Coronavirus Latest: D.C. May Have Hit New Peak In Community Spread Metric

D.C., Maryland, and Virginia’s latest numbers for May 31.

May 31, 1:28 p.m.: While Maryland recorded its lowest-ever positivity rate and Virginia saw a slight dip in reported cases, D.C officials are investigating a potential new peak in the city’s community spread data after 17 days of decline.

In total, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia recorded 1,842 new cases on Sunday and 30 new deaths, counting both confirmed and probable figures.

D.C.

After D.C. reached its 17th day of decline in community spread yesterday, city health officials are now pausing the measure to review a potential new peak in cases. Today, the District reported 84 new cases, following Saturday’s reported 179 new cases — which was the highest number in six days.

The potential new peak comes two days after the city entered it’s first phase of reopening. A 14-day decline in community spread was a necessary metric to begin reopening, which the District reached last Wednesday. The community spread metric is calculated by counting new infections by the date people reported developing symptoms, and it excludes cases in communal spaces like nursing homes and jails.

It remains unclear how a potential new peak could impact D.C.’s stay-at-home lite order. Last week, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that the 14-day decline in community spread did not guarantee a steady decrease in the data once D.C. reopened. However, in a press conference today Bowser said she is concerned about case increases as large crowds gather in protests across the city this weekend.

As of Sunday, the District has 8,801 total cases, and it has tested 46,483 people. Four additional deaths were recorded, bringing the city’s death toll to 466.

Maryland

Maryland reported 763 new cases, its lowest since May 27, when the state reported the same number, bringing the total caseload to 52,778.

While local leaders largely dropped the test positivity rate (the percent of positive cases out of total testing) as a key reopening metric, Maryland reported that the measure dropped to 10.9% on Sunday, the state’s lowest ever.

Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Maryland’s hardest hit jurisdictions, also saw declines in their percent positivity rates over the past 24 hours. Prince George’s County reported a percent positivity of 16.9%, down from Saturday’s 17.5%, and Montgomery County dropped from 13.9% to 12.9%. However, the two D.C.-area counties continue to boast the state’s high caseloads, with Prince George’s County recording 15,220 cases and Montgomery County with 11,361. They are set to begin the first phase of reopening on June 1.

Across Maryland, 21 additional deaths were reported on Sunday, bringing the state’s total to 2,411.

Virginia

Virginia reported 996 new cases Sunday — its lowest in three days and below the moving seven-day average of 1,195 — bringing the total caseload to 44,607. An additional five people died from the coronavirus in the commonwealth, the lowest number of recorded deaths in a 24 hour period in about two weeks. 1,375 people in total have died from the coronavirus in Virginia.

In Northern Virginia, where counties recently lifted their extended stay-at-home orders on Friday, the region reported 446 new cases on Sunday, below the seven-day average of 685.3. Two additional deaths were reported in Northern Virginia on Sunday, the lowest number recorded in a 24-hour period since April 12.

Virginia recorded 5,986 new tests on Sunday, with a positivity rate of 11.3%, slightly below last week’s seven day average of 11.7%. —Colleen Grablick

Maryland Reports Lowest Test Positivity Rate In Two Months; D.C. Reports Highest Cases In Nearly A Week

May 30, 12:09 p.m.: D.C., Maryland, and Virginia added another 2,284 cases this morning, bringing the total caseload to 104,343. The three jurisdictions reported 57 new COVID-19 deaths, marking a total death toll of 4,341. These numbers come as D.C. and Northern Virginia began a phased reopening.

The totals include all confirmed and probable cases and deaths linked to the coronavirus that are reported by local jurisdictions. Here’s what the numbers look like in each jurisdiction.

The District

D.C. reported another 179 new cases, marking the highest number in six days. The District’s total positive caseload is now at 8,717. Another two people died of the virus, bringing the District’s total death toll to 462.

Ward 4 continues to report the most positive tests (1,828), and Ward 8 has the most deaths (94 people). Black Washingtonians still account for the majority (75%) of coronavirus-related deaths in D.C.

The District also reached 17 days of sustained decrease in community spread, on of the main metrics being used to determine the city’s reopening plans, according to D.C. Health.

Maryland

Maryland reported another 1,027 positive cases, its lowest in three days, but still higher than the state’s seven-day average. The state’s total caseload is now over 52,000.

An additional 43 residents died of COVID-19, bringing the state’s death toll to 2,509.

Maryland’s positive COVID-19 test rate dropped to 11.6%, its lowest rate since March 29, Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Saturday, touting the state’s new testing site at Six Flags America. Hogan also said that hospitalizations are at a six-week low.

