The Virginia State Police pulled over one driver going 132 mph on I-95 in Fairfax County.

/ Shutterstock


May 3, 6:10 p.m.: Eight drivers were cited by Virginia State Police troopers for going more than 100 miles per hour on Saturday night — including one driver going 132 mph down I-95 in Fairfax County, double the speed limit.

Excessive speeding is part of a dangerous and potentially fatal trend, says Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller.

“We are talking triple digits. Those speeds are beyond reckless, just plain dangerous,” Geller said. “An open road is not an open invitation to speed.”

Geller shared several of the makes and models of the cars pulled over Saturday night, including several motorcycles, a Honda Accord, a Chevy Camaro, and a Toyota Scion.

While stay-at-home orders have lessened traffic, speed-related fatal crashes have significantly spiked in Virginia. Geller says that people may see nothing but pavement in front of them and think it is safe to go fast, but that isn’t true.

“These are not sports cars,” says Geller, “Plus, many average drivers are not trained to handle vehicles at high speeds.”

Nearly half of the fatal crashes between March 13 (when Gov. Ralph Northam issued the order) and April 22 had speed as a factor. For comparison, 38% of fatal crashes in 2019 had speed as a factor. While crashes are down due to fewer people on the road, fatal ones are holding steady meaning a greater percentage of crashes are fatal, says Geller.

These spikes are happening across the country and region, with Maryland State Police also asking for folks to slow down. — Matt Blitz

More Stories from Sunday

Virginia Hospital Center’s collection spot in Arlington for people to get coronavirus testing. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Arlington To Open Walk-Up Coronavirus Testing Site By May 11

May 3, 2:44 p.m.: A “walk-thru” COVID-19 testing site is coming to Arlington County later this month, the county announced during a Facebook Live town hall. It’s another option in addition to two drive-thru sites in the county.

The hope is that this site will help those who might be the most vulnerable, like lower-income essential workers, but don’t have access to a personal car and rely on public transportation.

“The people who might have the greatest vulnerability are sometimes those who are least likely to have a vehicle,” County Board Member Katie Cristol said during the town hall.

Assistant County Manager Jim Schwartz said the site would be open by May 11, likely on the south side of the county.

To get tested, patients will need a written doctor’s order, an appointment, and must have coronavirus symptoms. The county is working with the Arlington Free Clinic to help those who may be under or uninsured or don’t have a primary care physician. They also recommend using the county’s urgent care for needed orders.

Schwartz says there’s a need for more testing, particularly for those who are asymptomatic, but they don’t have the capacity. He says that should improve in the weeks to come.

While there are other “walk-thru” or “walk-up” testing sites in the D.C.-area, this will be the first in Arlington County. As reported by ARLNow, this will be in partnership with Virginia Hospital Center similar to the drive-thru site near Washington-Liberty High School. The other county drive-thru site on Lee Highway is with Inova Urgent Care. — Matt Blitz

Virginia Sees Largest Single-Day Death Total — 44

May 3, 12:45 p.m.: Virginia has reported its deadliest day so far from the coronavirus, with 44 people dying in the past 24 hours. That brings the state’s total to 660 dead, according to the Commonwealth’s health department. An additional 940 cases were reported in Virginia, bringing the total to 18,671.

Virginia’s numbers have increased as testing ramps up. About 5,800 people were tested in the past 24 hours, making it among the largest single-day testing numbers.

More than half of Virginia’s deaths have been in nursing homes. That’s also true in Maryland.

On Sunday, Maryland reported 26 new deaths overall and 989 new cases. There have been 1,182 deaths confirmed in the state.

Meanwhile, in D.C., 219 new positive cases were reported, bringing the District’s overall total to 5,016. The 11 new deaths include a 25-year-old woman. –Jordan Pascale

The lawsuit criticizes Hogan for holding press conferences while his stay at home order limits the size other gatherings, including religious services. Brian Witte / AP Photo

Lawsuit Questions The Constitutionality Of Maryland’s Stay-At-Home Order

May 3, 11:30 a.m.: A lawsuit including three Republican state lawmakers as plaintiffs was filed in federal court on Saturday against Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan over the constitutionality of the state’s stay-at-home orders and banning of gatherings over ten people.

In a Facebook post, Delegate Dan Cox, who is one of the plaintiffs, called the governor’s March 30th stay-at-home order “overreaching” and that Marylanders should not stand for “continued house arrest and lockdown and the destruction of businesses and our way of life.”

Cox represents parts of Carroll and Frederick Counties.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore and claims that the stay-at-home order is being unfairly enforced. The lawsuit argues that first amendment rights, including religious gatherings, are being strictly monitored and prohibited while the governor’s press conferences are allowed to proceed.

In the lawsuit, Cox claims he was threatened with arrest and a potential fine by “a senior law enforcement official” if he spoke at Saturday’s Reopen Maryland Rally. He said the official told him the “Governor has his sights on you.” The suit then claims that Governor’s senior advisors Andrew Cassilly and Chief Counsel Mike Pedone confirmed to Cox that if he did speak at the rally, he could be arrested.

Hogan communications director Mike Ricci told WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5. that, “We fully respect Delegate Cox’s right to protest, but that doesn’t entitle him to make false and baseless claims.”

The lawsuit lists 18 plaintiffs including Antietam Battlefields KOA Campgrounds, Adventure Park USA in Monrovia, eight Maryland reverends, and delegates from Carroll, Howard, and Washington Counties. — Matt Blitz

An N95 respirator mask, which can protect people from contracting the coronavirus. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Maryland Cancels $12.5 Million Contract For PPE That Never Arrived

May 3, 11:10 a.m.: Maryland officials are asking the state’s Attorney General to investigate a $12.5 million shipment of personal protective equipment that never arrived.

On April 1, Maryland signed a deal with Blue Flame Medical LLC for 1.5 million N95 masks and 110 ventilators. Officials canceled that deal on Friday, saying they never got the supplies.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the contract dispute Saturday.

Maryland paid Blue Flame a $6.27 million deposit, according to the Journal.

Mike Gula, a politically connected former GOP fundraiser, founded Blue Flame in late March. The company has told multiple outlets that the due date for delivering the supplies is June 30.

The Washington Post, however, reports that an unnamed Maryland official says June 30 was listed as the delivery deadline on a purchase order because it is the end of the fiscal year. The Post says it obtained a Blue Flame invoice showing April 14 as the intended ship date.

Governors around the country have explored numerous avenues to obtain critical medical supplies in a competitive market. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan purchased 500,000 coronavirus test kids for South Korea. –Hannah Schuster

Death Toll Tops 2,000 Across D.C., Maryland, And Virginia

May 2, 12:00 p.m.: The total number of known coronavirus-related deaths across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia jumped to 2,003 on Saturday morning, marking a 5% increase from Friday and a 44% increase since last week.

The total number of cases across the three states reached 46,249 on Saturday morning, growing about 3% from Friday and 37% since last week.

The District reported 139 new positive cases and nine additional deaths, bringing its confirmed cases to 4,797 and 240 deaths. While wards 4 and 5 have the highest reported caseloads, Ward 8 has the highest number of deaths, at 52, followed by Ward 5, at 38 deaths.

Black residents make up 2,287 of D.C.’s known cases and currently account for 79% percent of the city’s coronavirus-related deaths, while making up only 46% of the District’s population. White residents account for 11% of the fatalities, and 45% of the population.

Testing across the region has ramped up, with the majority coming from Maryland, and propelling large increases in new cases.

Maryland saw confirmed coronavirus cases increase by more than 1,000 since yesterday, reaching 24,473 in total, which represents a 38% increase from last week. Another 58 residents died since Friday, bringing the total deaths to 1,156— a 45% uptick since this time last week. The state also reports 95 “probable deaths,” which are waiting to be confirmed by a lab test.

A total of 525 known deaths in Maryland have come from nursing homes, making up 45.4% of the state’s total death toll.

Virginia reported an additional 6,800 tests as of Saturday morning, which represents a 55.8% jump from last week. The state’s confirmed cases reached 16,979, an uptick of 38% from this time last week. Virginia also reported 26 more deaths, bringing the state’s total to 607. — Elliot Williams

More Stories from Saturday

Inmates a the Prince George’s County jail, not shown, have filed a lawsuit alleging they haven’t been protected against the coronavirus. Emiliano Bar / Unsplash

Federal Judge Orders Inspection of Prince George’s County Jail

May 2, 10:45 a.m.: A federal judge ordered an inspection of Prince George’s County’s correctional facilities after inmates sued the department of corrections for not protecting them against the coronavirus.

U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis called for the order Friday via conference call to sort through the different versions of how the jail is dealing with the virus, according to a Washington Post report. After viewing the initial filings from the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Xinis said it gave her enough cause to order Carlos Franco-Paredes, an infectious disease expert with University of Colorado School of Medicine, to do an inspection.

