Coronavirus Latest: Hogan Signs Order Speeding Up Release Of Hundreds Of Inmates

Hogan pulls another $250 million from the state’s rainy day fund for economic relief.

April 19, 4:50 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has signed an executive order expediting the release of hundreds of inmates at state correctional facilities.

Hogan’s order accelerates the release of those who were already eligible to be released within the next four months, and speeds up the processing of inmates who have been deemed eligible for home detention.

The order also instructs the state’s Parole Commission to expedite parole consideration for inmates older than 60 who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes, have maintained a good record and have an approved home plan. Victims and the state attorneys who last prosecuted the inmates must also be given notice before an inmate is released.

“It is in the public interest to prevent inmates’ exposure to the novel coronavirus by expeditiously moving them to alternative places of confinement, such as in supervised community placement or their homes,” Hogan’s order reads.

Hogan’s order does not apply to prisoners convicted of sexual crimes or those who have displayed COVID-19 symptoms.

Advocacy groups, inmates’ families and state Attorney General Brian Frosh called on Hogan to release nonviolent inmates at local and state correctional institutions amid the rapid spread of coronavirus at facilities across the state. The Baltimore Sun reported last week that at least 136 cases have been reported across the state’s 10 prisons. –Mary Tyler March

D.C. Department Of Corrections Must Change Conditions Inside D.C. Jail, Judge Rules

April 19, 4:35 p.m., updated 8:35 p.m.: A federal judge ruled Sunday that the D.C. Department of Corrections must make immediate changes to conditions within the D.C. Jail, following a lawsuit filed by inmates over the department’s response to the coronavirus.

The class-action lawsuit alleged that the DOC has not adequately screened or tested inmates for the coronavirus, and that it has not done enough to prevent the virus from spreading. Eighty-nine inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, according to District data. As of Sunday, 39 inmates were in isolation, 50 have so far recovered and one person has died as a result of the disease.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said in her opinion that the jail has not addressed social distancing adequately.

“The risks of contracting COVID-19 are very real for those both inside and outside DOC facilities,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote. “However, Plaintiffs have produced evidence that inadequate precautionary measures at DOC facilities have increased their risk of contracting COVID-19 and facing serious health consequences, including death.”

Among the changes the DOC must make: enforce social distancing; add cleaning supplies to each unit; schedule and enforce cleaning; educate staff and inmates about COVID-19; and expedite sick call requests.

“The Court rightly found, based on evidence from prisoners, staff, and the report of two independent experts, that DOC has shown deliberate indifference to prisoners’ health and safety,” Scott Michelman, the legal director of ACLU-DC, said in a statement.

Correctional officers are also suing the department, claiming that the agency is actively putting correctional officers at deadly risk from exposure to the coronavirus. Twenty-six officers tested positive for the coronavirus, according to D.C. data.

WAMU/DCist has reached out to the D.C. Department of Corrections for comment. —Carmel Delshad

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White announced on Instagram that his grandmother died of COVID-19. Street Sense Media / Flickr

D.C. Councilmember’s Grandmother Dies Of COVID-19

April 19, 1:15 p.m.: Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White is mourning the death of his grandmother Veronica Norman due to COVID-19.

“Veronica Norman you are a strong soul,” White wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday, adding that she “served this community unwavering with a commitment to helping others until her last day.”

Norman worked at St. Elizabeths Hospital, the city’s only public psychiatric facility, for 40 years, White said. “We advised her to retire and go home so many times, but her love and commitment for her patients kept pulling her out of bed,” he wrote. White was not immediately available for further comment.

It’s unclear whether Norman was currently working for St. Elizabeths, which has seen four patients die of COVID-19 and 56 staffers test positive, according to city data released on April 18.

It’s also unclear if Norman is counted among the five COVID-19 deaths that the city reported for April 18. Of the total 96 lives lost to the disease in D.C., 75 of the deceased have been African American.

With 354 positive cases, Ward 8 accounts for about 13 percent of the city’s known cases, according to the most recent D.C. data. — Rachel Kurzius

Data updated as of 10:12 a.m. on April 19. Chris Tylec / WAMU

Region Reports Decrease In New Positive Cases Compared To Yesterday

April 19, 11:20 a.m: Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. all reported fewer new cases of coronavirus today than they did yesterday. This comes after a week of steady increases in positive cases in the region.

Maryland reported 522 confirmed positive cases in the last 24 hours, down from 736 yesterday, and an additional 23 deaths, for a total of 486 deaths. The total number of positive cases in Maryland is 12,830. Prince George’s remains the county with the highest number of positive cases.

The District reported 127 new cases, 63 fewer cases than were reported yesterday. The total number of positive cases in D.C. is now 2,793. D.C. reported five additional COVID-19-related deaths, all of individuals over the age of 60. Racial disparities persist in D.C.’s figures: Black Washingtonians, who make up about 46% of D.C.’s overall population, account for 78% of COVID-19-related deaths.

Virginia’s latest case numbers have been on a downward trend over the last three days, with 484 new positive cases as of today, down from 602 on April 17th. Virginia has reported 8,537 cases and 277 deaths in total. The majority of positive cases are in Fairfax County. — Victoria Chamberlin

Residents of Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. are all currently under stay-at-home orders. Steve Helber / AP Photo

Virginia And Maryland Governors Agree: Not Enough Tests, Despite President’s Claims

April 19, 10:15 a.m.: The governors of Virginia and Maryland are pushing back against recent protests to reopen businesses in their states, and against the president’s encouragement of those demonstrations.

In back-to-back interviews on CNN this morning, Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia and Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said that testing for the coronavirus has not ramped up enough to safely reopen commerce in the region.

Small protests in Annapolis and Richmond over the past few days mirrored conservative demonstrations nationwide against the restrictions put into place to stop the spread of the virus. President Donald Trump mentioned Northam specifically in his press conference on Saturday, and has tweeted to “LIBERATE” three battleground states with lockdown orders in place, including Virginia.

“Our president has been unable to deliver on tests,” Northam, a Democrat, said on CNN. “Now he has chosen to focus on protests.”

Northam characterized the president’s claims that governors had sufficient access to tests as “just delusional … We have been fighting every day for [personal protective equipment] … We’ve been fighting for testing. We don’t even have enough swabs, believe it or not.”

Hogan, a Republican, agreed that states still don’t have the testing they need. He characterized the lack of testing as “the number one problem in America, and has been since the beginning … It’s not accurate to say, ‘There’s plenty of testing out there and governors should just get it done.’”

He noted that the president’s policy states that jurisdictions should not consider rescinding their stay-at-home orders until there have been 14 days of declining numbers for positive cases of COVID-19. In the D.C. region, though the numbers are increasing, Hogan said.

Hogan said that it’s “not helpful to encourage demonstrations and encourage people to go against the president’s own policy.”—Rachel Kurzius

José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen To Purchase 1 Million Meals From Local Restaurants

April 18, 8:51 p.m.: World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit owned by local celebrity chef Jose Andrés, announced on Friday it will purchase 1 million meals from small local restaurants to help them survive lockdowns necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

“WCK will then deliver those meals with partners to families, seniors, healthcare workers & more,” the organization tweeted.

This is far from the first charity work Andrés and his nonprofit have taken on since the pandemic began. World Central Kitchen also helped feed passengers quarantined on the Diamond Princess, a Japanese cruise ship that experienced a major outbreak of the virus in February. The chef also turned several of his restaurants into community kitchens, meant to offer “affordable plates of the day” for takeout.

In Brooklyn, World Central Kitchen handed out 650 bags of fruit and vegetables to families on Saturday. –Natalie Delgadillo

Two additional employees working at the Columbia Heights Giant have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. BeyondDC / Flickr

Two More Columbia Heights Giant Employees Reported Positive For COVID-19

April 18, 7:21 p.m.: A total of three employees at the Giant in Columbia Heights have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from Giant Food.

The first infection was confirmed at the beginning of this month. That employee hasn’t worked at the store since March 19, a Giant Food spokesperson told WAMU at the time. Three other employees were quarantined as a result of that case, the company said.

The second employee to test positive last worked at the store on April 1, and the third last worked a week ago, on April 11. FOX 5 first reported the new cases.

Jonathan Williams, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 400, the union representing Giant employees, tells DCist that the union is only aware of two cases, but “it’s possible there is a third that has not been reported to us.” Williams says some workers are still having trouble accessing tests, and the union has been lobbying Mayor Muriel Bowser to declare grocery store employees first responders so that they have priority access to testing.

