony Orchestra. Three weeks ago, the performing arts center laid off 750 hourly and part-time workers — including ushers, stagehands and parking attendants.

The Kennedy Center will continue to pay for its furloughed employees’ health care benefits until at least the end of May. Congress’s stimulus package extends unemployment benefits to furloughed workers.

The performing arts center closed on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic and has cancelled all performances through at least May 10. Even if it is able to reopen at that time, it would run out of cash as early as July if it did not institute the furlough, according to its leadership. The Kennedy Center relies on revenue from ticket sales and space rentals for around 60% of its budget. It is now faced with issuing refunds for previously sold tickets to hundreds of cancelled performances and events.

Kennedy Center president and CEO Deborah Rutter announced last week that she would forgo her own salary until further notice. — Mikaela Lefrak

Montgomery County has approved a $20 million grant package for businesses. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Montgomery County To Distribute Grants To Employers Harmed By Pandemic

March 31, 3:45 p.m.: Leaders in Montgomery County have approved a $20 million grant program to assist small employers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The county council unanimously passed a special appropriation to the 2020 budget Tuesday that creates a pot of money for county-based enterprises that “demonstrate significant financial loss caused directly or indirectly by a public health emergency.” At least one quarter of the funds will go toward restaurants and retailers.

For-profit and nonprofit employers with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees are eligible for grants up to $75,000. The program also sets aside “mini-grants” up to $2,500 to assist employers’ transition to teleworking during the public health emergency.

“Folks are depending on local governments to ensure that we fill in the gaps where the state and feds have not been able to,” said District 2 Council member Craig Rice ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

Council members acknowledged that $20 million isn’t sufficient to help all of the county’s small employers, but several remarked that it’s a good start.

“This is not everything, but it’s something,” said District 1 Council member Andrew Friedson, the bill’s chief sponsor, in the legislative session.

Officials unanimously approved the emergency measure by phone while they work remotely. Council member Rice abstained from the vote, saying his wife owns a small business that would be eligible for the grants.

Council members also allocated $260,000 to Manna Food Center to feed children while county schools are closed. Another $250,000 was approved to cover hotel rooms for medical workers not able to return home after working long shifts. Such workers, said District 4 Council member Nancy Navarro, are “angels on Earth.” —Ally Schweitzer

D.C. Police blocked off the Tidal Basin on March 24, 2020, because of the crowds trying to see the cherry blossoms. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

D.C. Police Loudly Encouraging Residents To Practice Social Distancing

March 31, 1:45 p.m.: If you haven’t yet gotten the message to keep your distance from other people, it may be coming your way — and loudly.

D.C. police officers have started using the loudspeakers mounted on their cruisers to remind people of the ongoing public health emergency and the need to practice social distancing. The new initiative comes as a stay-at-home order takes effect in D.C. on April 1, which mandates that residents stay inside unless they need to perform essential activities like grocery shopping, tending to medical needs or doing solo outdoor exercise.

“Attention everyone. We are currently in a public health emergency. Your gathering puts both you and others at unnecessary risk. We encourage you to use proper social distancing and refrain from gathering in large groups. Failure to do so puts you all at risk and could result in serious illnesses and death,” reads the script given to officers, who used it on Monday afternoon by Lincoln Park, a popular gathering spot on Capitol Hill.

Local and health officials say people need to remain at least six feet away from each other and not gather in groups to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. While data shows that D.C. residents have generally done well on limiting their outdoor movements in recent weeks, warm spring days have drawn people to local parks — sometimes in sizable crowds.

D.C.’s new order — like Maryland and Virginia’s — attaches penalties ranging from fines to possible jail time for violations. But speaking on Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she didn’t think things would ever go that far.

“We don’t expect we will have to issue any fines or jail time because we expect people will comply,” she said. “The point is not to arrest anyone. The point is for people to stay at home.” — Martin Austermuhle

Elected leaders of all 21 local jurisdictions support the stay-at-home orders Maryland, Virginia and D.C.’s issued Monday. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

In Joint Statement, 21 Local Leaders Urge Residents To Stay Home

March 31, 12:57 p.m.: One day after the leaders of D.C., Maryland and Virginia issued stay-at-home orders, elected leaders of 21 local jurisdictions in the region issued a statement supporting this order, “joining in one voice” to implore their residents to stay home.