Franco-Paredes told the judge Friday that he was ready to review documents from attorneys over the weekend and could visit the jail as soon as Tuesday.

Mary Lou McDonough, the director of Prince George’s County’s Department of Corrections, and other county officials have refuted the inmates’ claims. The county says it has taken action to reduce the inmate population as well as follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A spokesperson for the Prince George’s County jail told the Post that 18 inmates and 31 staff had tested positive as of Friday. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

The view west from the Wiehle-Reston Silver Line station Ron Cogswell / Flickr

Fairfax County Sees A Spike In Positive Cases After Expanding Testing

May 2, 10:30 a.m.: Fairfax County has seen a spike in recent days of new coronavirus cases and the county chairman says the increase in cases can be attributed to more testing in Virginia’s hardest hit county.

Jeff McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, says it’s bad news to hear that more people are getting sick, but the increase in testing has allowed for the county to have better insight on infections in the community.

“It’s good news that our testing capabilities are improving each and every day,” McKay said in a video address, “which is giving us a better idea of the magnitude of this pandemic.”

The commonwealth’s most populous county now has more than 4,100 cases and 157 deaths attributed to COVID-19, according to county health data, which accounts for the largest number of infections and deaths in the state. It has recorded 351.6 infections per 100,000 people (other less populous counties–including Prince William, Richmond, and Southampton– have higher rates).

McKay says the county is in the middle of an exponential growth phase in the curve, meaning we should expect to see an increase in cases over the coming weeks.

He adds that while the board would like to reopen the county, the decision to do so will be based on facts and science, and in collaboration with Governor Ralph Northam and the region’s jurisdictions. — Dominique Maria Bonessi

More Stories from Friday

Graffiti calling for the cancelation of rent payments appeared on a bridge in D.C. Carmel Delshad / WAMU

Activists Protest Rent Collection In Virginia

May 1, 5:46 p.m: A protest against rent collection during the pandemic happened today in Arlington, as long lines of vehicles traveled down Columbia Pike chanting and carrying signs.
“We literally blocked out Columbia Pike,” said Maryam Mustafa, an organizer with the Asian American Pacific Islander Civic Engagement Collaborative and New Virginia Majority, a statewide progressive advocacy organization. “Over 100 cars were beeping, honking.”

According to a press release from New Virginia Majority—a progressive advocacy organization for marginalized communities—members were asked to meet at 2:30 p.m. “and caravan in their cars along Columbia Pike apartment complexes where many Asian, Latinx, African and Black tenants reside.” The statement encouraged those who can’t attend to make signs and post videos online showing support of the movement to stop rent collection.

Mustafa said the pandemic has significantly exacerbated rent hikes in Arlington, which were already a concern with Amazon’s arrival in Crystal City.

“A lot of us live paycheck to paycheck,” Mustafa said. “Some people are choosing between food and rent right now.”

In the Arlandria/Chirilagua neighborhood of Alexandria, a similar caravan will begin at 5 p.m., also to demand that rents be frozen in Virginia during the pandemic.

The protest follows similar efforts around the country, including another one in Alexandria organized by Local 23 on April 20. Tenants and supporters drove in circles outside the Southern Towers apartments chanting “No pay! No Rent!” and “No job! No Rent!”

As unemployment soars due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers across the region say they’re worried about how families who can’t pay rent right now will cope, even after the pandemic eases and the economy begins to rebound.

“It’s concerning, what is going to be happening after the pandemic. Families will end up with a big debt if we don’t cancel rent,” Evelin Urrutia, one of the organizers of the Alexandria protest and the executive director of Tenants and Workers United, told WAMU.

New Virginia Majority communication director Debra Freeman told ARL NOW that the goal of the protest is to shine a light on the issue for the public. “It doesn’t just affect one particular apartment community or one landlord, it’s across the board. It’s everywhere. People may not be thinking of service workers — who can’t make income [during the pandemic]. It’s about awareness.” —Victoria Chamberlin and Margaret Barthel

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam gestures during a news conference at the Capitol Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Northam gave an update on his COVID-19 plans. Steve Helber / AP Photo

Following Criticism, Gov. Northam Announces Efforts To Ramp Up Testing In Virginia

May 1, 4:30 p.m.: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced new efforts to expand testing and the supply of personal protective equipment on Friday after criticism from top Republicans that the state had some of the lowest per-capita testing numbers in the nation. 

The state has contracted with two additional labs, officials said, which will allow 3,000 more tests per day. Northam said he is urging hospital systems to launch community testing immediately, and his administration is working to get more PPE to free clinics and federally qualified health centers so they can administer tests.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for a sick person to get a test in a setting that they trust,” Northam said.

Virginia also will open three new locations to decontaminate PPE. Northam said he expected them to be operational by next week. The units, which will use a decontamination method created by the nonprofit research and development firm Battelle, will allow up to 240,000 N95 respirator masks per day to be reused. (The Food and Drug Administration gave the firm’s decontamination method emergency authorization last month, but a national union of registered nurses recently expressed concerns that the method has not been adequately vetted.)

Northam said the state-administered its highest number of tests in a single day on Thursday, at more than 5,800.

But the number may be misleading because Virginia also has changed the way it calculates the number of tests given. Dr. Norman Oliver, the health commissioner, said that previously only the number of people tested were counted, but now the count represents the total number of tests administered. State health officials said 8-9 percent of people tested have received more than one COVID-19 test. —Jenny Gathright

D.C. Board of Elections officials say they plan to launch an advertising campaign to inform voters about requesting an absentee ballot. Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

Ballots Are Now Being Mailed Out To Voters In D.C. And Maryland

May 1, 12:15 p.m.: Voters in D.C. and Maryland may soon start receiving their ballots for the June 2 primaries in the mail, part of plans in both jurisdictions to keep people away from physical polling places while still allowing them to vote.

The Maryland State Board of Elections has started mailing out more than 4 million ballots to registered voters across the state, and says they should be arriving in mailboxes in the coming days.

“We are asking all Maryland voters to be on the lookout for their mail-in ballot for the June 2 primary election and to vote-by-mail if possible,” said Linda Lamone, Maryland Administrator of Elections, in a statement. “Voting by mail is safe, secure and free. There is no postage required. Voters simply need to fill out their ballot, sign the oath on the envelope, and place it back in the mail.”

Voters who choose not to mail in their ballots can drop them off at designated sites starting on May 21; those sites will also serve as vote centers for people who want to cast ballots in person on Election Day. Both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties will have five designated ballot drop-off sites, and four voting centers a piece.

In D.C., voters are not being proactively sent their ballots for the city’s June 2 primary, but are rather being asked to request absentee ballots. (As of last week, more than 17,000 voters had.) The D.C. Board of Elections says those ballots are being sent out, as well as voter guides that include absentee ballot request forms for anyone who needs them.

D.C. will also open 20 vote centers for early and day-of voting, but officials say they will mandate social distancing and are hoping to stagger in-person voting by asking voters to come at designated times according to the first letter of their last name. – Martin Austermuhle

May 1 coronavirus data. WAMU

D.C. Maryland And Virginia See Surge In Infections As Testing Ramps Up

May 1, 11:48 a.m.: D.C., Maryland, and Virginia saw a jump in COVID-19 cases on Friday — likely reflecting increased testing capacity — while deaths continue to climb. There are now 45,031 confirmed cases of COVID-19 total in the three jurisdictions, up 7.4% from Thursday and 42% from one week ago. There are 1,910 total known coronavirus-related deaths, a 4.8% uptick from yesterday and a 48.5% increase from one week ago.

Maryland has confirmed 1,098 COVID-19-related deaths and 23,472 cases of the virus. 1,730 of the cases are new, about an 8% uptick from yesterday and the highest increase this week. Another 51 people have died since Thursday, a 5% day-over-day increase. The state also reported 94 total probable deaths, meaning the death certificate lists COVID-19 as the cause of death but the case has not yet been confirmed by a lab test.

Over half, or 554, of Maryland’s COVID-19 deaths are linked to nursing homes, and Montgomery County has the largest share of nursing home-related fatalities. Montgomery has now surpassed Prince George’s County in total number of deaths: there have been 236 confirmed deaths in Montgomery plus another 26 probable, and 4,754 known cases of the virus. Prince George’s death toll has reached 231, plus another 12 probable cases, and the county has 6,735 known infections.

D.C. saw its largest ever increase in cases this morning, likely reflecting an increase in testing capacity. The city added another 7 deaths and 335 infections, bringing the totals to 231 deaths and 4,658 confirmed cases of the virus, respectively. That marks a 3% increase in deaths and a 7.7% increase in infections from Thursday. So far 666 people have recovered.

Ward 8 has seen the most deaths (51 people), followed by Ward 5 (35 people), and Ward 4 (30 people) and Ward 7 (30 people), while Ward 4 has the greatest number (849) of infections. Of the 231 deaths, 183 or 79% have been black people, though only 46% of the District’s population is black. White residents make up 11% of fatalities, and 45% of the population.