This comes a week after White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx said the metropolitan D.C. area has the highest positivity rate in the United States. She noted that 42 states had hit the 10 percent positive test rate over seven days, a benchmark recommended by experts.

Maryland’s positivity rate peaked at 26.91% in mid-April, and has dropped steadily in counties, including Baltimore, Frederick, and Howard counties. Counties in the D.C. region continue to see high positivity rates, though they are trending downward. Prince George’s County, while dropping by more than 58% since April, has a current positivity rate of 17.5% and Montgomery County has a rate of 13.9%, the state reports.

Virginia

Virginia reported another 1,078 positive cases, bringing the state’s total to 43,611. Another 12 Virginians died of COVID-19—a significant drop from Thursday’s record high of 57—marking 1,370 total deaths across the state.

The Virginia Department of Health is also changing its reporting method, beginning today, by updating local health district counts using “more accurate ZIP Code information,” the department announced. The new data will update 37,662 test results that were previously missing geographic data, and didn’t appear in local district totals. — Elliot Williams

Maryland Launches Mental Health Program For Nursing Home Staff

May 29, 5:25 p.m.: The Maryland Department of Health is launching a new mental health support program for workers in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Starting today, the Maryland COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis Support Program will provide mental health and grief counseling for individuals or groups, and training on stress management, resiliency, and self-care. Services will be virtual, free to workers, and available during and outside of normal business hours.

With the program’s launch today, state staff are asking nursing home facilities with major coronavirus outbreaks what mental health services frontline workers need. Dr. Aliya Jones, who leads the state’s Behavioral Health Administration, says reaction to the announcement from facilities has been positive.

“There are already programs that are reaching out for support,” she says.

The idea for targeting support at nursing home staff has been in the works for about a month, according to Jones. Observations from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, which has been sending in staff to bolster nursing homes with coronavirus outbreaks, were part of the impetus.

“When they were going into these facilities, they were encountering and interacting with the staff, obviously, and noticed a significant amount of emotional stress and distress,” Jones says.

Those stressors include long hours due to chronic staff shortages; anxiety and fear about bringing COVID-19 home to families; and grief over the death of patients.

“Certainly when you’re working in a nursing home environment, you’re not unfamiliar with deaths. You certainly expect that for a certain cohort of the more sick people that you’re caring for,” Jones says. “However, you certainly don’t see death in such large numbers.”

Another challenge, Jones notes, is the stigma health care workers often feel asking for mental health support. She says that by working directly with employers, the program will meet workers where they are.

“We’re not waiting for individuals to raise their hands and say that they need help,” she says.

Jones says the program will run at least through the end of this year, and possibly longer.

“The behavioral effects from this pandemic are going to be with us for several years,” she says. “The acute issues will be with us until there is a vaccine. And so until that happens, the stressors that our medical workforce will be exposed to will continue to be extreme.” — Margaret Barthel

Breweries, wineries, and distilleries will be allowed to provide service outdoors Matt Brown / Flickr

Maryland Extends Ban On Utility Shutoffs, Allows Outdoor Alcohol Service

May 29, 1:30 p.m.: Today Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued two coronavirus-related emergency orders. The first extends a moratorium on utility shutoffs and late fees for residents, and the other allows breweries, wineries, and distilleries to provide service outdoors.

Through July 1, electric, gas, water, sewage, phone, cable TV, and internet service provider companies are prohibited from shutting off residential customers’ service, or from charging them late fees.

The other order, effective until the state of emergency has been lifted, allows breweries, wineries, distilleries, and other state-licensed alcohol manufacturers to provide service in outdoor seating areas, though CDC and Maryland Department of Health guidelines (like limiting the number of people gathered in one place) still apply. These manufacturers are also permitted to ship alcohol via third party carriers like UPS and FedEx. —Julie Strupp

Activists blocked some streets on Memorial Day, demanding the mayor’s administration close parts of the street network and open them up to pedestrians and cyclists. Jordan Pascale / WAMU

Bowser Announces New Measures For Street Safety As D.C. Reopens

May 29, 12:55 p.m.: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser outlined plans Friday to reform D.C. streets in an effort to increase pedestrian safety and expand space for social distancing measures as the city slowly begins to reopen.

Under the reforms, the District Department of Transportation is allowing restaurants to apply for expanded outdoor space into sidewalks and roads, creating what Bowser calls “streateries.” The expansion is meant to facilitate social distancing. According to DDOT Director Jeff Marootian, businesses’ applications for outdoor expansion will be processed in days. Restaurants and retailers that did not have outdoor space permits before the pandemic may now apply to operate curbside pickup through the D.C. coronavirus website.

Additionally, speed limits on local roads will be dropped from 25 to 20 miles per hour — a part of the city’s Vision Zero plan to decrease traffic facilities (which has often been met with criticism by safe transportation advocates).