Giant told the outlet that it is cleaning and disinfecting portions of the store, and has notified employees who may have come into contact with the people who got sick. The employees who tested positive are getting sick pay, FOX reports.

The Giant in Columbia Heights is located at 1345 Park Road, NW Washington DC.

Grocery workers in stores around the area have been falling ill with COVID-19. A grocery worker at a Giant in Largo died of the disease earlier this month. The Trader Joe’s location on 14th Street closed for a period this month after an employee tested positive, and a number of Logan Circle Whole Foods employees have also tested positive. –Natalie Delgadillo

Protesters parked their cars in the streets around Hogan’s mansion on Saturday, calling for him to reopen the state. Steve Ruark / AP Photo

Protesters Cause Gridlock On Streets Around Maryland Governor’s Mansion

April 18, 2:43 p.m.: Protesters in Maryland’s capital Saturday parked their cars in the streets around Gov. Larry Hogan’s mansion with calls to reopen the state by May 1.

With 736 new positive cases of coronavirus in the state and 38 more fatalities Saturday, protesters parked their cars in the traffic circle around the governor’s mansion in Annapolis, honked their horns, and held signs with the hashtag #ReopenMaryland, videos of the protest show. Protests began with an online petition asking Hogan to reopen businesses, schools, and religious institutions.

“Besides being a loss of jobs and vital tax revenue, a shuttered business is a shattered dream. We can preserve those dreams AND protect our citizens,” Pokomoke City spokesperson Caryn Abbott told WJZ News in a statement.

Earlier this week, Hogan said he was starting to make plans for the state’s recovery post-pandemic, but said those plans would depend on expanding testing capacity, increasing hospital surge capacity, ramping up supply of personal protective gear, and building a robust contact tracing operation. On Friday, small protests in Virginia were also held on Richmond’s capitol lawn asking Gov. Ralph Northam to reopen the state. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

Data updated as of 10:23 a.m. on 4/18. Chris Tylec / WAMU

COVID-19 Deaths Have More Than Doubled From Last Week

April 18, 11:19 a.m.: Fatalities in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia related to COVID-19 have more than doubled from one week ago, climbing to 812 deaths.

The total number of confirmed cases across the three states now stands at 23,027, up 58% since last week. The daily counts show that new confirmed cases have continued to rise at a fairly steady level this week, with cases increasing by 7% from yesterday.

Maryland reported 38 deaths and another 736 new positive cases this morning. In total, the state has registered a total of 463 deaths and 12,308 cases, with more than a quarter in Prince George’s County.

Virginia saw an increase of 27 deaths and another 562 people testing positive, bringing its totals to 8,053 cases and 258 deaths. Fairfax County continues to report the highest levels of cases, testing and hospitalizations in the commonwealth.

The District reported five fatalities and another 190 positive cases, bringing the city’s totals to 91 deaths and 2,666 confirmed cases. Ward 4 has the highest number of cases in the city, and the data continues to show major racial disparities. Black Washingtonians currently account for 78 percent of deaths in the city. –Rachel Sadon and Dominique Maria Bonessi

In Prince George’s County, A Previously Closed Hospital Will Reopen For COVID-19 Patients

April 17, 9:14 p.m.: Parts of Laurel Regional Hospital in Prince George’s County will reopen next week to accommodate COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization.

Joseph Wright, who leads the University of Maryland Medical Center, told reporters from the Washington Post and WTOP that the facility was opening to “redistribute the surge” of patients in the county’s critical-care units.

Laurel Regional Hospital, which used to be a full-service facility, had previously downsized and transitioned to a focus on outpatient care — a decision that was unpopular with some local officials at the time. Now, the facility will reopen floors that were previously closed and start providing inpatient care to people suffering from COVID-19. It will start next week with 10 critical care beds — beds that have ventilators — and 36 beds without ventilators. The facility could ultimately grow to have 135 beds available, the Post reported.

Prince George’s County has more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more deaths from the disease than any other county in the state. Montgomery County has the second-highest number of cases and deaths. Statewide, 2,612 people have been hospitalized with the virus, and 425 people have died. —Jenny Gathright

The D.C. Superior Court will triple funding of food and emergency shelter for victims of certain crimes in the city. Martin Austermuhle / WAMU

D.C. Temporarily Increases Compensation For Crime Victims Because Of Court Delays

April 17, 7:46 p.m.: D.C.’s Superior Court will temporarily triple the amount of funding certain crime victims in the city receive for emergency food and housing as they go through their court cases.

Typically, victims of some violent crimes, including survivors of domestic violence, are given a maximum of $3,000 dollars to spend on emergency housing and $400 for food costs. Under the new resolution issued by Chief Judge Robert E. Morin and the court’s Board of Judges, people will be able to receive awards of $9,000 for temporary emergency housing and $750 for food.

Hearings for civil protection orders and other court proceedings have been delayed by the pandemic, which means that victims of violent crime find themselves needing emergency assistance for longer periods of time. As hearings in court cases related to domestic violence have been delayed, D.C. Superior Court has automatically extended stay away and protection orders.

Domestic violence shelters have continued to operate during the pandemic, and can be reached in the following ways:

D.C. Department of Human Services 24-hour shelter hotline at 202-399-7093.

District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) at 202-290-2356 ext. 101

D.C. Victims Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC.

Anyone in immediate danger can call the SAFE Crisis Response Team at 800-407-5048. –Jenny Gathright

The ACLU is suing Virginia over its absentee voting requirement that could make it difficult for some people to vote while social distancing. Matt Rourke / AP Photo

ACLU Challenges Virginia’s Witness Requirement For Absentee Voting

April 17, 6:20 p.m.: The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today challenging Virginia’s requirement that voters get a witness signature when filling out their absentee ballots.

In Virginia, voters must open, fill out, and seal their absentee ballots in front of a witness and have this person sign the envelope before it gets mailed in. But with Virginia under a stay-at-home order, the plaintiffs argue this requirement poses a health risk and threatens to disenfranchise people who live alone and don’t have any witnesses around.

The lawsuit asks the court to block enforcement of Virginia’s witness rule while emergency orders are in place or while public health experts continue to urge social distancing.

The ACLU filed this action on behalf of the League of Women Voters and three individual voters — all of whom live alone and fear the witness requirement will prevent them from voting so long as coronavirus remains a threat.

The suit is filed against the Virginia State Board of Elections and its officers, as well as the commissioner of the Virginia department of elections. A spokesperson for the department did not respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit argues the witness rule will disenfranchise thousands of voters, particularly groups like older adults, people with disabilities, and black voters who are at serious risk of contracting COVID-19. The ACLU cites census data showing that more than a quarter of Virginians 18 and older live alone, and nearly a third of them over 65 live by themselves.

“The witness requirement is not worth this massive disenfranchisement of Virginia voters,” the lawsuit says. The attorneys argue that while election security is important, the signature requirement does little to further this interest. They also note Virginia is one of only 11 states with this requirement.

“[W]hatever additional marginal benefits the witness requirement may offer, such benefit is greatly outweighed by the risk of disenfranchisement.”

Julia Tanner, the advocacy coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Virginia, says the signature rule is an unfair burden on Virginians’ ability to vote.

“We believe that no one should be forced to choose between their personal safety or their right to vote,” she said.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has made similar statements himself. Last week, he moved to postpone upcoming elections, and he’s encouraging voters to request absentee ballots.

Northam pushed the state’s June 9 primary back two weeks, June 23. He also wants to postpone local and special elections scheduled for May until November, but that plan requires approval from the General Assembly.

Tanner believes that, in addition to lifting the witness requirement, Virginia can do more to safeguard its elections during the pandemic. For example, she says voter education will be critical and would like to see the state mail every voter an absentee ballot, without their having to request one. –Hannah Schuster

Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced Maryland schools will remain closed through May 15, but the state has not made a decision about the rest of the academic year. Brian Witte / AP Photo

Maryland Schools To Stay Shut Through May 15

April 17th, 3:55 p.m: Maryland schools will remain closed through May 15, but the state has not made a decision about the rest of the academic year, according to Gov. Larry Hogan and state Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon.

“We will use this time to examine every option to develop a long-term time for recovery,” Salmon said. She said school districts will be required to submit descriptions of learning plans, staff and student roles, accountability and assessment plans, and a plan for how each school system intends to deal with students who have exceptional needs.