Virginia reported another 29 deaths—a 5% uptick from yesterday—bringing its total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 581. There are another 1,055 infections, up 6.7% from yesterday, for a total of 16,901 known cases of the virus. There have also been another 10 outbreaks, a total of 226 so far, in the Commonwealth. 132 of the outbreaks are in long-term care facilities, and there have been 311 related deaths.

Fairfax County continues to see the most cases (3,897) and the most deaths (137 people),followed by Henrico (898 cases and 102 deaths), Arlington (1,004 cases and 42 deaths) and Prince William counties (1,781 cases and 28 deaths). The counties with the highest death rateare Greensville, with 52 deaths per 100,000 people; Emporia, with 39 deaths per 100,000; and Mecklenburg, with 33 deaths per 100,000. —Julie Strupp

Aerial view of Arlington County. Arlington County / Flickr

Arlington, Alexandria Seek To Balance Urgent And Long-Term Needs In New Budgets

May 1, 2020 9:50 a.m: The Arlington County Board unanimously passed a $1.3 billion budget for 2021 on Thursday that accounts for an anticipated $56 million loss of revenue from coronavirus-related closures. Officials say the plan will not raise taxes.

The board also approved a fund to assist with housing grants and emergency food assistance, with an additional $7.5 million in aid for non-profit organizations, small businesses and the service delivery industry.

“In just three short months, our budget priorities have been upended,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in a statement, “and we know that the budget we adopted today will likely need revision in the coming months. Our focus in the coming year will be on supporting residents and small businesses hit hard by the economic fallout of the pandemic, preserving essential services and maintaining a strong financial foundation.”

The county predicts it will lose funds from sales taxes, parking and other municipal fees, resulting in $21.6 million less for the public school system than originally projected back in February.

The Alexandria City Council also approved its General Fund Operating Budget in a unanimous vote this week, reduced by 5.8% from the county’s original version from earlier this year. At $753.3 million, the updated budget reflects revised operating and capital budgets resulting from a $100 million gap caused by the impact of the pandemic.

“In the face of an unprecedented economic crisis, City Council’s adopted FY 2021 budget represents a responsible balance between meeting urgent community needs and deferring other expenses,” said Mayor Justin Wilson in a statement. “We are grateful to the City Manager, City staff, and all those who contributed to the development of this budget. Thanks to their hard work and City Council’s long history of prudent fiscal management, we are in a stable position to help our community through the current pandemic.” —Victoria Chamberlin

More Stories from Thursday

The D.C. Council proposal intends to keep more money in the coffers of restaurants facing economic uncertainty during the public health crisis. Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo

D.C. Council To Consider Capping Food Delivery Fees During Health Crisis

April 30, 5:55 p.m.: Food delivery apps like DoorDash and UberEats could become more tightly regulated in D.C. during the pandemic.

The D.C. Council is considering a measure that would temporarily cap the commissions that tech-powered delivery apps charge restaurants that use their services. Those fees can reach as high as 30%, as WAMU has reported, in addition to tips and service fees paid by customers.

The proposal, first reported by Washington City Paper, intends to keep more money in the coffers of restaurants facing economic uncertainty during the public health crisis. The measure would cap commissions at 15% and prohibit app operators from slashing driver compensation to recoup lost fee revenue, according to an early draft of the measure circulated Thursday. Violators would be subject to fines up to $1,000. The rules would only apply during the District’s state of emergency.

Similar measures have been enacted or are under consideration in other U.S. cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston. The mayor of Baltimore recently asked four app companies to voluntarily lower their commissions.

About 60% of D.C.’s restaurants remain open during the public health crisis, but most are taking in about 20% of their normal revenue while the crisis drags on, according to D.C. CFO Jeffrey DeWitt. Food establishments can only offer delivery and takeout while residents remain under a shelter-in-place order.

Restaurant owners have called third-party delivery apps a “necessary evil” because they drive business but usually take a large bite out of restaurants’ profits. Many restaurateurs have urged customers to instead order directly from restaurants — especially during the pandemic, which threatens to shutter 20% of all restaurants in the U.S., according to an estimate from financial services firm UBS.

Councilmembers are expected to vote on the proposal next week, when they consider a number of other amendments to recently passed coronavirus emergency legislation. —Ally Schweitzer

A judge has ruled against a lawsuit alleging Virginia’s governor lacked the constitutional authority to close gyms in the state. Danielle Cerullo / Unsplash

Judge Rejects Lawmakers’ Challenge To Virginia’s Stay-At-Home Order

April 30, 4:03 p.m.: A judge has ruled against two Virginia state senators who sued Gov. Ralph Northam in the wake of his statewide shutdown order.

Republican state senators William M. Murphy Jr. of Franklin and Ryan T. McDougle of Hanover filed the lawsuit in Culpeper County last week on behalf of multiple Gold’s Gym franchises. The suit alleged that Northam, a Democrat, lacked the constitutional authority to close the gyms, and that the shutdown order would force businesses “into irreparable and permanent ruin.”

Judge Claude Worrell ruled in favor of the state and denied a request for a temporary injunction, according to the office of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

“When you weigh the rights of one small business owner against the rights of the citizenry of the commonwealth, or even in smaller political subdivisions like the county of Culpeper,” the judge wrote, “You can’t say that his rights outweigh everyone else’s rights to remain free of any disease, illness or other.”

In a statement, Herring acknowledged the economic hardship caused by the public health order, but added, “we must remember that we are all working together to keep ourselves, our families and our communities safe and healthy.”

At least one constitutional challenge to the stay-at-home order has seen more success in the judiciary. Earlier this week, a Virginia Circuit Court judge ruled that a Lynchburg gun range could reopen as long as it follows the commonwealth’s social distancing guidelines. —Ally Schweitzer

“It was a very complicated process [to acquire these tests],” Hogan told the Washington Post. “It was an enormously valuable payload. It was like Fort Knox to us because it’s going to save the lives of thousands of our citizens.” Maryland GovPics / Flickr

Maryland National Guard And Police Are Guarding The South Korean Tests

April 30, 3:20 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says the 500,000 tests the state received from South Korea last week are being guarded by the Maryland National Guard and state police at an “undisclosed location.”

On Thursday, Hogan told the Washington Post that, while some tests are being distributed across the state to hotspots like long-term care facilities and testing sites, he’s been worried about the federal government seizing the tests. Hogan spoke about the difficulty of making sure the Korean Airline jet could land at the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport instead of Dulles International Airport in Virginia last week.

“It was a very complicated process [to acquire these tests],” Hogan told the Post. “It was an enormously valuable payload. It was like Fort Knox to us because it’s going to save the lives of thousands of our citizens.”

Hogan said the federal government has confiscated shipments of supplies from other states. In March, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker had an order of 3 million N95 masks from China seized at the Port of New York. County executives have criticized Hogan for not distributing the test kits more widely. The state health department says the tests can’t be used until the shortages of nasal swabs and chemical reagents are fulfilled. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

There’s “tremendous concern in the community” about the lack of testing, said Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson on Thursday. Arkansas National Guard / Flickr

Montgomery County Officials Frustrated They Haven’t Seen The Tests From South Korea

April 30, 1:41 p.m.: Montgomery County councilmembers grilled the jurisdiction’s top health official about the availability of COVID-19 testing during a remote briefing Thursday.

Sitting as the board of health, the council demanded more information from County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles about when and how more residents—including those without symptoms—will have access to tests. Several asked why screening hasn’t been scaled up after Gov. Larry Hogan announced last week that the state had paid $9 million for 500,000 test kits from South Korea.

There’s “tremendous concern in the community” about the lack of testing, said Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-District 1). “Residents are wondering why testing hasn’t been [expanded] with the huge influx of tests that got national and international attention.”

Gayles said he didn’t know when the county could expect to receive the South Korean kits, but the “state team is working diligently behind the scenes to get [them] up and running.” Distribution of the tests secured by the Hogan administration have reportedly been delayed by regulatory hurdles, per the Washington Post.

The doctor added that health officials are working to expand mobile testing sites in the county.

“We’re trying to turn over every rock to figure out how to increase access,” Gayles said.

COVID-19 screening is currently available in Montgomery County at vehicle emissions testing sites maintained by the state, as well as two county-run facilities in Wheaton and Germantown. Individuals must meet criteria before they can receive a test.

There were 4,300 reported COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County as of April 30. More than 200 residents have died of the disease. —Ally Schweitzer

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser listens to a reporter’s question during a press conference about the District’s coronavirus response, Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Washington. Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

D.C. Sees Highest Single-Day Death Toll From COVID-19 As Racial Disparities Persist

April 30, 1:30 p.m.: Nineteen people died from complications associated with the coronavirus in D.C. on Wednesday, city officials said, marking the District’s biggest one-day total of COVID-19 fatalities so far.