DDOT will also be identifying residential roads that will be limited to local traffic only. The speed limit on these roads will be lowered to 15 miles per hour. In Friday’s press conference, Bowser says that once selected, the roads will not be completely closed to cars, but that some signage and blockades will be posted informing drivers of new restrictions.

Initiatives for open streets were touched on in the ReOpen DC task force recommendations, but residents and D.C. Councilmembers expressed frustration with the lack of concrete plans for ensuring pedestrian safety in the city’s reopening plans. On Memorial Day, several residents across D.C. closed their residential streets to through traffic in protest of the city’s perceived slow response to opening streets. —Colleen Grablick

Cases Pass 100,000 Milestone In D.C., Maryland, And Virginia As Localities Relax Restrictions

May 29, 12:16 p.m.: Cases of COVID-19 topped 100,000 in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia this morning, as more localities roll back pandemic-related restrictions today and in the coming weeks.

There are 2,457 new known cases of the coronavirus in the three jurisdictions, 102,059 total, and testing continues to ramp up. That means six in every 1,000 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Sixty-five more people have died, 4,284 total. Today D.C. and Northern Virginia begin reopening certain businesses.

The totals include all confirmed and probable cases and deaths linked to the coronavirus that are reported by local jurisdictions. Here’s what the numbers look like in each jurisdiction.

The District

D.C. reported seven more deaths this morning and 46 new positive cases, its lowest case count in months, as it begins to ease restrictions. (Worth noting however: the District also recorded a low amount of new tests today.) That brings its total to 8,538 cases with 43,514 tests administered.

Another seven people have recovered, 1,089 total. The District’s positivity rate is 19.5%.

Ward 4 continues to see the most cases (1,795, and 65 deaths), and Ward 8 has the most deaths (94, with 1,196 cases). By neighborhood, Columbia Heights and 16th Street Heights continue to see the highest number of infections, with 547 and 492 cases respectively. (You can read a more detailed breakdown of this neighborhood data here.)Earlier this week D.C. hit 14 days of “sustained decline” in the community spread of COVID-19, which is one of the metrics officials cited for reopening. This past weekend D.C. saw a brief uptick in cases, and officials reset the calendar back by three days.

Virginia

Virginia reported 20 deaths today—down significantly from the past two days of record-high numbers—and tallied 1,132 new cases, which is slightly above its seven-day average. The Commonwealth’s positivity rate stands at 13.4%, with 296,321 tests administered.

Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, and Alexandria counties continue to see the most cases, in that order. Today the Northern Virginia region recorded another 604 cases of the virus, which is a bit lower than its seven-day average.

Arlington, Fairfax, and other Northern Virginia jurisdictions begin phase one of reopening today, and a statewide mask requirement also goes into effect for people entering shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

Maryland

Maryland recorded another 38 deaths this morning and 1,279 new cases as it further relaxes restrictions today on activities like youth sports and outdoor summer camps.

The state’s positivity rate has dropped to 12.4% with 328,516 tests administered, down by more than half from its April 17 peak of 26.9%. Governor Larry Hogan cited this drop in positivity rate and the state hitting its goal of 10,000 tests per day as reasons for easing the shutdown.

Another 103 people have recovered, 3,571 total, while hospitalizations dropped by 38 to 1,296 total. This week Hogan spokesperson Mike Ricci noted the state’s hospitalizations have dropped 25% since April 30.

Both Prince George’s and Montgomery counties will begin gradually reopening on June 1, though they still have the highest number of deaths and cases in the state, with 14,773 and 11,035 cases respectively. —Julie Strupp

Washington National Airport. Nathan Walls / Flickr

Dulles And National Airports Now Require Face Coverings For Travelers

May 29, 11:57 a.m.: All travelers at Dulles International and National Airport are now required to wear face coverings inside the airports beginning Friday, according to a press release from the airports. All passengers and visitors to the airports need to wear the masks or face coverings, with exceptions for children under 10 years old and people with certain medical conditions that prevent them from covering their faces.

The change in policy came in response to a new mandate from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam requiring face coverings in all indoor settings in the state.

Employees, contractors, and tenants at the airports have had to wear masks since mid-May. The masks worn by people in the airport do not have to be surgical masks or n-95 respirators, and according to the airports, cloth and disposable masks are available for sale at newsstands in the airports. Airport security may ask travelers to temporarily adjust their masks as they verify passports and ID.

The press release emphasized that face coverings “do not replace other critical health measures like frequent hand washing and appropriate social distancing.”