Salmon said an additional $207 million from the federal government “will help address gaps in the availability of resources.” She said the state is looking into using summer school to help fill gaps in students’ education.

Unlike Maryland, D.C. and Virginia have called off school for the rest of the academic year.

For his part, Hogan said he does not think the state is ready to open up yet, but he said he is “beginning to see some hopeful and encouraging signs, which have allowed us to begin laying the groundwork to reopen, rebuild and recover as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Hogan also announced several million dollars for Maryland companies to assist with manufacturing protective equipment, respirators and ventilators for use in hospitals, and $4 million dollars for the Maryland Food Bank and Capital Area Food Bank. —Victoria Chamberlin

George Soros is the founder of the Open Society Foundations, which gave more than $1 million to D.C. Francois Mori / AP

Open Society Foundations Give $1 Million To Help Undocumented Workers And Others In D.C.

April 17, 2:40 p.m.: The Open Society Foundations said Friday they’re giving more than $1 million to help families and individuals in D.C. who might not otherwise be eligible for unemployment benefits or other types of financial assistance.

Of the total donation from the George Soros-founded group, $250,000 will be directed to AYUDA, an immigrant-rights organization that has created a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to assist low-income immigrants with food, housing and direct cash assistance.

Another $250,000 of Open Society’s donation will go to the People’s Bailout Fund to help unemployed and under-employed residents, $250,000 more will go to groups that work with people who are returning to the community from incarceration, and the remaining $300,000 will go to organizations focusing on health care for low-income communities.

The AYUDA grant highlights the plight of undocumented workers in the city, which has become a political issue since the D.C. Council did not include a provision in a recent emergency bill to provide them financial assistance akin to unemployment benefits. While some city leaders expressed concern over the price tag of such an initiative, others argued that a grant program could cost as little as $5 million and would benefit workers in a number of vital industries, like restaurants and child care.

Since then, there have been private efforts to raise funds to help undocumented workers — including one push from Sanctuary DMV to have people donate part or all of their recovery checks from the federal government. As of Friday, that fund had raised more than $240,000. Events D.C., the city’s sports and convention authority, also created its own $5 million fund to help workers who won’t otherwise get financial assistance.

The foundation said it decided to donate money to D.C. in part because the city was shortchanged in the federal recovery bill, where it was classified as a territory and thus got 750 million less in direct aid than each of the 50 states.

“The Open Society Foundations are stepping up because this is a time to rally on behalf of those most in need and for the civic organizations striving to reduce structural inequalities in the District of Columbia,” said executive director Tom Perriello in a statement. —Martin Austermuhle

Michael Miller, 60, helped manage the fleet of Ride On buses, and is the first county employee who has died as a result of the novel coronavirus. Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

Montgomery County Department of Transportation Employee Dies Due To COVID-19

April 17, 1:26 p.m.: An employee with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation died Wednesday from complications related to COVID-19, the department announced in a press release. Michael Miller, 60, helped manage the fleet of Ride-On buses and is the first county employee who has died as a result of the novel coronavirus. County Executive Marc Elrich ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff in his memory.

“Mike worked hard every day to make sure buses left the depot in good condition, and on time, to serve the residents of Montgomery County,” MCDOT Director Chris Conklin said in the release. “All of his co-workers in the Silver Spring/Bethesda Depot and the Department of Transportation are mourning the loss of a great friend and colleague.”

MCDOT Depot Chief Andre Lucas added, “He was particularly appreciated for his infectious smile and caring personality, his dedication to his fellow co-workers and his job duties. He was much appreciated for his willingness to go above and beyond at any moment to get the job done.” Miller is survived by his wife, Donna, and their kids.

Miller had worked for the county since 2011 and had been out sick from work since March 30. The county learned of his COVID-19 diagnosis on April 7. Montgomery County had already been implementing increased cleaning and social distancing measures.

After learning an employee had tested positive for COVID-19, workspaces in the Silver Spring/Bethesda depot were isolated and cleaned. Employees were also made aware that they may have been exposed to the virus.

A representative for MCDOT did not immediately respond to DCist’s request for comment about whether other department employees had tested positive for COVID-19 at this time. — Nathan Diller

Inova Hospital System Tells Employees They Can’t Bring Their Own N95 Masks

April 17, 12:48 p.m.: Officials at Inova, Northern Virginia’s largest hospital system, have banned staff from using N95 masks they bring from home, reports the Washington Post.

A spokesperson for the hospital system told the outlet that the ban is to ensure the quality of the respirator masks. The system provides only “hospital-grade, quality-assured products,” the spokesperson said, and officials can’t be sure that masks bought from other places fit the same standards.

The policy comes in the midst of a national shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE, which has hospitals on edge about their supply running out.

Inova hospital staff treating a number of COVID patients were given surgical masks and face shields, but not N95 respirators, three staff members told the Post. They brought their own from home until they were told they’d have to remove the masks or leave, the outlet reports.

The three employees told the Post that the policy is not enforced consistently and comes with the threat of being dismissed.

“It made me feel like I wanted to cry,” one of the employees, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared retribution, told the outlet. “It was either choosing between my safety or my job.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it is not always required to wear N-95 masks in order to treat COVID-19 infected patients, the Inova spokesperson clarified with the Post. Such masks should be prioritized for people performing intubations and other procedures that generate aerosols, tiny virus-laden particles that can hang suspended in the air.

The hospital system has 18,000 employees providing services to 2 million people at five hospitals around the region. —Dominique Maria Bonessi

D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee Tyrone Turner / DCist/WAMU

D.C. Students Will Not Return To Class This School Year

April 17, 12:17 p.m.: Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday ordered all public schools in D.C. closed for the rest of the academic year. [See full story here.]

Students in D.C. Public Schools, which educates about 50,000 students, will not return to class until at least after May, Bowser said at a news conference. The city’s charter schools, which educate nearly half of the city’s public school students, will also stay closed.

Bowser said the school year will end on May 29 — three weeks early — for DCPS students. The charter campuses are expected to end school around the same time.

Students in D.C. have been out of class since March 16. Earlier this week, Bowser extended the closures until May 15, to align with an order directing residents to stay at home.

Twenty-six states, including Virginia, have canceled in-person classes for the rest of the academic year. Maryland has not yet moved to close schools past April 24. The closures affect nearly half of the country’s 50 million public school students.

Many school systems, including D.C. Public Schools, have moved classes online. But virtual learning has created challenges and exacerbated the city’s inequities.

Some students do not have computers or WiFi to complete assignments, which the school system has tried to address by distributing laptops and raising money for devices. Educators and parents also worry students, especially those who have special needs, will not receive the same level of instruction from home. —Debbie Truong

Fatalities Rise By 9% In D.C., Maryland, And Virginia

April 17, 11:23 a.m.: The number of confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in the Washington region continues to rise. There has been about an 8% increase in the number of confirmed cases and an almost 9% increase in fatalities since Thursday.

There are now 21,539 confirmed cases in the region and 742 deaths.

Maryland reported 788 new positive tests this morning, and another 33 deaths. The state has seen a total of 11,572 cases and 425 deaths, with the highest totals in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.

Virginia saw an increase of 602 people testing positive and another 23 deaths since yesterday, bringing its totals to 7,491 cases and 231 deaths. Fairfax County has reported the highest levels of cases, testing and hospitalizations in the commonwealth.

The District reported another 126 positive cases, and another five fatalities. D.C. has reported 2,476 total confirmed cases with 86 deaths overall. —Dominique Maria Bonessi

Starship Technologies’ delivery robot. VCU Capital News Service / Flickr

Fairfax City Kicks Off Pilot Program To Use Robots To Deliver Food And Groceries To Residents

April 17, 8:42 a.m.: A fleet of 20 robot vehicles will start delivering takeout food and groceries to residents of Fairfax City on Friday as part of a pilot program to offer businesses new revenue streams while minimizing human contact during the coronavirus pandemic.

The partnership between the city of 22,000 and San Francisco-based Starship Technologies — maker of the boxy, six-wheel self-driving delivery vehicles — came about as a specific response to the damage the pandemic has done to restaurants and other businesses, which have been forced to shut down to limit transmission of the virus.