Overall, 224 people are known to have died from the disease, with black residents representing the highest share of any racial group, at 79 percent. That’s even as black residents account for only about 46 percent of the city’s population, revealing huge racial disparities in how the virus is impacting the nation’s capital. White residents, by comparison, comprise 11 percent of the fatalities and about 45 percent of the city’s population.

Black residents also currently account for the highest share of COVID-19 cases in D.C., or just under half of the 4,323 total cases to date.

At a press conference Thursday, Mayor Muriel Bowser said the District’s data demonstrate that underlying health conditions put people at greater risk for COVID-19 complications: 85 percent of the 224 people who died had chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. She added that the average life expectancy in majority-black Ward 8 is 15 years lower than that in majority-white Ward 3.

Bowser also announced multimillion-dollar deals for two new hospitals that the city will help build, one on the St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast and the other on Howard University’s campus in Northwest.

“The agreements we are going to discuss today have been a long time coming,” she said. “And what we know is that these two hospital systems are going to transform” healthcare in D.C. —Andrew Giambrone

The D.C. Council will soon vote on a measure to put all foreclosures on hold during the city’s ongoing state of emergency and for 60 days after it ends. Tierra Mallorca / Unsplash

D.C. Councilmembers Propose Foreclosure Moratorium During Pandemic

April 30, 12:55 p.m.: D.C. Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1) and Anita Bonds (D-At Large) are proposing that all foreclosures be put on hold during the city’s ongoing state of emergency and for 60 days after it ends.

The measure, which is expected to be debated and voted on by the D.C. Council next Tuesday, is aimed at closing what housing advocates say is an existing gap in protections for homeowners.

While D.C. Superior Court is not hearing any foreclosure cases currently and the federal recovery bill put in place a moratorium for federally backed mortgage holders, that could still leave some homeowners who fall behind on their payments subject to quick foreclosure once the state of emergency ends.

“D.C. right now has a patchwork of protections that cover many foreclosures for the moment, but they haven’t provided a formal moratorium, stopping foreclosures during this emergency period and in most cases for some cushion of time afterwards so that homeowners will have an opportunity to kind of address their affairs once the economy begins to open up,” says Joanne Savage, an attorney and manager of Legal Counsel for the Elderly’s Consumer Advocacy and Homeowner Preservation Practice.

A number of states have already moved forward with foreclosure moratoria, including Massachusetts, which put one in place last week, and Maryland, where Gov. Larry Hogan put a stop to evictions and foreclosures in early April. In Virginia, courts are not processing evictions or foreclosures, while in D.C. evictions have been put off and mortgage servicers have also been ordered to offer qualified borrowers up to 90 days of deferred payments.

Nadeau and Bonds’ bill would also address non-judicial foreclosures that happen outside of the court system, “including foreclosures by condominium associations for unpaid fees and by mortgage lenders who elect to participate in the District’s extra-judicial foreclosure process,” according to a description of the bill.

Another bill that’s expected to be considered Tuesday would require landlords to offer rent payment plans to tenants facing financial hardship, and require them to return any fees charged for amenities that are not available due to the pandemic.

Some housing advocates in D.C. have been pushing the D.C. Council to go further, including by fully canceling rent and mortgage payments during the pandemic. —Martin Austermuhle

“As our state battles this deadly pandemic, our first responders have again risen to the challenge and answered the call to serve, just as they always do,” Hogan’s staff wrote in a statement. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Maryland Is Lowering Its Flag To Half Staff To Honor Lost Lives, Healthcare Workers

April 30, 12:30 p.m.: Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is ordering that all state flags be lowered to half-staff for three days starting Friday at noon.

The lowered flag is meant to honor more than 1,000 Marylanders who have lost their lives to the coronavirus, as well as the healthcare professionals and first responders on the frontlines of the pandemic.

The flag will be lowered for Fallen Heroes Day on Friday. Hogan also announced in a press conference Wednesday that Saturday, May 2 will be known as Healthcare Heroes Day to recognize doctors, nurses, and other professionals. Hogan is also commemorating the day by requesting that the Annapolis Statehouse dome and Orioles and Ravens Stadiums be lit up in blue.

There will also be a flyover in the District and Baltimore by the United States Navy Blue Angels and United States Air Force Thunderbirds on Saturday. –Dominique Maria Bonessi

These numbers were updated for Wednesday, April 30. WAMU

Cases Top 41,000 In D.C., Maryland, And Virginia

April 30, 11:40 a.m.: D.C., Maryland, and Virginia reported 41,911 confirmed cases of COVID-19 this morning, up 5% from Wednesday and 39% from one week ago. There are also 1,823 coronavirus-related deaths in the three jurisdictions, a 6.5% uptick from yesterday and a 53% increase from one week ago.

There have been 1,047 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths and 21,742 cases of the virus in Maryland. 893 of the cases are new, about a 4% uptick from yesterday. Another 62 people have died since Wednesday, a 6% day-over-day increase. The state also reported 93 total probable deaths, meaning the death certificate lists COVID-19 as the cause of death but the case has not yet been confirmed by a lab test.

While Maryland has conducted more tests—114,359—compared to D.C. and Virginia, the state has yet to use many tests from its recent, massive purchase from South Korea, the Washington Post reported.

On Tuesday Maryland released nursing home data for the first time, which shows that almost half, or 516, of the state’s COVID-19 deaths are linked to nursing homes. Montgomery County has the largest share of fatalities related to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with 717 resident cases and 382 staff cases, and 148 confirmed resident deaths and one staff death.

Prince George’s County continues to see the most infections overall (6,043 cases and 229 confirmed deaths, plus 11 probable), while Montgomery County has fewer cases (4,300) cases but the same number of confirmed deaths (229), plus another 26 probable coronavirus fatalities. 1,432 people have been released from isolation in Maryland.

D.C. added another 19 deaths and 217 infections this morning, bringing the totals to 224 deaths and 4,323 confirmed cases of the virus, respectively. That marks a 9.3% increase in deaths and a 5.3% increase in infections from Wednesday. So far 660 people have recovered.

Ward 8 has seen the most deaths (49 people), followed by Ward 5 (34 people), Ward 4 (30 people), and Ward 7 (29 people), while Ward 4 has the greatest number (774) of infections. The racial data has not yet been updated this morning, but it has consistently shown that black residents have been especially hard-hit by the virus.

Virginia reported another 30 deaths—a 6% uptick from yesterday—bringing its total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 552. There are another 885 infections, up about 6% from yesterday, for a total of 15,846 known cases of the virus. There have also been another 10 outbreaks, a total of 216 so far, in the Commonwealth. 120 of them are in long-term care facilities, and 118 people have died.

Fairfax County continues to see the most cases (3,611) and the most deaths (134 people), followed by Henrico (876 cases and 100 deaths), Arlington (967 cases and 51 deaths) and Prince William counties (1,645 cases and 24 deaths). However, the counties with the highest death rate are Greensville, with 52 deaths per 100,000 people; Emporia, with 39 deaths per 100,000; and Mecklenburg, with 33 deaths per 100,000. —Julie Strupp

Gate 35X at DCA is one of the most dreaded gates at the airport. It’s often over-crowded and passengers have to take a bus to get to their planes. WAMU / Jordan Pascale

With Fewer Flights, National Airport Is Closing Gates, Including 35X

April 30, 11:15 a.m.: The dreaded Gate 35X at National Airport, the one that requires a bus ride to get to the plane, will temporarily be closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

With fewer flights going in and out of DCA, American Airlines will move its operations starting Monday. They will depart out of the middle concourse at Terminal B/C, through Gates 23-34.

The north concourse of Terminal C, which contains Gates 35-45 and Gate 35X, will close. Shops and security checkpoints for those gates will also close.

Airport officials say the changes will be in effect until further notice. All other airlines at DCA will continue to operate in their normal locations.

Gate 35X will formally close once the airport’s new 14-gate concourse is complete, which is slated for July 2021. –Jordan Pascale

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

3.84 Million Americans Filed For Unemployment Last Week

April 30, 11:00 a.m.: First-time filings for unemployment reached 3.84 million last week, according to figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday. Jobless claims for the week ending April 25 were the lowest since March 21, but bring that six week period’s total to 30.3 million.

The U.S. finds itself in the worst unemployment crisis in the country’s recent history, as the coronavirus pandemic has prompted widespread layoffs in D.C. and nationwide.

After the previous week’s figures were revised by up to 15,000, bringing the new total to 4.4 million, this week’s claims mark a decrease of 603,000. Continued claims rose, however, to nearly 18 million, up 2.2 million from the previous week.