“This is the most important thing each of us can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the threat to our most vulnerable neighbors, including older individuals and those with chronic health conditions,” the statement reads. Its signatories include mayors, county executives, and county board chairs from Maryland and Virginia, such as Montgomery County Executive March Elrich and Arlington County Board chair Libby Garvey.

“The COVID-19 virus ignores jurisdictional boundaries, political viewpoints, and socioeconomic differences. We must be united as one region while we each do our part to protect ourselves and each other,” the statement continues.

More than 5 million people live in the National Capital Region, and frequently travel between jurisdictions. Yesterday, Maryland, Virginia and D.C. issued stay-at-home orders only hours apart.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said at his press briefing that leaders from all three jurisdictions had spoken together and that language in the stay-at-home orders should be similar. — Hannah Schuster

ART currently is operating eight routes, on Saturday schedules, and rides are free. Tony Webster / Flickr

Arlington To Get State Grant To Keep ART Buses Running

March 31, 7:54 a.m: The Arlington County Board voted Monday to accept $420,000 in funds from the state to support Arlington Transit. ART bus service has been severely restricted in recent weeks — along with other transit options in the region. ART is currently operating eight routes, on Saturday schedules, and rides are free.

Transit ridership around the region has plummeted — along with revenue. Metro reports a 90% drop in rail ridership, and a 75% drop in bus ridership. In addition to the decline in fare revenue, transit agencies are also facing increased costs from cleaning and sanitizing fleets and stations, and taking extra steps to protect workers.

In Virginia, the Commonwealth Transportation Board authorized funds to offset this — each local transit operator can get the equivalent of one month of operating revenue. Arlington lawmakers voted 4-0 to accept the grant. — Jacob Fenston

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s state of emergency declaration triggered Virginia’s Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Virginia Attorney General Sends Warnings To Businesses Against Price Gouging

March 31, 7:47 a.m.: Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced Tuesday that his office is taking further steps to crack down on price gouging in the state.

So far, Herring’s Consumer Protection office has sent 42 warning letters to businesses that have been the subject of complaints by residents claiming they have hiked prices illegally.

“It is unfortunate that businesses will take advantage of a situation like a public health crisis to try and make more money off of necessary goods like hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, face masks, or water,” Herring said in a news release. “Price gouging will not be tolerated here.”

The letters explain that the attorney general’s office has the authority to investigate possible violations and to seek restitution for consumers, as well as recover civil penalties, attorney’s fees and expenses.

Herring’s warning letters come after Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia on March 12, triggering the state’s Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act, which prohibits a supplier from charging “unconscionable prices” for “necessary goods and services” during the 30-day period following a declared state of emergency.

Items and services covered by these protections include water, ice, food, cleaning products, hand sanitizers, medicines, personal protective gear and more. A price is deemed “unconscionable” if the post-disaster price grossly exceeds what was charged for the same goods or services 10 days immediately before the disaster.

Herring and 32 other attorneys general also have urged companies such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Craigslist to step up their monitoring of possible price gouging.

Consumers in Virginia can contact Herring’s Consumer Protection Section for information or to file a complaint with the office’s online form. —Kavitha Cardoza

More Stories From Monday

NIH, Flickr
The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. NIH / Flickr

28 NIH Staffers Test Positive For Coronavirus

March 30, 8:45 p.m.: The National Institutes of Health confirmed that 28 of its staffers have tested positive for coronavirus as of March 27. The NIH said the cases are accounted for in Montgomery County’s numbers, which are now at 341 positive cases.

“With almost 40,000 staff, NIH anticipated and prepared for the impact of the novel coronavirus on staff and operations,” an emailed statement to WAMU said.

Once someone in an NIH facility tests positive, the facility is temporarily closed and disinfected.

“NIH conducts contact-tracing for NIH staff who had close contact [with] that individual,” NIH outlined in the email, “and those individuals are asked to self-quarantine at home if their exposure constitutes a significant risk of infection.”