“We were in the midst of the COVID crisis and I did a drive around and all these restaurants were closed and I saw they were operating with grab-and-go, but I figured this would be the perfect time to try this,” says Christopher Bruno, the director of the Fairfax City Economic Development Office, which kicked in $10,000 to launch the pilot program.

“It’s not going to solve all their problems, but it’s an additional way to connect with residents,” he adds.

Starship’s delivery robots aren’t new to the region; as far back as 2016, D.C. gave the company the green light to use test them for food delivery in downtown, and last year the robots prowled the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax County. But the pandemic has given them new life — Broad Branch Market in upper Northwest has started using them to deliver groceries to residents, and the company has similarly partnered with Tempe, Arizona on a robot-delivery pilot program.

“There is huge demand for contactless delivery now and our robots are an ideal way for residents to get what they want delivered to their door while supporting local businesses,” said Ryan Tuohy, a vice-president at Starship Technologies, in a statement.

Bruno says the sudden arrival of the pandemic — and its devastating impact on the local economy — sped the process of cementing the partnership and rolling out the delivery robots.

“If these were normal times, this type of thing would have been six to 10 months of planning,” he says, adding that the city’s mayor and council were quick to sign off on the program. “These businesses are struggling, and we need to do anything we can to support them, and this is one tool we have to support them.”

Residents of Fairfax City can see what delivery options are available by downloading the Starship – Food Delivery app. —Martin Austermuhle

Arlington Launches Grant For Struggling Small Businesses

April 16, 6:22 p.m.: Arlington County established a grant Thursday for small businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Businesses and non-profit organizations that employ fewer than 50 workers are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in emergency money, county officials said in a news release. Businesses must demonstrate they lost at least 35 percent in revenue as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

County officials will evaluate the grant applications and score them using a weighted system accounting for factors including how many workers a business employs. The application process is expected to begin in May, the release said.

Preliminary surveys from Arlington Economic Development, a county agency, found more than 90 percent of the county’s small businesses said the coronavirus is “extremely or very disruptive to business operations.” — Debbie Truong

A correctional officer at the D.C. Jail has died of complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Patrick Madden / WAMU

D.C. Correctional Officer Dies Of COVID-19

April 15, 5:15 p.m: A correctional officer at the D.C. Jail has died of complications from COVID-19, the union that represents the officers announced on Thursday.

The Fraternal Order of Police for the D.C. Department of Corrections sent news of the death out via email, but did not identify the officer by name. The latest city statistics show that 19 correctional officers so far have tested positive for the coronavirus, while another 149 are quarantined after showing symptoms or being exposed to the virus.

“The FOP/DOC Labor Committee is saddened to announce the death of one of their members,” reads the email from the law firm that represents the FOP. “We ask God’s blessing on all our members and look forward to a time when we might mourn the tragic and totally avoidable death of our colleague.”

A spokesperson for the FOP declined to offer any further details about the death.

This week, the FOP filed suit against the city in D.C. Superior Court, alleging that it is failing to protect correctional officers at the D.C. Jail from the risk of contracting the coronavirus at work.

One inmate at the D.C. Jail has also died of COVID-19. –Natalie Delgadillo

D.C.’s Board of Elections has already received more than 15,000 requests for absentee ballots. KOMUnews / Flickr

More Than 15,000 D.C. Voters Have Requested Absentee Ballots For June Primary, As City Pushes For Election By Mail

April 16, 2:45 p.m.: The D.C. Board of Elections says it has already received more than 15,000 requests from voters for absentee ballots ahead of the June 2 primary, which city officials want to conduct largely by mail to avoid crowds at polling places.

That’s a small fraction of the almost 500,000 voters on the city’s rolls, but between 5 and 15 percent of the voters who regularly turn out for primary elections in D.C.

“It is tough changing voting habits, but we are pushing really hard. It’s most important that people stay safe and that their votes count,” said Board Chairman Michael Bennett at a Thursday press conference with Mayor Muriel Bowser.

States across the country have been struggling to balance the right of people to cast ballots and the need to keep them safe during the pandemic, and many are shifting to vote-by-mail.

In Maryland, the state’s primary was delayed from April 28 to June 2 — and will now be conducted almost entirely through the mail. Unlike D.C., though, Maryland plans on sending every voter a ballot in the mail. Bennett said the District opted against that, largely because of fears that the complexity of the election might lead to the wrong ballots being sent out. Because local races are at stake, in addition to federal offices, ballots are specific to candidates in each ward.

“The risk of a failed or challenged election was just too high,” Bennett said.

Instead of sending out actual ballots, D.C. will include two paper applications for absentee ballots in a voter guide being sent to every D.C. household. Bennett said any D.C. voter can also request a ballot by phone, online, or using the board’s app. The deadline for a voter to request a ballot is May 26; if they need to change their existing registration, they will need to do so by May 12. Ballots will start going out to voters in early May, and as long as they are postmarked by June 2, they will be counted.

For voters who opt to cast a ballot the traditional way, Bennett said the city will open 20 voting centers from May 22 to June 2. That’s more than the usual number of early voting sites, but down significantly from the 144 voting precincts normally used on Election Day. Masks will be required in vote centers, and Bennett said voting will be staggered alphabetically — voters whose last names start with A to L will vote at designated times, as will voters M to Z.

Bennett said Ward 2 voters should also request an absentee ballot for a special election scheduled for June 16 there. —Martin Austermuhle

Kennedy Center Cancels All Performances Through Late May

April 16, 1:45 p.m.: The Kennedy Center has extended its cancellation of scheduled performances and events through May 22. The announcement follows D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s extension of the District’s stay-at-home order through May 15.

Ticket holders can exchange tickets for a future date or receive a full refund. However, the Kennedy Center is urging patrons to donate back the cost of their tickets instead, as refunding tickets has created what it calls “a significant loss for the institution.” Despite receiving $25 million in federal stimulus funding, the performing arts center has furloughed 60% of its administrative staff and laid off 725 part-time and hourly workers due to budget concerns.

The list of newly canceled performances includes two Sibelius concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra has had a fraught relationship with the Kennedy Center after 96 of its members were furloughed in late March. Lawyers for the musicians called the move a breach of their union contract and filed a grievance. The two sides reached a new deal last week that included a pay cut worth more than $2.5 million. –Mikaela Lefrak

Anne Arundel County ‘s program is one of the few in the region that is directly providing assistance to renters. Tierra Mallorca / Unsplash

Anne Arundel County Creates Eviction Prevention Program

April 16, 11:00 a.m.: Anne Arundel County has launched a new financial assistance program for those who are struggling to pay rent or utility bills because of job loss in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The program, announced Wednesday by County Executive Steuart Pittman, is one of the only in the region that is directly providing assistance to renters.

The Arundel Community Development Services’ eviction prevention program will provide temporary assistance to households with incomes up to 80% of the área median income, that’s about $75,000 for a family of four. The money for the program is from the county’s video lottery terminal proceeds.

“While Maryland courts have suspended evictions and foreclosures for the time being during this crisis, many renters will still owe rent at the end of the day and many landlords will still owe mortgage payments,” said Pittman in a statement. “This program will help people stay on track so that when the moratorium is lifted, they do not have a bigger problem with months of arrears and late fees.”

Applicants to the program will need to provide documentation to prove that their income was disrupted by the pandemic, provide a letter from a landlord that the applicant is in arrears, and show documentation of household income. The application opens Monday, April 20, by calling ACDS at 410-222-7600.

For homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage in the county, they can receive free financial counseling from ACDS.

This week, Montgomery County introduced a bill that would prohibit landlords from raising rents amid the growing public health crisis. Last month, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced a ban on evictions. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

Positive Cases And Deaths Continue To Rise

April 16, 10:50 a.m.: The number of confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in the Washington region continues to rise. There has been a 6% increase in the number of confirmed cases and a 10% increase in fatalities from Wednesday. There are now 20,023 confirmed cases in the region.

Maryland reported 752 new positive tests yesterday, with 43 deaths. The state has seen a total of 10,784 cases and 392 deaths.

Virginia saw an increase of 389 people testing positive with 13 deaths yesterday, bringing its totals to 6,889 cases and 208 deaths.

And in the District, there were 153 more people who tested positive, with 9 fatalities. D.C. has reported 2,350 total confirmed cases with 81 deaths overall.