The decrease comes after initial claims hit a record high the week of March 28 at 6.87 million. The numbers have declined each week since. But while the number of claims has gone down, they indicate layoffs that could result in an unemployment rate of 16.4 percent in May, according to Morgan Stanley projections reported by USA Today. That number would be the highest since the Great Depression. –Nathan Diller

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan appeared on The Daily Show to talk about reopening plans with host Trevor Noah. Screenshot by Martin Austermuhle

‘It’s Gotta Be Done In A Smart Way,’ Says Hogan On The Daily Show About Reopening After The Pandemic

April 30, 7:45 a.m.: As both the Republican governor of Maryland and head of the National Governors Association, Larry Hogan has been a staple on national political TV shows since the coronavirus pandemic started.

But on Wednesday night he appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” where he spoke (but didn’t joke) about fighting the federal government, looking to South Korea for testing equipment and how and when Maryland and surrounding states may start lifting restrictions and reopen their economies.

There have been small protests in Annapolis demanding that Hogan start reopening some businesses, but the two-term governor has been reluctant to do so. Last week he unveiled a plan for a phased reopening of the economy, but said that it wouldn’t start until case counts decreased for at least two weeks and testing and contact tracing capacities were increased.

Speaking to “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, Hogan also said that state-by-state reopening plans could be problematic — especially in the Washington region.

“The virus doesn’t recognize state borders or international borders. In our area we’re very close with Washington, D.C. and Virginia… we’re all working in conjunction with one another to make sure that we’re sort of on the same page because many of our people live in one jurisdiction, work in another and they travel back and forth on the same Metro system,” he said.

“If somebody opens up all the bars and restaurants, everybody from our state will go over there and bring it back. It’s gotta be done in a smart way,” he said on plans to reopen in the Washington region.

And Hogan added that he would rather see reopenings happen slowly. “What we don’t want to do is rush it and have a spike and that’s going to be terrible for the economy if we cause another wave of this,” he said.

Hogan also said his fights with the Trump administration have largely focused on the availability of personal protective equipment and testing, and being unable to rely on the federal government for testing equipment is what led him to negotiate a landmark deal with South Korea for 500,000 test kits.

“We had no choice. We were put in a position where governors were scraping and clawing and trying to get tests all over the country from various providers and all over the world,” he said. —Martin Austermuhle

More Stories from Wednesday

More than 90 Smithsonian executives will have their salaries cut by at least 10 percent to help mitigate revenue losses from the coronavirus pandemic. Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP Photo

Smithsonian Cuts Pay For Senior-Level Executives In Response To Revenue Losses

April 29, 8:48 p.m.: Senior executives at The Smithsonian Institution will have their pay cut for the next year in response to losses from the coronavirus, a spokesperson for the institution confirmed Wednesday. The Washington Post was first to report the news.

The institution expects it will lose $22 million in revenue by the end of May, and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III told the Post that salary reductions are an attempt to stem those losses without resorting to furloughs.

Bunch, along with Deputy Secretary Meroë Park, will take 15% pay cuts. An additional 89 senior executives will have their salaries reduced by 10%. The institution will also impose a hiring freeze for non-federal positions, though most employees of the Smithsonian are federal workers.

A majority of the institution’s budget comes from the federal government, but a third comes from sources such as grants and contracts, charitable donations, memberships, and retail revenue from shops, IMAX theaters, restaurants, and parking. The retail revenue “isn’t the biggest part of our pie, but it matters,” Smithsonian spokesperson Linda St. Thomas told WAMU in March. “And charitable contributions are directly tied to the economy, so of course that’s going to have an impact too.”

In an interview with the Post, Bunch would not make a prediction about when museums would re-open, but said he knows “we will never return to the way it once was.”

According to Bunch, some surveys of audience behavior indicate that half of the visitors may not return until there is an available vaccine for the coronavirus. —Jenny Gathright

Nearly half of Maryland residents who have died from COVID-19 were residents or staff of nursing homes. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

All Maryland Nursing Home Residents And Staff Will Get Tests

April 29, 4:12 p.m.: Maryland will require coronavirus testing for all residents and staff of nursing homes in the state, Gov. Larry Hogan announced today.

Nearly half of the Maryland residents who have died from COVID-19 were residents or staff of nursing homes. There are currently more than 4,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at 143 different Maryland nursing homes — 19 percent of the state’s total confirmed positive cases. The nursing home with the highest death toll in the state is Sagepoing Nursing and Rehabilitation in La Plata, where 33 people have died from COVID-19, and 129 confirmed cases of the virus have been reported.

Hogan also announced a requirement that all nursing homes have a physician, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or registered nurse to evaluate patients’ symptoms daily. The state will provide additional staff to assist nursing homes that are in crisis and facing staff shortages. The “bridge teams,” as Hogan calls them, consist of five to seven aides, which can care for up to 100 residents in a shift.

The state started reporting data on nursing home outbreaks to the public after Hogan issued an order on Monday afternoon. The Maryland Department of Health was initially resistant to making the data public, citing privacy concerns.

Hogan also announced measures to address outbreaks of the virus at the state’s poultry processing plants. At least 262 poultry workers have tested positive for COVID-19. The state is opening a new testing site at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, and sending epidemiologists to the plants where workers have gotten sick. —Jenny Gathright

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, seen here in July 2019, says hospitals can resume elective procedures this week, after suspending them due to the coronavirus. Steve Helber / AP Photo

Elective Surgery Can Resume In Virginia Friday

April 29, 3:35 p.m.: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced today that elective surgeries and dental procedures can resume this week. The procedures were previously prohibited to preserve space and medical equipment for a possible surge in COVID-19 patients.

“Our hospitals have not been overwhelmed,” Northam said. “We have been able to get more PPE and developed ways to decontaminate masks and gowns … Together, we took the right actions and they have been successful.”

Northam said he was prepared to take swift action to contain the disease if cases rise after hospitals resume scheduled care.

Virginia Dental Association President Elizabeth Reynolds praised the decision and said dental practices would follow detailed safety guidelines from state and national organizations, including wearing masks, cleaning thoroughly between patients, and minimizing use of waiting rooms. She said dentists would also cut back on using air and water to minimize aerosols.

Michael McDermott, chairman of the board of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, estimated the ban on elective procedures cost Virginia hospitals about $200 million.

Also Tuesday, State Health Commissioner Norman Oliver announced Virginia would release data about COVID-19 cases by ZIP code. –Daniella Cheslow

D.C. is awarding about $33 million in recovery grants to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Jacob Fenston / WAMU

D.C. Will Begin Notifying Small Businesses Of Coronavirus Recovery Grants Today

April 29, 12:35 p.m.:The District will start telling small businesses today whether they’ve been selected to receive coronavirus recovery grants from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

The city received more than 7,000 applications for shares of the $25 million originally allocated for the fund. But Mayor Muriel Bowser said today that officials have identified an additional $8 million to put toward that pot of money, with $4 million coming from the city’s sports and entertainment authority Events DC, $3 million from the federal government, and $1 million from the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development. Notification will continue through May 8, Bowser said.

Bowser also said her government is in the process of ramping up contact tracing for COVID-19 through the D.C. health department. The department currently has 65 contact tracers, which will increase to 200 in the short term. “We think we’ll need 900 people doing this kind of work for the District” over the course of the pandemic, Bowser said, adding that the city will list job postings for those positions online and that they will have 13-month terms.

As of April 21, almost 82,000 D.C. workers had filed for unemployment insurance with the city since March 13, according to the mayor. More than 41,000 of the claims had been paid out by last week, and their total value was more than $138 million.

At the briefing, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said since last month his office has received some two dozen complaints about landlords trying either to evict tenants or raise rents, despite emergency legal prohibitions against the practices during the District’s public health emergency. He said his office is aware of retailers engaged in price gouging on supplies in demand such as hand sanitizer and disinfectants.

A spokesperson for Raince says the office has received more than 320 consumer complaints tied to the coronavirus crisis since early March, of which more than 100 were about price gouging, and the office has sent cease-and-desist letters to some retailers. —Andrew Giambrone

These numbers were updated for Wednesday, April 29. WAMU

Cases Still Rising In D.C., Maryland, And Virginia

April 29, 11:28 a.m.: D.C., Maryland, and Virginia have reported a total of 1,712 coronavirus-related deaths, a 6% uptick from yesterday, and a 55% increase from one week ago.

There are 39,916 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the three jurisdictions, up 3.8% from Tuesday and 41% from one week ago.

In Maryland, there have been 985 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths and 20,849 cases of the virus. 736 of the cases are new, about a 4% uptick from yesterday. Another 56 people have died since yesterday, a 6% day-over-day increase. The state also reported 93 total probable deaths, meaning the death certificate lists COVID-19 as the cause of death but the case has not yet been confirmed by a lab test.

Last night, Maryland released nursing home data for the first time, which shows that about half (471) of the state’s COVID-19 deaths are linked to nursing homes. Montgomery County has the largest share of fatalities related to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with 1,043 cases and 129 confirmed deaths. Overall, Montgomery County has reported 218 confirmed and 24 more probable deaths, the most fatalities of any county in Maryland. The county has reported 4,152 total cases.