Eligible NIH staffers can telework through May 1. — Carmel Delshad

Alissa Eckert, Dan Higgins, CDC
A CDC illustration. Alissa Eckert, Dan Higgins, CDC

94 New Positive Cases Of Coronavirus In D.C.

March 30, 8:10 p.m.: Officials in D.C. announced an additional 94 positive cases of the coronavirus, bringing the District’s total to 495. More than 3,750 people have been tested overall.

In Virginia, 1,020 people have tested positive, and more than 12,000 people have been tested.

Maryland is reporting 1,413 positive cases, the majority of which are in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. — Carmel Delshad

Department of Justice, AP
This photo provided by the Department of Justice shows U.S. Attorney for D.C. Timothy J. Shea. Department of Justice, AP

U.S. Attorney For D.C. Warns Residents To Avoid Coronavirus Scams (And There Are Plenty)

March 30, 8:00 p.m.: There’s always a scam. And when it comes to the coronavirus, there’s apparently many possible scams. That’s according to U.S. Attorney for D.C. Timothy J. Shea, who is warning D.C. residents to be on the lookout for scammers and grifters looking to use the coronavirus pandemic to their advantage.

There are treatment scams, where people offer to sell fake cures for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, or try and impersonate government agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention “urging people to reserve a vaccine for COVID-19.” No such vaccine exists.

Or scams offering home tests for the virus, scams where prescriptions are written for other medications that are alleged to cure COVID-19, and scams where $1,000 checks from the federal recovery bill are used as bait to get people to provide personal information over the phone, which can lead to identity theft.

Shea says that if anyone suspects a scam, they should report it to the U.S. Attorney’s office at 202-252-7022. — Martin Austermuhle

Kimberly Smith, CDC
The nursing home in Mount Airy, Maryland, is also reporting 11 new cases of the coronavirus. Kimberly Smith / CDC

Second Death At Mount Airy Nursing Home

March 30, 6:11 p.m.: A second Pleasant View Nursing Home resident has died, according to the Carroll County Health Department. The man was in his 80s.

The nursing home in Mount Airy, Maryland, is also reporting 11 new cases of the coronavirus. Over the weekend, 66 residents tested positive. 18 residents have tested negative. These new cases bring the total of positive cases at the facility up to 77. The facility has 104 beds in total, and 95 current residents. 16 patients are currently hospitalized.

On Sunday, another resident — this time a man in his 90s — died, after testing positive for the coronavirus.

In a press release, the Carroll County Health Department said a medic unit from Maryland’s National Guard would deploy to Pleasant View to help assess and triage sick residents. The health department will also send more staff to the facility to assist. On Sunday, health officer Ed Singer said Pleasant View was having trouble maintaining adequate staffing levels to care for the coronavirus cases already on the premises.

The response at Pleasant View is also being supported by the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association, the Mount Airy Fire Department, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. — Margaret Barthel

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and other senators from Maryland and Virginia say they are unhappy with how the Senate coronavirus aid bill treated the District. Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

Following Maryland And Virginia, D.C. Issues Stay-At-Home Order

March 30, 4:45 p.m.: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday afternoon issued a formal stay-at-home order to residents, following the lead of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Virginia Gov. Northam, who did so earlier in the day.

The order restates what city and health officials have been saying for weeks: Residents should stay at home as much as possible. But like every stay-at-home order across the country, it also carves out exceptions for essential activities like grocery shopping, medical appointments, and “allowable recreational activities,” which include walking and riding bikes—provided social distancing norms are otherwise observed.

Anyone who willingly violates the order could face up to 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, similar to the possible penalties in Virginia and Maryland. Just last weekend authorities in Maryland arrested a man in Charles County for refusing to disband a bonfire celebration at his house attended by 60 people. — Martin Austermuhle

D.C. Opens Testing Site For First Responders

March 30, 11:20 a.m.: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday that the District is launching a coronavirus testing site specifically for corrections officers and first responders.

The site will be for members of the Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Department of Corrections, and Fire and Emergency Medical Services who have been referred to get tested for COVID-19 by a doctor, Bowser said. Bowser did not specify the location for the site, but said first responders “will be directed to the site by their doctors.”

By the end of the week, Bowser said the city would also establish a drive-through testing center at United Medical Center for residents.