The highest number of cases in Maryland are in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties while the highest case total in Virginia is in Fairfax County. — Kavitha Cardoza

D.C., Maryland and Virginia have all seen more claims for unemployment benefits in the last month than they saw in all of 2019. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

New Unemployment Claims Continue Upward Climb In D.C. Region

April 16, 8:50 a.m.: An additional 177,450 people filed for unemployment in the Washington region last week, bringing the area’s total to roughly 781,059 claims in the past month — more than twice the number of claims filed in the region in all of 2019.

Data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday revealed that D.C., Maryland and Virginia all saw a slowdown in unemployment claims week-over-week. Maryland saw 48,666 fewer claims filed than the week before, while Virginia recorded 40,646 fewer and the District, 5,425.

In Maryland, 60,823 more people applied for benefits last week, totaling nearly 300,000 applications there since March 15. The state saw 109,489 Marylanders file new claims in the first week of April alone; from March 15 through April 3, some 234,000 people filed for unemployment — more than the 215,000 claims the state reported receiving in all of last year.

In Virginia, 106,723 new claims were filed last week, bringing the commonwealth’s total to around 420,000 since mid-March. Virginians filed 147,369 new claims the week before; there were 134,957 in the commonwealth in all of 2019.

And in D.C., 9,904 more people filed claims last week, seeing the District’s total tick up to roughly 66,500 claims so far. District residents filed 15,329 new claims the week before; 37,720 were filed in 2019.

The region’s trend in unemployment mirrors what’s being seen nationally as the pandemic continues to keep much of the U.S. shuttered. An additional 6.6 million people across the country filed for unemployment benefits in the first week of April — a historic high that has overwhelmed area governments’ ability to process new applications and pay those benefits expeditiously. –Mary Tyler March

Starting Thursday, Bus Riders In Montgomery County Will Have To Wear Face Coverings

April 15, 8:12 p.m.: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has announced that starting on Thursday, April 16, passengers on Ride On buses will have to wear masks or other face coverings, and that they may be prevented from boarding if they don’t comply.

The move adds to other official guidance that people find ways to cover their mouths and noses while outside to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. Earlier this week Montgomery County started requiring shoppers to wear masks or face coverings (D.C. started doing the same a few days earlier, Prince George’s County a few days later), and on Tuesday Metro similarly asked riders to take the precaution before jumping on a train or bus.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Larry Hogan said he would start requiring masks be used statewide in shops and on transit; that order goes into effect on Saturday at 7 a.m. And Mayor Muriel Bowser has also imposed a mask requirement for riders in taxis or ride-hails like Uber or Lyft.

“A face covering can be a homemade cloth mask, a scarf, bandana or other means of snugly covering over the mouth and nose,” said Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation in a statement. “The steps are being taken to help riders performing essential travel protect each other and bus operators during the COVID-19 health crisis. All Ride On bus operators were provided with County-issued face coverings earlier this week.” –Martin Austermuhle

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

Governor Hogan Issues Order Requiring Face Masks In Retail Establishments, On Public Transit

April 15, 4:37 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order on Wednesday requiring people inside retail establishments or riding on public transportation in the state to wear face masks. The order also applies to workers at those businesses. It will go into effect at 7 a.m. on Saturday to give time for planning.

“The wearing of masks is something that we may have to become more accustomed to in order to safely reopen our state,” the governor said.

Hogan said there are signs that social distancing is working in Maryland as hospitalization rates have begun to stabilize over the last few days. He added that the state “is now in a position to plan the gradual rollout of our recovery phase.”

Hogan will provide further details on the state’s reopening next week. But he said that in order to safely reopen, Maryland will have to greatly expand testing capacity to 10,000 tests per day, develop methods for contact tracing, increase hospitals’ capacity, and obtain more personal protective equipment. But no one really knows “when we’re going to get back to normal life,” and “the worst possible thing we could do” would be to reopen too soon, Hogan said.

“Once you let the genie out of the bottle, you can’t put it back in,” Hogan said.

This week Maryland received 1 million additional face shields and 1,000 intensive-care beds. Hogan said that next week the state hopes to receive 4.5 million N-95 masks, 290 oxygen concentrators, and 252 additional ventilators.

Earlier on Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser extended the city’s shutdown to May 15, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam extended Virginia’s to May 8. Gov. Hogan has not put a timeline on his state of emergency. —Marcus Rosenbaum, Dominique Maria Bonessi

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam extended Virginia’s shutdown into May. Steve Helber / AP Photo

Northam Extends Virginia Shutdown Order To May 8

April 15, 2:56 p.m.: Large gatherings and non-essential business operations will remain prohibited in Virginia through May 8, Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday. His decision extends an earlier shutdown order that went into effect on March 24 and was set to expire on April 23.

The order prohibits groups of 10 or more people from gathering, as well as recreational and entertainment businesses, including movie theaters, concert venues, museums, gyms, sports facilities, salons, barbershops, massage parlors, racetracks, zoos, and bowling alleys. Restaurants and other food and drink establishments must also stay closed to on-site patrons, although they can continue to offer delivery and takeout orders.

A separate stay-at-home order for Virginia residents remains in effect until June 10.

Earlier today, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser extended the shutdown order for the city until May 15. —Andrew Giambrone

The IRS launched a website for tracking economic impact payments, but some are having trouble accessing it. Matt Blitz / WAMU

IRS Launches Online Tracking Tool For Economic Impact Payments, But Some Are Having Trouble Accessing It

April 15, 12:54 p.m.: This morning, the IRS officially launched its “Get My Payment” online tool for folks to check the status of their economic impact payments that was part of March’s CARES Act.

Users can also check if they’ll be receiving their payments via direct deposit, mailed check, or whether the IRS needs up to date bank account information.

However, it appears that the tool isn’t working for some. Upon entering the portal, it provides this message: “Due to high demand, you may have to wait longer than usual to access this site. We appreciate your patience.” Then, for some, the site crashes, or states “payment status not available,” or “please try again later.”

IRS “Get My Payment” website has crashed on me 11 times this morning.

— Craig Whitlock (@CraigMWhitlock) April 15, 2020

Used the IRS tool to check my status for the stimulus check and it says “Cannot determine your eligibility at this time.” Glad everything is going smoothly! https://t.co/mGfcBOsimE

— brent but coronavirus 🦠 (@brent858) April 15, 2020

The IRS’s “Get My Payment” tool has been live now for several hours. Earlier in the morning people were receiving error messages due to high demand. https://t.co/IoUfCSgigo

— Ally Versprille (@allyversprille) April 15, 2020

Most Americans are eligible for the economic impact payments. The amount you will receive is based on your 2018 or 2019 taxes and most people do not have to do anything to receive payment.

According to the U.S. Treasury, 80 million Americans will be getting money as early as this week. The agency also expects a large majority of eligible Americans will receive their payments within the next two weeks. –Matt Blitz

April 15, 2020, 11:25 a.m.: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that 14,700 Virginians have signed up for the commonwealth’s Medical Reserve Corps, a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting the health system. But Virginia officials estimate they’ll need as many as 30,000 volunteers total to help local hospitals and long-term care facilities through the expected surge in coronavirus cases.

“The success of our COVID-19 crisis response depends on our ability to mobilize a dedicated healthcare workforce, and we are counting on Virginians to lend a hand and help us battle this virus,” Northam said in a press release. “This is an opportunity to do good for our Commonwealth and save lives.”

Maryland and D.C. are also calling for volunteers for their own medical reserve corps.

The Virginia Medical Reserve Corps accepts medical and non-medical volunteers, though officials are especially looking for nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students to apply. About half of the current volunteer group have medical backgrounds.

Northam’s office is asking Virginia colleges and universities to reach out to students about volunteering, and officials are also contacting people with relevant experience who have recently filed for unemployment benefits.

Virginia colleges and universities are also offering skills training in basic medical skills for prospective volunteers and additional skills training to current medical professionals, including courses on ventilator usage. –Margaret Barthel

Bowser Is Extending The State Of Emergency In D.C. Until May 15

April 15, 11:31 a.m.: Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday that the District is extending its state of emergency order until May 15. The extension is needed to help “flatten the curve” and reduce the number of confirmed cases in D.C., Bowser said.

The order also calls for new measures to protect the District’s most vulnerable populations. Under the mayor’s order, masks are required for hotel workers, guests, and visitors; people using taxis, ride shares, and private transportation services; workers and customers of food sellers; and anyone using public transit. Bowser previously directed shoppers to wear masks in grocery stores.