Prince George’s County continues to see the most infections of any county in the state (5,738 cases and 213 confirmed deaths, plus 11 probable deaths). So far 1,361 people have been released from isolation in Maryland.

D.C. added another 15 deaths and 112 infections this morning, bringing the totals to 205 deaths and 4,106 confirmed cases of the virus, respectively. That marks about an 8% increase in deaths and a 3% increase in infections from Tuesday. So far 660 people have recovered.

Ward 8 has seen the most deaths (45 people), followed by Ward 5 (30 people) Ward 6 (28 people) and Ward 7 (27 people), while Ward 4 has the greatest number (727) of infections. Of the 205 victims, 163 — or 80% — are black, though only 46% of the District’s population is black.

Virginia reported another 30 deaths, a 6% uptick from yesterday. This brings its total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 522. There are another 622 known infections, up 4% from yesterday, for a total of 14,961 known cases. The Commonwealth has also reported 206 outbreaks, 116 of them in long-term care facilities.

Fairfax County continues to see the most cases (3,448) and the most deaths (124 people), followed by Henrico (846 cases and 98 deaths), Arlington (912 cases and 32 deaths) and Prince William counties (1,527 cases and 22 deaths). However, the counties with the highest death rate are Greensville (52 deaths per 100,000 people), Emporia (39 deaths per 100,000), and Mecklenburg (33 deaths per 100,000). —Julie Strupp

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam gestures during a news conference at the Capitol Wednesday April 8, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Northam gave an update on his COVID-19 plans. Steve Helber / AP Photo

Virginia Gov. Northam Issues Order Protecting Health Care Providers From Liability

April 28, 8:34 p.m.: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) moved Tuesday to protect health care providers from liability as they work under “less than optimal conditions” due to the coronavirus, even as a union representing health care workers said its members needed more gear rather than indemnity.

In an executive order, Northam clarified that health care providers have been forced to reuse protective equipment; they have been unable to source more; and they have at times been unable to transfer patients from hospitals to other facilities, all leading to health care delivery that “would not be undertaken in conventional practices.”

“It is in the public interest to afford health care providers involved in the delivery of health care impacted by COVID-19 with adequate protection against liability for good faith actions or omissions taken in their efforts to combat this health emergency,” Northam wrote.

He highlighted sections of Virginia’s code that protect health care providers responding to a disaster from civil liability for injury or wrongful death. Northam clarified that COVID-19 qualifies as a disaster. He wrote that the order did not protect health care providers from gross negligence or willful misconduct.

David Broder, president of the Virginia chapter of the Service Employees International Union, said liability was not the top priority for the 3,000 workers he represents including home care workers, nurses, social workers and mental health therapists.

“When we survey our members, liability does not come up,” he said.

Broder said the greater concern is shortages of personal protective equipment that continue to put workers in danger, and he urged the governor to intervene to supply masks, gloves and training to health care workers working via Medicaid and in local public health offices.

“We have been much more focused on ensuring that they have the proper PPE and paid leave. That has been their immediate concern right now,” Broder said of his members. –Daniella Cheslow

More Stories from Tuesday

Senators from Maryland and Virginia are opposing new guidelines issued by the White House last week that appear to encourage federal workers to return to their offices. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Senators From Maryland And Virginia Demand Consistent Federal Worker Telework Policy

April 28, 7:07 p.m.: Virginia and Maryland Democratic senators pressed the federal government Tuesday to give a consistent telework policy for federal employees during COVID-19.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, and Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, joined an effort led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to challenge new White House guidelines that appear to encourage returning federal workers to their offices.

The senators pointed to a memo issued last week by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management that stated, “Agencies are encouraged to allow Federal employees and contractors to return to the office in low-risk areas.”

“Public health experts have expressed serious concerns about these guidelines and warned that there is still not sufficient testing, tracing, or personal protective equipment to know where, and when it is safe to relax social distancing and quarantine guidelines,” the senators wrote.

The senators cited reports that some federal workers were denied requests to telework, even when their jobs could be done outside the office. Further, they added, there is no uniform policy for reporting COVID-19 cases.

Federal workers themselves have also pushed back against the White House suggestion that workers should be encouraged to return to their offices in some areas.

The American Federation of Government Employees that represents 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers recommends six preconditions that should be met prior to returning to offices.

Everett Kelley, president of the AFGE, called the White House guidelines “both premature and imprudent.” –Daniella Cheslow

All of the eatery’s locations are currently closed except the original on U Street. Dave Newman / Flickr

Ben’s Chili Bowl To Get Paycheck Protection Program Loan

April 28, 5:28 p.m.: Ben’s Chili Bowl was notified on Tuesday that it would receive a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program. The local institution, which opened in 1958, is among many area restaurants struggling to survive during the pandemic, as hours have been cut and sales have dropped by 80%.

The news comes after the Ali family, which owns the restaurant, previously applied for PPP funding, but found out their application was not approved before the first round of funds ran out. All of the eatery’s locations are currently closed except the original on U Street, which is operating for takeout and delivery.

Read more about how the D.C. icon is weathering coronavirus. —Nathan Diller

County officials say they hope to have face coverings available on all Ride On buses by early May. NurseTogether / Flickr

Montgomery County Will Provided Limited Face Coverings For Bus Riders

April 28, 3:24 p.m.: Montgomery County’s Ride On Bus will have limited “individually wrapped face coverings” available on buses in the Silver Spring area starting Tuesday, the county said in a release today.

The pilot project aims to provide masks to those who need them. Earlier this month, Maryland required masks to be worn while in stores and on public transit.

“We are grateful to the Department of General Services’ efforts to provide the supplies needed to help protect our riders,” said Chris Conklin, the county’s department of transportation director. “That said, I strongly encourage Ride On passengers to provide their own face coverings whenever possible and so we can reserve these spare coverings for those who have no alternative.”

Masks, scarves and bandanas that cover the nose and mouth are all acceptable, but many people might not be aware of the order to wear masks. People who don’t wear one may be asked to leave the bus.

Conklin said he wants to remind people that they should only ride the bus for essential travel.

MCDOT officials say they hope to have face coverings available on all Ride On buses by early May.

In Virginia, a delegate has asked the state’s transportation secretary to require masks on buses, to limit ten people to a bus, and to increase service to meet the added demand.

WMATA and D.C. Circulator don’t mandate masks, and instead request that they be worn. — Jordan Pascale

Social distancing markers at a Safeway in Arlington. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Mayor Bowser Expands Priority Testing For Grocery Store Employees, Other Essential Workers

April 28, 12:22 p.m.: Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Tuesday that she is expanding the criteria for priority coronavirus testing to include grocery store workers, critical government employees, and other essential workers who are asymptomatic but have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release.

“Every day, we have workers out in the community ensuring we have access to food and other essential products and services, and those workers are safer and so is everyone else when we know who has the virus and who has been exposed to it,” Bowser said in the press release.

Critical infrastructure workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 were already being prioritized for testing, and last week, Bowser broadened the guidelines to include asymptomatic first responders, healthcare workers, and vulnerable groups who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Those vulnerable populations include people over the age of 65, those with underlying health conditions, and those living in long-term care facilities.

Grocery store workers have found themselves on the frontlines of the pandemic, as stores have remained open during the crisis. Some local workers expressed concerns about their safety, and a number have already tested positive for COVID-19, including at three Trader Joe’s locations in D.C. and Virginia, and six local ALDI stores, WUSA9 reported.

In the press release, Bowser noted that D.C. is providing free testing at University of the District of Columbia Community College’s Bertie Backus campus, United Medical Center, and other sites throughout the District. Workers can make an appointment via the COVID-19 testing hotline by calling 1-855-363-0333 for assistance in English, or 1-844-796-2797 for both English and Spanish. –Nathan Diller

There are 38,446 confirmed cases of the virus in D.C., Maryland and Virginia WAMU

Nearly 38,500 Cases And More Than 1,600 Deaths In D.C., Maryland, And Virginia

April 28, 11:28 a.m.: The coronavirus death toll in D.C., Maryland and Virginia has topped 1,600 people, up more than 100 from yesterday.

This morning, the jurisdictions reported a total of 1,611 coronavirus-related deaths, a 7% uptick from yesterday and a 58% increase from one week ago. There are 38,446 confirmed cases of the virus in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, up 4% from Monday and 43% from last Tuesday.

D.C. reported five deaths and 102 infections, bringing the totals to 190 deaths and 3,994 confirmed cases of the virus, respectively. That marks about a 3% increase in both deaths and infections from Monday. So far, 660 people have recovered.

Ward 8 has seen the most deaths (43 people), followed by wards 5 and 6 (28 people) and Ward 7 (25 people). Of the 190 victims, 150 are African American, though only 46% of the District’s population is black.