“Our message remains the same: stay home,” said Bowser. “The only reason to leave is to buy groceries, pick up medicine, exercise with your own family, seek medical attention, or perform an essential job.”

As of Monday morning, 14 D.C. FEMS members have tested positive for coronavirus, while 177 are in quarantine; five MPD officers have tested positive, and 161 are in quarantine; one member of the Department of Corrections has tested positive, and 17 are quarantined, Deputy Mayor Kevin Donahue said.

“A lot of sacrifices have been made and these sacrifices will save lives,” Bowser said. “Today, I want to emphasize a very important point: If you’re not feeling well, have symptoms of COVID-19, call a healthcare provider, and stay home.” — Elliot Williams

Montgomery County continues to have the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Maryland. U.S. Navy / Flickr

Confirmed Cases In Maryland Jump To 1,413

March 30, 11:15 a.m.: Maryland reported 1,413 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday morning, adding 174 cases in just one day.

Montgomery County was among those reporting the highest number of cases with 341 reported cases. Prince George’s County reported the next-highest number of cases at 294, followed by Baltimore County at 186, Baltimore City at 152 and Anne Arundel County at 110.

Maryland has reported 15 coronavirus-related deaths; 353 people have been hospitalized because of coronavirus since the outbreak began. — Kavitha Cardoza

Stay At Home Order Issued In Maryland

March 30, 11:00 a.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced a new, updated “stay-at-home” order on Monday that would require all residents to stay at home unless they are getting food, medical attention or another necessary purpose.

Failure to comply could result in a $5,000 fine and/or jail time.

Similar orders have been put in states and local jurisdictions hardest hit by the coronavirus epidemic like California. Read more about this story here.

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Five federal employees are seeking hazard pay because they say they worked with or in close proximity to COVID-19. Blogtrepreneur / Flickr

Five Federal Workers Seek Hazard Pay Following COVID-19 Exposure

March 30, 10:20 a.m.: Five federal workers have filed a class action lawsuit against the government, seeking hazard duty pay because they worked “with or in close proximity to objects, surfaces and/or individuals infected with the coronavirus.”

Heidi Burakiewicz is a partner at the DC law firm, Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, and the lead attorney on the lawsuit. She says the five plaintiffs include a food inspector who came in contact with two employees with COVID-19, another is a medical technician who was exposed and contracted the coronavirus, and prison guards who were exposed to infected inmates.

“It’s a really scary situation,” Burakiewicz said.

Burakiewicz says the Code of Federal Regulations stipulates that agencies shall pay a 25% hazard duty pay when general employees work with or in close proximity to “virulent biologicals.” She says they are also entitled to “environmental differential pay,” which can be 4% or 8% of their base pay. Burakiewicz says there are other employees who are currently working in conditions that are not covered, but should be, such as TSA agents and screeners at airports.

The lawsuit was filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims electronically on Friday in conjunction with AFGE, a government employee union. Burakiewicz estimates the class action lawsuit will cover more than 100,000 federal employees.

The government has 60 days to respond. —Kavitha Cardoza 

Sahar Sarshar
People gather at The Wharf in the afternoon of March 14. Sahar Sarshar / WAMU

People Gathered Outdoors In D.C. This Weekend, Bucking Social Distancing Guidelines

March 30, 8:36 a.m.: With temperatures reaching 70 degrees yesterday, some people ignored the District’s social distancing guidelines as they gathered outside at Logan Circle, Lincoln Park, the fish market by The Wharf, Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park and the C&O trail by Anglers Hill. The District has been working to keep people from gathering at popular spots such as the Tidal Basin in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

On Sunday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated the District a “major disaster area” as the number of cases continues to rise, and Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered security from the public school system to patrol city parks and break up groups.

Bowser called for “no large gatherings over 10 and no group exercises like soccer, basketball and other group sports” earlier in the week during a press conference. “It is critical that we are all working together to stop the spread,” the mayor said.

Brooke Pinto, a candidate for Ward 2 DC Council, shared photos on Twitter of people gathering in groups in Logan Park over the weekend. “We need to heed the advice of the CDC and DC health officials to maintain 6ft distance,” Pinto said in a tweet. —Kavitha Cardoza 

For more on how coronavirus has impacted the D.C. region, see these updates from the week of March 23-29.

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