The city will track data on confirmed coronavirus cases among individuals experiencing homelessness, patients in Saint Elizabeths Hospital, people in custody in the District’s corrections system, and in the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. Bowser also called attention to the racial disparities shown in the data, and said more data needs to be collected to show how the pandemic is affecting black D.C. residents.

As of April 15, black residents make up 46 percent of the positive cases and 75 percent of the COVID-19-related deaths in the District. — Elliot Williams

Death Toll From Coronavirus Now Tops 600 Across D.C., Md., And Virginia

April 15, 10:56 a.m.: A total of 616 people have died from the coronavirus in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, up about 17 percent from yesterday. Virginia and Maryland saw the biggest increases in fatalities.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the three jurisdictions has reached 18,729, and that total has climbed almost 6 percent from Tuesday.

Virginia reported 6,500 total cases today, up about 5 percent from Tuesday. Virginia recorded another 41 deaths from the virus, raising the total to 195 coronavirus fatalities. That’s almost a 27 percent increase from yesterday’s report.

The District added another 139 cases of the coronavirus, up almost 7 percent from yesterday, bringing D.C.’s total confirmed cases to 2,197. That’s about a 7.5 percent rise from Monday’s fatality report. Another 12 people have recovered, 530 people in total.

Maryland reported another 560 cases in the past day for a total of 10,032 coronavirus cases. That’s an uptick of almost 6 percent from Tuesday. Another 47 people have died, bringing total fatalities to 349. That’s an increase of almost 16 percent day-over-day, and is on par with yesterday’s 15 percent increase. No one else has been released from isolation in the past day, but there have been 607 recoveries in the state overall. —Julie Strupp

At Least Half A Dozen Logan Circle Whole Foods Workers Have Contracted Virus

A worker is warning that a number of employees at a Whole Foods have tested positive. Paul Heaberlin / Flickr

April 15, 10:15 a.m. (updated 1 p.m.): A Whole Foods employee has warned that multiple workers have contracted the coronavirus at the Logan Circle location on P Street in northwest D.C. The employee, who spoke to WUSA9 anonymously out of fear of retaliation, said that shoppers were not told about the infections and the store has not been shut down for a deep cleaning.

The worker shared several emails from management to store employees telling them that at least a dozen of their co-workers had tested positive for COVID-19.

“(We) get another email from Amazon, which is HR, saying we have at least 12 people that came down with the epidemic. That’s when I say, ‘OK, I’m not taking any more shifts,'” the anonymous worker told WUSA9. “I was like, ‘This is out of control.’ These people don’t care nothing about us. They just want us to work while people are getting sick.”

The outlet reported that it was only able to independently confirm six cases.

Christa Norris, assistant manager for the Whole Foods on P street, confirms employees had been infected by coronavirus, but would not share how many. She also said every employee who came in contact with the sickened workers has been given 14 days of paid time off to quarantine.

Norris said the grocery store was an “essential service” so their doors are open, but if any employees feels “uncomfortable” they can take unlimited, unpaid personal leave. Norris said Whole Foods “cares about their team members.”

She also said, in addition to daily cleanings, the store has had three “deep cleans,” the last one occurring on April 13. Deep cleaning is when an outside company comes in and wipes down every hard surface in the front and back of the store.

Whole Foods has also created a website which lists their enhanced safety protocols, including social distancing and crowd control inside the store, temperature screenings and requiring employees to wear masks.

Essential businesses in the District are not required by law to notify the public when an employee tests positive for the coronavirus. —Kavitha Cardoza

A new order aims to help prevent spread of coronavirus in Maryland’s detention centers. Blogtrepreneur / Flickr

Maryland Chief Judge Encourages Release Of More Incarcerated People To Protect Them From Coronavirus

April 15, 9:42 a.m.: Maryland’s Court of Appeals has directed all district and circuit court judges in the state to identify incarcerated people most at risk due to the coronavirus and start working towards their potential release. The order applies to people being held pre-trial, before they have been found guilty of a crime, as well as people who are eligible to have their sentences modified.

The order, issued by Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, encourages judges to act quickly to schedule hearings for sentence modification or release from pretrial detention, and to take into account factors like pre-existing conditions and access to medical care in correctional facilities.

The order came a day after a Court of Appeals order asking judges to identify juvenile offenders for potential release.

Maryland’s Department of Safety and Correctional Services announced Monday that the first inmate in state custody had died of COVID-19. He was in his 60s. Maryland Public Defender Paul DeWolfe said in a press release that the death gave calls for decarceration in the state new urgency.

“Even without widespread testing, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state’s prisons and jails is growing exponentially, with the first inmate death reported this past weekend,” said DeWolfe. “The need for [Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbara’s] guidance was imminent.”

Several Maryland jurisdictions, including Prince George’s County, have already been working to reduce the number of people in their jails in response to the coronavirus. —Jenny Gathright

Area Hospitals Aquire Rapid Testing, But Not Enough Kits

April 14, 10:00 p.m.: A WAMU survey of local hospitals and clinics reveals that technology to get test results for COVID-19 in less than 15 minutes is arriving in the region, but that testing kits, reagents and other key supplies remain a constraint to widespread testing.

As of Tuesday, the Maryland Department of Health and D.C. Health said they had some Abbott ID NOW machines, although Maryland had “a limited number of cartridges,” according to a spokesman. D.C. had materials for 1,000 tests. Medstar, Inova and the Virginia Hospital Center said they obtained the machines as well.

Spokespeople for Sentara Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente and Children’s National Hospital said they did not have the Abbot ID NOW system. George Washington University hospital also does not use the Abbott system, according to infectious disease specialist Dr. Hana Akselrod, who works there. Other hospitals did not respond to WAMU questions.

Speaking Tuesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tied widespread testing to her ability to re-open businesses and schools in the city. “We need that type of technology with a lot of media, a lot of sampling kits, to be readily available all across the District,” she told NBC4. –Daniella Cheslow

Gov. Ralph Northam announced a plan to reduce Virginia’s prison population to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Pictured is the Correctional Center for Women in Goochland, Va., where several women have tested positive for COVID-19. Steve Helber / AP Photo

Virginia Department Of Corrections Reports First Inmate Death Due To COVID-19

April 14, 5:30 p.m.: Virginia reported its first death of an inmate from COVID-19 on Tuesday, a 49-year-old woman held in a facility near Richmond. This comes a day after D.C. and Maryland reported their first inmates to perish due to the pandemic.

The Virginia Department of Corrections reported that the inmate was a woman with underlying health conditions including asthma and hepatitis C, and that she had been hospitalized from April 4 until she died Tuesday morning. Officials did not release her name.

The ACLU of Virginia announced last week the formation of the Virginia COVID-19 Justice Coalition to fight for safety measures in prisons, more accountability from state and local governments, and the release of any inmates who do not pose imminent threat of bodily harm to others.

The ACLU has filed suits against Maryland and D.C. corrections authorities due to their handling of COVID-19. The Virginia inmate was serving a nine-year sentence for making methamphetamine, delivering drugs to prison, and larceny, the state DOC said in a statement. She was held in the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Goochland and due to be released in 2023.

Forty-four inmates and 32 staff have active cases of COVID-19, the Virginia DOC said. –Daniella Cheslow

Trash service will be suspended on Emancipation Day this year. Elvert Barnes / Flickr

Trash Pickup Suspended On D.C. Emancipation Day, Emergency Services Will Continue

April 14, 3:31 p.m. – The D.C. Government will observe Emancipation Day on Thursday, April 16, but will maintain most operations that are deemed essential during the coronavirus pandemic, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office announced Tuesday.

All District COVID-19 testing sites, public health operations, emergency shelters, meal and weekday grocery distribution sites will remain open during the holiday. In addition, the District’s unemployment insurance call center will continue operating.

Trash and recycling collection will be pushed back to Friday and Saturday. The District will close all Economic Security Administration service centers and suspend non-emergency construction work in roadways, alleys, and sidewalks during the holiday.

The holiday marks the 158th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which freed more than 3,100 enslaved individuals in Washington. The city has canceled its annual Emancipation Day parade in response to the coronavirus pandemic. — Elliot Williams

Customers form lines outside of a Costco in Arlington, Va. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

April 14, 3:10 p.m.: D.C. officials say they expect to unveil a plan later this week to close portions of streets around certain businesses like supermarkets to better allow people waiting in line to practice social distancing.