In Maryland, there have been 929 coronavirus-related deaths and 20,113 known cases of the virus, and 626 of the cases are new, about a 3% uptick from yesterday. Another 71 people have died since Monday, about an 8% day-over-day increase. The state also reported 87 total probable deaths, meaning the death certificates state coronavirus as the cause of death but haven’t been confirmed by lab tests yet.

Prince George’s County continues to see the most infections (5,496 cases and 195 deaths), followed by Montgomery County (4,003 cases and 201 deaths), Baltimore County (2,631 cases and 94 deaths) and Baltimore City (1,977 cases and 83 deaths). So far 1,295 people have been released from isolation in Maryland.

Virginia reported another 34 deaths — a 7% uptick from yesterday — bringing its total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 492. Virginia also reported another 804 infections, up almost 6% from yesterday, for a total of 14,339 known cases in the Commonwealth.

Fairfax County continues to see the most cases (3,278) and the most deaths (114 people), followed by Prince William (1,449 cases and 20 deaths), Henrico (835 cases and 95 deaths), and Arlington counties (865 cases and 32 deaths). —Julie Strupp

Virginia Hospital Center’s collection spot in Arlington for people to get coronavirus testing. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

D.C. Unveils Mobile Testing Unit, Which Can Test 50 Samples In Four Hours

April 28, 10:52 a.m.: D.C. health officials are unveiling a new mobile testing unit today that can test up to 50 samples for coronavirus in four hours. The mobile unit will be operated by D.C.’s Public Health Lab, using equipment from the Centers for Disease Control. It will be deployed throughout the District to locations with at-risk populations, such as long-term care facilities.

As of April 27, the Public Health Lab has tested 2,527 samples, about one-third of which have come back positive. The lab’s capacity is up to 500 tests per day, and there is currently no backlog.

In addition to the new mobile testing unit, the lab also operates drive-through and walk-through testing sites at United Medical Center in Southeast, and UDC-CC Bertie Backus Campus in Northeast. Testing at those sites is free, by appointment only and reserved for healthcare workers and others in at-risk groups.

Here’s more on where to get tested in the region. — Jacob Fenston

Some Maryland residents will vote today to fill the late Elijah Cummings’ seat. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Some Marylanders Go To The Polls Today, As Officials Urge Vote By Mail

April 28, 8:22 a.m.: It’s election day in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District — a special election to fill the seat of the late Elijah Cummings. Election officials are strongly encouraging voters to stay home and vote by mail.

There are three in-person polling places open for people who did not receive a ballot or who need assistance voting. Election officials mailed ballots to all 510,000 registered voters in the district, which includes parts of Howard County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Mailed ballots don’t need a stamp and must be postmarked by today, April 28.

Cummings served in Congress since 1996, and died in October. The seat has been vacant since then. Now Cummings may be succeeded by his predecessor Kweisi Mfume. Mfume is a fellow Democrat who held the 7th District seat for a decade before leaving the House to lead the NAACP. Mfume is running against Republican Kimberly Klacik.

There is one polling place in each of the three jurisdictions in the district, open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Locations are listed here. —Jacob Fenston

More Stories from Monday

Single adults in Montgomery County will receive a $500 payment. Families with one child will get $1,000, plus $150 for each additional child, topping out at $1,450. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Montgomery County Offers Aid To Residents Who Won’t Get Federal Or State Relief

April 27, 9:27 p.m.: Montgomery County will give one-time relief payments between $500 and $1,450 to low-income residents who don’t qualify for federal stimulus money or state benefits.

These checks will go out starting early next week to residents whose income is less than 50% of the federal poverty level, County Executive Marc Elrich announced today.

The money will benefit people who cannot file taxes or don’t have a social security number, including undocumented immigrants, spokesperson for Montgomery County Health and Human Services Mary Anderson said.

“COVID-19 continues to take a toll on our economy and this program is one way to help stabilize families that are fighting to survive,” Elrich said in a statement.

Single adults will receive a $500 payment. Families with one child will get $1,000, plus $150 for each additional child, topping out at $1,450.

The first round of checks will go to families who participate in the county’s Care for Kids program, which provides healthcare to Montgomery County children who don’t qualify for state or federal insurance. Going forward, the county will work with local nonprofits to identify families and individuals who are eligible to receive these payments before opening a formal application for residents who did not receive aid but would like to apply. –Hannah Schuster

Gov. Larry Hogan announced data on COVID-19 deaths in Maryland nursing homes will become available this week on the state’s coronavirus resource page. Chris O'Meara / AP Photo

Maryland Will Release Data On COVID-19 In Nursing Homes

Updated April 28 2:15 p.m.

April 27, 8:08 p.m.: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) today directed the state’s health department to begin publishing data on COVID-19 cases and fatalities associated with individual nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

This move comes after families and advocates pressured the state to release this information.

County health departments have released information about the nursing homes in their jurisdictions — such as the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Carroll County, which has experienced a severe outbreak. But last week, the Maryland Department of Health said that county health departments should not release data on cases linked to nursing homes, stating this information “fell squarely within the state’s confidentiality provisions,” and that it served no public health purpose.

Multiple news outlets, including WJLA and the Baltimore Sun, said they had filed public records requests seeking this information, which were denied.

Hogan’s announcement says data will become available this week on the state’s coronavirus resource page.

“Keeping Marylanders informed and being transparent with the facts continues to be at the heart of our response to COVID-19,” Hogan said in a statement.

D.C. recently started publishing data on specific nursing homes. Virginia provides the total number of cases and deaths linked to long-term care facilities but does not break them down by individual facility.

This story has been updated to clarify the release of nursing home information by county.

–Hannah Schuster

A Prince George County firefighter walks the halls of UM Laurel Medical Center in Laurel, Md., Friday, April 17, 2020 Susan Walsh / AP Photo

D.C. Allocates $25 Million To Help Area Hospitals Address Surge In COVID-19 Patients

April 27, 5:40 p.m.: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the city will allocate $25 million in grant money to 10 local hospitals to help them prepare for a possible surge in COVID-19 patients.

Hospitals set to receive funding include George Washington University Hospital, which was allocated about $5 million — the largest sum awarded to any of the 10 hospitals. The District awarded $4.2 million to Howard University, roughly $4 million to MedStar Washington Hospital Center and $3.7 million to United Medical Center. Sibley Memorial Hospital will be given about $3.5 million, while Children’s National Hospital will receive about $2 million and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital will get $1.2 million.

Hospitals are set to receive the funding on May 1, which is being allocated based on the number of beds each has available to accommodate a likely uptick in COVID-19 patients.

This funding was included in recent emergency D.C. council legislation to support the District’s response to the pandemic. Money can be used for personnel, supplies and equipment needed to treat patients and the construction of temporary space to be used for testing or treatment.

The D.C. government is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to convert the Walter E. Washington Convention Center into an alternate care facility. The mayor said the facility, which should accommodate up to 500 beds, is expected to be completed the first week of May. —Hannah Schuster

On April 8, 24 days after D.C. closed down all gyms to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Washington Sports Club froze all membership accounts. Ryan De Hamer / Unsplash

Washington Sports Club Will Finally Stop Charging Members During The Coronavirus Pandemic

April 27, 5:20 p.m.: After receiving dozens of complaints about Washington Sports Club during the coronavirus pandemic, D.C.’s Attorney General says the gym chain’s parent company has agreed to change its cancellation and membership freeze policies.

The parent company, Town Sports International (TSI), will stop charging members while the gyms are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also credit members for dues they paid during the closure and allow members to cancel for free if they submit cancellation requests by this Thursday, April 30.

Attorney General Karl Racine and the attorneys general of New York and Pennsylvania threatened legal action against TSI in early April. It’s not the first time the company’s policies have angered D.C. residents: Racine filed suit against the company last year over its cancelation and membership policies. Three years before that, TSI reached a settlement with the Attorney General’s office and agreed to a $20,000 payout to local customers.

Washington Sports Club members can request cancellation by filling out the “Contact Us” form on the WSC website. —Mikaela Lefrak

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

Judge Allows Gun Range To Reopen Temporarily, Over Virginia Attorney General’s Objection

April 27, 5:05 p.m.: Gun rights activists won a legal battle on Monday when a Virginia Circuit Court judge issued an order allowing a Lynchburg gun range to reopen.

In the preliminary injunction, Circuit Court Judge F. Patrick Yeatts ruled that the range, SafeSide Tactical, could reopen as long as it follows the social distancing guidelines in Governor Ralph Northam’s executive order. All other gun ranges in the state remain closed in accordance with the stay-at-home order.

SafeSide Tactical’s lawsuit claims that Northam exceeded his authority and violated the Second Amendment of the U.S Constitution. Three gun rights groups joined the lawsuit: The Virginia Citizens Defense League, Gun Owners of America and the Association of Virginia Gun Ranges.

Attorney General Mark Herring filed a brief last week requesting the injunction be denied. He issued a statement today in response to the preliminary injunction: “Governor Northam’s efforts to save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19 are necessary and proving to be effective, but unfortunately, the gun lobby believes the ability to shoot a gun indoors during this pandemic is worth risking further spread of the virus and making Virginia communities and families less safe.”

Yeatt’s order will remain in effect until May 8. —Mikaela Lefrak

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

Maryland Revamps Unemployment Portal After Serious Tech Issues

April 27, 4:52 p.m.: After people applying for unemployment compensation on Maryland’s web portal ran into delays and error messages due to high traffic, the Maryland Department of Labor is making significant changes to its website and the application process.

Among the updates designed to prevent future problems, applicants will have to wait in a virtual line before entering the online system. Applicants will be able to see how many people are ahead of them, receive an estimated wait time and sign-up to get an email when it’s their turn.

The department is also setting aside specific days of the week for different types of claim filings. Sundays and Mondays will be reserved for residents to file their weekly claim certifications. Anyone who needs to file a new unemployment claim must do so on Tuesday through Saturday.

Maryland launched its BEACON one-stop application portal on Friday, but the site quickly encountered technical issues. Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Labor disabled the website for maintenance, and after it came back online around 7 p.m., the site was still operating slowly.

“The launch of the site has clearly fallen short,” a department announcement said.

The Department of Labor says it was necessary to build an entirely new system to handle the influx of applications for both regular unemployment insurance and benefits established under the CARES Act.

“If we had attempted to program our older system to accept applications for the CARES act, it would have taken weeks, if not months,” Tiffany Robinson, secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor said in a statement. “This was not an option.” —Hannah Schuster

Virginia Hospital Center set up a collection spot in Arlington for people to get tested for COVID-19, pictured in this Mar 18, 2020 file photo. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

Virginia Finds Sources For More Swabs And PPE, Still Lags Region In Testing

April 27, 3:20 p.m.: Coronavirus testing in Virginia nearly doubled last week to about 4,000 people a day, Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday. But he has set a target of 10,000 tests per day, and the state still lags behind Maryland and D.C. in tests per capita.

Northam also said Virginia has received 300,000 surgical masks and 800,000 gloves from the Virginia-based Northfield Medical Manufacturing, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent 14,000 swabs. An additional 200,000 swabs are on order, said Secretary of Health Dan Carey.

“We’ve made a lot of progress, and we’ve got a supply chain now,” Northam said.

COVID-19 Cases continue to rise in Virginia, and nursing homes are still a vulnerable point, Health Commissioner Norman Oliver said.

Northam urged parents to continue to vaccinate their children, noting that doctors have seen a decline in immunizations during the pandemic.

“We don’t want to see an outbreak of a preventable disease such as measles on top of COVD-19,” Northam said. —Daniella Cheslow

Out of the 435 District residents who are currently hospitalized, 124 of them in intensive care units and 84 are on ventilators. D.C. Office of the Mayor / Screenshot

D.C. Cases Drop, But Officials Decline To Draw Conclusions

April 27, 2:10 p.m.: D.C. recorded 51 new COVID-19 infections this morning, marking a significant drop compared to all other 24-hour periods in the past week.

However, the director of the city’s health department, Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, said it’s too early to say that the District is flattening the curve.

“I’m not prepared to make any inferences from a one-day change. I’m interested in observing trends over time,” Nesbitt said during Mayor Muriel Bowser’s daily coronavirus press briefing on Monday. She pointed to the fact that hospitalizations dropped for a few days last week but surged again today. Nesbitt also noted that contact-tracing has been reserved for health care works and shelter residents in the District, making it difficult to draw broader conclusions about where people are contracting the virus.

Out of the 435 District residents who are currently hospitalized, 124 of them in intensive care units and 84 are on ventilators. Last week, 402 were hospitalized, 120 of them in intensive care units and 59 were on ventilators.

The city is currently negotiating contracts for additional hospital staff and equipment, including 250 more ventilators. Construction on the temporary hospital at the DC Convention Center is underway, and the city will be awarding $25 million worth of grants to 10 area hospitals based on how many additional beds they can provide. —Mikaela Lefrak

Two former D.C. mayors also sit on the committee, Anthony Williams and Adrian Fenty. Office of the Mayor / Courtesy of ReOpen DC

 Mayor Bowser Announces Members Of Task Force To Reopen D.C.

April 27, 12:30 p.m.: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has tapped two national security experts to lead the committee that will determine how to reopen the District in the eventual wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bowser selected Susan Rice, the former National Security Advisor under President Barack Obama, and Michael Chertoff, the former Secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush, to head up the ReOpen D.C. Advisory Group.

“We need a plan ready to go that is based on the science and tailored to the needs of our community,” Bowser said during her daily coronavirus press briefing on Monday morning.

Two former D.C. mayors, Anthony Williams and Adrian Fenty, also sit on the advisory panel. They will each oversee subcommittees, as will Phil Mendelson, the D.C Council Chairman, Jeffrey DeWitt, the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Nicole Lurie, the former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response under Obama, and Beverly Perry, a senior advisor to the mayor.

And the mayor has sought the help of former First Lady Michelle Obama to help the District’s coronavirus response. Obama, a Kalorama resident, has recorded a public service announcement with information about coronavirus testing and the city’s stay-at-home order that will be broadcast through robocalls and radio ads.

The committee will host a virtual town hall for Washingtonians on Wednesday. Its initial report to the mayor is due the week of May 11. —Mikaela Lefrak

The latest regional COVID-19 data.

 COVID-19 Deaths Top 1,500 in D.C., Maryland And Virginia

April 27, 11:58 a.m.: The coronavirus death toll in D.C., Maryland and Virginia has passed 1,500.

The jurisdictions have now reported a total of 1,501 coronavirus-related deaths, a 3% uptick from yesterday and a 63% increase from one week ago. There are 36,914 confirmed cases of COVID-19 D.C., Maryland and Virginia, up 4% from Sunday and 44% from last Monday.

D.C. recorded another seven deaths and 51 infections this morning, bringing the totals to 185 deaths and 3,892 confirmed cases of the virus, respectively. That marks a 4% increase in deaths and about a 1% increase in infections from Sunday. So far 659 people have recovered.

Ward 8 has seen the most deaths (42 people), followed by Ward 6 (28 people), Ward 5 (27 people) and Ward 7 (25 people). Of the 185 victims, 147 are black, though only 46% of the District’s population is black.

In Maryland, there have been 858 COVID-19-related deaths and 19,487 known cases of the virus. 906 of the cases are new, about a 5% uptick from yesterday. Another 31 people have died since Sunday, about a 4% day-over-day increase. The state has reported 87 total probable deaths, meaning the victims likely died of the coronavirus but a lab test never confirmed this.

Prince George’s County continues to see the most infections (5,263 cases and 187 deaths), followed by Montgomery County (3,843 cases and 190 deaths), Baltimore County (2,548 cases and 87 deaths) and Baltimore City (1,933 cases and 82 deaths). So far 1,263 people have been released from isolation in Maryland.

Virginia reported another 10 deaths — a 2% uptick from yesterday — bringing the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 458. Virginia reported another 565 infections, up 4% from yesterday, for a total of 13,535 known cases in the commonwealth.

Fairfax County continues to see the most cases (3,002) and the most deaths (100 people), followed by Henrico (817 cases and 89 deaths), Arlington (836 cases and 32 deaths) and Prince William counties (1,353 cases and 20 deaths). —Julie Strupp

Gig workers and self-employed people have faced delays and confusion when applying for unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Bytemarks / Flickr

After Tech Issues, Maryland’s Unemployment Portal Is Back Open But Still Slow

April 27, 9:45 a.m.: As tens of thousands of residents try to apply for unemployment benefits in Maryland, the state’s new online portal has been beset by “technical difficulties.” The Maryland Department of Labor disabled the website for maintenance yesterday, and reported that even though the BEACON One-Stop portal was back online as of 7 p.m last night, it was still operating slowly and the vendor “cannot guarantee that additional technical difficulties will not arise.” The site will be unavailable from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. for the next several days.

This is not the first time the website has had problems. A few days ago, the department reported “minor glitches,” but online, people had a different view. One Twitter user expressed frustrated with the delays: “Translation from government BS to real talk: The website sucks, expect it to continue to suck, and the company we paid to build the website told us they don’t know how to build websites.”

The new BEACON one-stop unemployment insurance application was launched on April 24. It’s meant to be easier for residents to use because several types of claims can be filed online through one application, including regular benefits, CARES Act benefits and individuals who were previously required to file by phone.

The state already has received more jobless claims this year than it did in all of last year. —Kavitha Cardoza

For more on how coronavirus has impacted the D.C. region, see these updates from the week of April 20-April 26.

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