On a call with members of the D.C. Council on Tuesday afternoon, City Administrator Rashad Young said the closures—which would effectively widen sidewalks—would happen around essential businesses where crowding can occur when people stand in line to enter.

But it would be a step short of what some advocates have called for: a broader closure of city streets to car traffic, giving pedestrians and cyclists more space to move around while keeping their distance. In one oft-cited example, Oakland has closed 74 miles worth of streets to cars.

D.C. did successfully get the National Park Service to close roads to cars in Rock Creek Park, Anacostia Park, and Fort Dupont Park. Those closures are expected to last through April 30, though Young said the city would monitor usage and could ask NPS to extend them. — Martin Austermuhle

A Montgomery County councilmember has introduced legislation to halt rent increases during Maryland’s state of emergency Tierra Mallorca / Unsplash

Montgomery County Introduces Legislation Prohibiting Rent Increases

April 14, 3:00 p.m.: Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando introduced legislation Tuesday to temporarily prohibit rent increases.

The measure is the extension of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s executive order in March which prohibited evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. The new bill prohibits the county’s landlords from raising rents during the public health crisis. It also prohibits landlords from notifying tenants of rent increases up to 30 days after the end of the state of emergency. Landlords who have already given notice of a rent increase are required to inform their tenant in writing to disregard the notice.

“Our goal is to get people through this crisis healthy. And allow them to continue normal life and stay in their homes,” Jawando said during a press conference on Tuesday. “We don’t want anyone evicted. It’s actually contrary to the health goals if some is supposed to be sheltering in place to be evicted. That creates more problems for other residents.”

Jawando says while many landlords are already complying with the specifics of his bill, there are some landlords in Silver Spring and other areas of the county who have already imposed increases to rent.

The bill will sunset 121 days after Hogan’s state of emergency is lifted. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

Face coverings will now be required for grocery shopping in Prince George’s County. Gilbert Mercier / Flickr

Maryland Counties Require Wearing Face Masks In Essential Businesses

April 14, 12:45 p.m.: Three Maryland counties are requiring customers to wear face masks and imposing measures like fewer customers in stores in order to comply with guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.

Maryland’s Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s Counties have all put these precautionary measures in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Officials clarified that masks should not be N-95 masks already in short supply for hospital workers. Instead, they may be cloth, paper, or some type of homemade face covering.

The strictest measures are coming out of Anne Arundel County, where employees of essential businesses and customers can be fined $500 and face a misdemeanor charge if they do not comply. However, the county’s Health Director Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman clarified the requirement:

“Our goal is to get people to comply with this and to use face masks much more than it is to fine people,” Kalyanaraman said. “We would use our discretion in seeing if there is a business that is not following these enforcement guidelines.”

Last week, Montgomery County withdrew a bill that would fine people who did not wear face masks. But, the county health department is still requiring employees and customers to wear masks in stores and allowing stores to turn customers without them away. Businesses that don’t comply with these measures could face a $500 fine.

Tomorrow an order will go into effect in Prince George’s County requiring customers to wear face masks in stores and on county transit buses.

Maryland’s counties join the District, where an order went into effect last week requiring stores to post signs asking customers to wear masks, creating one-way aisles and limiting customers in stores. Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam strongly advised customers to wear masks, but said he would not require it. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

Mike Mozart

Trader Joe’s In Clarendon Has Again Temporarily Closed Due To An Employee Testing Positive

April 14, 1:15 p.m.: The Trader Joe’s in Clarendon has temporarily closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to ARLNow, which notified customers with a sign on the door. This is the second time in two weeks the Arlington grocery store has closed due to an employee’s COVID-19 diagnosis.

The sign explains the employee was last in the store on April 13, and that they are temporarily closing for “precautionary cleaning and sanitation.” The sign states that as soon as the store “has been fully cleaned and restocked, we plan to reopen.”

The Clarendon Trader Joe’s isn’t the only Arlington grocery store to have employees test positive for COVID-19 in recent days. The Washington Business Journal confirmed that at least two employees at the 32,000 square-foot Whole Foods in Pentagon City also tested positive for COVID-19. However, an employee told WBJ three employees at the grocery store had actually tested positive. The store hasn’t closed yet and, instead, a spokesperson told WBJ that “out of an abundance of caution, the store performed an additional cleaning and disinfection, on top of our current enhanced sanitation measures.” WBJ also reported that three residents in the building that houses the Whole Foods also have tested positive. Additionally, ARLNow said they received a tip about this on April 1 that now seems to be verified by this report.

Down the street, the Pentagon City Costco also may have had an employee test positive for COVID-19, according to a tip that came into ARLNow. While the employee’s last day of work was March 20, according to the tipster, Costco didn’t tell its other employees until April 10.

Costco hasn’t yet responded to ARLNow’s request for comment. —Matt Blitz

D.C. And Maryland Mark Deadliest 24 Hours

April 14, 10:45 a.m. (Updated 11:42 a.m.): The D.C. region has now recorded 525 coronavirus-related deaths, its highest day-over-day increase to date. Maryland and the District have had their deadliest 24 hours so far, with another 40 and 15 coronavirus fatalities, respectively.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in D.C., Maryland and Virginia has reached 17,701. That total is up 6 percent from yesterday.

The District reported 2,058 cases of the coronavirus, up about 5 percent from yesterday. It also had another 15 deaths, for a total of 67. That’s about a 29 percent jump from Monday’s fatality report. So far 518 people have recovered.

All but two of the latest victims in D.C. were black. While 46% of the city’s population is black, a disproportionate 76% of the fatalities have been African American.

These racial disparities are also evident in Maryland, which added more than 500 cases in the past day for a total of 9,472 coronavirus cases. That’s an uptick of about 6 percent from Monday. Another 40 people have died, bringing total fatalities to 302. That’s an increase of about 15 percent from yesterday. Another four people were released from isolation, marking 607 recoveries.

Virginia reported 6,171 total cases today, an increase of about 7 percent from Monday. Virginia recorded another five deaths from the virus, raising the total to 154 coronavirus fatalities. —Julie Strupp

A new order aims to help prevent spread of coronavirus in Maryland’s juvenile detention centers. Blogtrepreneur / Flickr

Maryland’s Highest Court Issues Order To Protect Juvenile Offenders From Coronavirus

April 14, 8:53 a.m.: The Maryland Court of Appeals issued an order late Monday aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 at juvenile detention centers. Maryland judges have been asked to identify juvenile offenders already behind bars for potential release, and to avoid detaining more youth unless it’s necessary to protect their safety or the safety of others.

In her ruling, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera writes that the coronavirus outbreak has created an emergency “that poses a threat of imminent and potentially lethal harm to individuals” who contract it.

Under the order, judges have also been asked to consider whether the youth suffers from a pre-existing condition that makes them more vulnerable to COVID-19, whether the facility they are in is able to address their medical needs and whether there is a “viable alternative plan for detention.”

The order comes as cases of the coronavirus in detention centers around the region continue to rise. —Kavitha Cardoza

More Pleasant View Nursing Home residents have died from COVID-19. Kimberly Smith / CDC

Six More Pleasant View Nursing Home Residents Have Died

April 14, 7:51 a.m.: Six more residents of Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy, Maryland have died, bringing the total number of residents dead from COVID-19 to 24.

More than 80 residents and three dozen staff members have been infected.

According to the latest figures, Carroll County has seen 30 deaths overall with more than 100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. —Kavitha Cardoza

Prince George’s County Opens Applications For Business Relief Fund

April 13, 9:01 p.m.: Prince George’s County has opened its application period for businesses to request financial help. Between today and May 15, small-business owners impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for grants and loans from the county’s Business Relief Fund.

The $15 million pool of money will be used to help businesses with operating expenses like payroll, rent, fixed debt payments and more. Only for-profit businesses are eligible.

Businesses can receive loans of up to $100,000 and grants of up to $10,000, depending on their size. The county says, however, that this fund should not be a business owner’s first choice for financial relief. Owners need to show evidence they have also applied for loans from the federal or state government.

Applicants also need to offer proof their business has experienced disruption. This can include proof of payment deferrals for utilities or documented reductions in staff, according to an FAQ from the county.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced the relief program at the beginning of this month. She called Prince George’s small businesses, “the backbone of our community.”

“It is vitally important that they survive through this crisis,” Alsobrooks said at the time. —Hannah Schuster

The election to replace the late Rep. Elijah Cummings will feature three in-person voting locations. Donna Pool / Flickr

Maryland Elections Board Allows Three In-Person Polling Places In Race To Replace Elijah Cummings

April 13, 6:50 p.m.: State officials say the safest way to vote is by mail, and they’re urging voters to stay home for the election scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, to replace the late Rep. Elijah Cummings. However, the State Board of Elections voted today to permit three polling places — one in each of the jurisdictions that comprise the congressional district.

“Not every voter can cast a ballot by mail, and the Board is committed to safeguarding their voting rights by authorizing local boards to operate a select few in-person voting centers,” said Linda Lamone, the state administrator of elections, in a statement. Earlier, at a March 25 meeting, the elections board decided there would be no in-person voting for the special election in the 7th congressional district, to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. After that decision, advocates for people with disabilities argued that an election with no in-person option would violate federal law.

The district covers parts of Howard County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Each jurisdiction will choose the location of its one polling place and those locations will be announced no later than Monday, April 20, according to the state board.

Ballots sent by mail must be postmarked by April 28, the day of the election. –Jacob Fenston

Mar 18, 2020. Virginia Hospital Center set up a collection spot in Arlington, VA for people to get tested for COVID-19. The state now expects cases to peak between July and September. Photo by Tyrone Turner.

Peak Infections In Virginia Now Forecast Between July And September

April 13, 4:27 p.m.: University of Virginia researchers say the peak for COVID-19 cases in Virginia will come between July and September. This is later than earlier predictions — and later than national predictions for a peak within the next few weeks.

However, the researchers say their new prediction is evidence that social distancing is working, and that the “flattening of the curve” of infections means that the state will have the medical capacity to handle the disease over the coming months. And they recommended continuing restrictions for now.

“It’s dangerous to consider lifting these social distancings too soon, before we have other measures in place to help further dampen this outbreak,” UVA research associate professor Bryan Lewis said.

In response to the UVA research, Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday he would extend the closure of non-essential businesses set to expire next week, and he would keep the June 10 deadline for stay-at-home measures, even though they cause pain for businesses, students, and families.

“If we try to rush to get our lives back to normal,” Northam said, “the number of cases will spike higher and earlier, and we can’t afford that.”

In a briefing with reporters, Northam also said he believes there are enough hospital beds to handle Virginia patients, but he said there are challenges with obtaining enough personal protective equipment, testing and staffing.

Daniel Carey, Virginia’s secretary of health and human services, said that before the state can reopen for business “additional strategies” need to be implemented, including additional testing, contact tracing and antibody tests. —Marcus Rosenbaum

Hogan Pushes Federal Government For More Funds For States

April 13, 3:21 p.m., updated 4:00 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said today that he had spoken with Vice President Mike Pence and “asked the administration to weigh in” on more funds for states and territories to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking on behalf of the National Governors’ Association, which he chairs, Hogan said he would like to see $500 billion more.

Additional funds for the pandemic are stuck in the Senate because even though both Republicans and Democrats want to provide $250 billion more for small business relief, the Democrats also want $100 billion for hospitals and $150 billion for states and local governments. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked the Democrats’ proposal.

Hogan is a Republican. —Marcus Rosenbaum

Our region saw its first inmate deaths from COVID-19. Alexander C. Kafka / Flickr

D.C. And Maryland Record First Coronavirus-Related Deaths Of Prison Inmates

April 13, 1:15 p.m.: A 51-year-old inmate in the D.C. Jail and a 60-year-old inmate in the Jessup Correctional Institution have become the first coronavirus-related fatalities in the penitentiary systems in the District and Maryland.

The two deaths were announced on Monday morning.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services did not identify the inmate by name, but said he had been hospitalized for several weeks and had underlying health conditions. The D.C. Department of Corrections said Deon Crowell had been hospitalized on April 7 after testing positive for the coronavirus and “experiencing respiratory issues.” He had been in custody since June 2018 on a charge of first-degree murder.

Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, defense attorneys and civil libertarians have been pushing governors, mayors and prosecutors to move quickly and release as many inmates as possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus inside jails and prisons.

Last week, the ACLU and other groups filed suit in Maryland to force state officials to reduce the prison population. As of April 12, there were 93 reported coronavirus cases in the state’s prisons, including 47 correctional officers and 18 inmates. In parts of the state, prosecutors and defense attorneys have teamed up to release low-level offenders from county jails.

In D.C., the ACLU filed a similar lawsuit against the Department of Corrections over conditions at the D.C. Jail; more than 50 inmates have so far tested positive, with nine having recovered fully. Last week, a D.C. judge ordered an independent inspection of the jail, which houses more than 1,500 inmates in two facilities — the Central Detention Facility and Correctional Treatment Facility.

Last week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser granted early release to 36 inmates serving sentences for misdemeanor charges. Overall, the population of sentenced misdemeanants has dropped almost 90 percent since last month. But a majority of those held at the D.C. Jail are in custody of federal agencies, effectively limiting how much the city can do to release them.

In Crowell’s case, in late March his defense attorney asked a D.C. judge to release him to home confinement, saying he suffered from “diabetes and has multiple health issues related to that diagnosis.”

“As a society, we must do everything we can to reduce the transmission of the virus,” wrote the attorney. “Jails and prisons are super high-risk breeding grounds.”

The U.S. Attorney for D.C. opposed the motion, and as of last week a judge had not yet ruled on it. —Martin Austermuhle

A new hotline will help D.C. residents unable to leave their homes acquire the goods they need. edkohler / Flickr

There’s A New Support Hotline For D.C. Residents Who Can’t Leave Their Homes

April 13, 12:45 p.m.: D.C. has a new hotline for residents who cannot leave their homes and require assistance obtaining food or other necessary goods: 1-888-349-8323.

The support hub is specifically for Washingtonians who meet certain criteria. To be eligible, someone must have either tested positive for COVID-19, displayed symptoms, or been instructed to quarantine by a doctor, or lives with someone for whom that is true. They must lack another means of getting food, hygiene or pediatric products, or prescription medication.

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the launch of the hotline during Monday’s press conference.

Additionally, Monday marks the launch of D.C. Public Schools grocery sites for families.

Groceries are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at 10 of the 50 city schools serving as sites for free meals for anyone under 18 years old. (The mayor’s office has more information on the hours and locations). —Rachel Kurzius

Coronavirus Cases In The Region Top 16,000

April 13, 10:45 a.m.: The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in D.C., Maryland and Virginia has reached 16,638, up about 8 percent from 15,374 cases yesterday.

The District had 1,955 cases of the coronavirus, up about 4 percent from yesterday. It also reported another two deaths, for a total of 52. So far 507 people have recovered.

Maryland reported 8,936 cases of the virus, up almost 9 percent from Sunday. Another 27 people have died, for a total of 262 deaths in the state, and 603 people have been released from isolation.

Virginia reported 5,747 total cases today, an increase of almost 9 percent from Sunday. Virginia recorded another eight deaths from the virus, bringing the total to 149 coronavirus fatalities. –Julie Strupp

Some local roads will be closed to vehicle traffic so that people have more space to exercise. Jordan Pascale / WAMU

More Road Closures For Outdoor Recreation In Montgomery County

April 13, 9:55 a.m.: More roads will soon be blocked off in Montgomery County to make more room for pedestrians, cyclists and other recreation, says Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson.

Parts of Little Falls Parkway and Beach Drive will close to vehicles on Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Montgomery County already closed parts of Sligo Creek Parkway during the same time. In all, it totals nearly six miles of roads closed to traffic.

Excited to announce @MontgomeryParks will close Little Falls Pkway (Mass to Arlington) & Beach Drive (Knowles to Connecticut) to cars 9 am Fri to 6 pm Sun to make space for peds and bikes! Sligo Pkway closures will continue. Images below show the affected roadways: pic.twitter.com/QhmU8z6297

— Casey A (@CaseyAndersonPB) April 13, 2020

Meanwhile, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced late Friday that the National Park Service will close Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park and roads in Fort Dupont Park and Anacostia Park until April 30.

Trails and sidewalks have seen increased demand since outdoor recreation is among the last things people are allowed to do during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. —Jordan Pascale

For more on how coronavirus has impacted the D.C. region, see these updates from the week of April 6-April 12.

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