Face masks are required inside retail establishments and on public transportations in Maryland. At BWI Airport, masks are required in airport restaurants and shops, and “recommended” elsewhere in the airport. A number of airlines require masks during check-in and boarding, and on flights. —Jenny Gathright

The Shaw library and all other public libraries in D.C. have been closed since March 16. Elvert Barnes / Flickr

Some DC Public Libraries Begin Curbside Service Today

May 29, 8:18 a.m.: Curbside pickup and dropoff is now available at two D.C. Public libraries, and the service will expand to other branches in each ward over the next two weeks. Library locations will be staggered and open in phases to ensure the safety of customers and staff as physical book collection begins. All library buildings will remain closed to the public, and due dates are extended to August.

Customers can request materials online or by phone. For adult material, (202) 747-1017 and for youth material (202) 747-5054. Library staff will coordinate a pick up time and location.

Libraries will provide curbside service at the following locations and times:

Friday, May 29 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Anacostia (Returns and Holds)
Cleveland Park (Returns and Holds)

Monday, June 1 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Anacostia (Returns and Holds)
Cleveland Park (Returns and Holds)

Tuesday, June 2 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Anacostia (Returns and Holds)
Cleveland Park (Returns and Holds)

Wednesday-Friday, June 3-5 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Anacostia (Returns and Holds)
Cleveland Park (Returns and Holds)
Mount Pleasant (Return Only)
West End (Return Only)
Shepherd (Return Only)
Woodridge (Return Only)
Northeast Library

Weekday service begins Monday, June 8 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
(Returns and holds at all locations, printing if available)

Anacostia
Benning
Cleveland Park
Mount Pleasant
West End
Shepherd
Woodridge
Northeast Library

Customers who wish to print must send their documents electronically. —Victoria Chamberlin

This post has been updated to include the Northeast Library.

Popular Northern Virginia Roads Close To Cars As Region Reopens

May 28, 8:22 p.m.: Some popular streets in Northern Virginia will temporarily close to vehicles as parts of the Washington region begin to reopen and more space is needed for people to maintain safe distances.

City officials in Alexandria will close the 100 block of King Street to cars starting Friday. Restaurants may use portions of the sidewalk and street for outdoor dining but the changes are not intended to encourage pedestrians to congregate in the area, according to a city news release.

Meanwhile, in Fairfax County, a half-mile stretch of a northbound lane on Tyson’s Boulevard will close to cars at 5 p.m. Friday. The closure extends from Westbranch Drive to the pedestrian entrance of the Lillian Court condominium complex, according to a news release.

Officials did not say how long the closures will last.

Northern Virginia will move into Phase One of reopening tomorrow, two weeks after Gov. Ralph Northam (D) authorized the rest of the state to reopen. Northern Virginia leaders lobbied to delay reopening their region when the rest of the state reopened on May 15th, arguing they had too many new COVID-19 infections and too few tests to safely reopen.

On Monday, top officials in Alexandria city and Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, told Northam in a letter they were prepared to reopen.

In Phase One, restaurants may resume some outdoor dining. Occupancy may not exceed more than 50 percent of capacity, and tables must be positioned at least six feet apart. Groups larger than 10 people are not allowed.

Beauty salons and barbershops will be permitted to reopen but must restrict occupancy to 50 percent. Gyms and sports facilities may resume outdoor activities but people must remain 10 feet apart. —Debbie Truong

The rest of Virginia’s beaches can reopen this weekend, following a model set by Virginia Beach. Chesapeake Bay Program / Flickr

Coronavirus Latest: Beaches, NASCAR To Reopen (With Restrictions) In Virginia

May 28, 3:27 p.m.: Public beaches and NASCAR racing can reopen Friday with restrictions, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday. He pointed out that testing capacities have been bolstered by dozens of new sites in nearly 40 CVS pharmacies statewide.

In a press briefing, Northam said beaches would follow the model set by Virginia Beach, which reopened last week with bans on tents, alcohol, group sports and gatherings of more than ten people.

NASCAR will also be allowed to run single-day events, without spectators, beginning on Friday, according to the governor.

COVID-19 testing in Virginia has expanded in recent days thanks tofree public one-day testing events. Northam noted that CVS will begin accepting reservations for tests on Friday at 39 locations across the state.

Northam also addressed criticism of the commonwealth’s new requirement that people wear masks in indoor public spaces, which goes into effect Friday. Republicans have said it burdens businesses already suffering during the pandemic; worker advocates say its enforcement mechanism is unclear.

Under the executive order, the Virginia Department of Health is tasked with enforcement in “egregious” cases, however Northam declined to define the term.

“If there is a person that’s repetitively not following the rules, the business could notify the Virginia Department of Health and then that investigation could take off,” he said.

He said all of Virginia would remain in Phase 1 for at least one week before he would consider moving to the next stage of easing restrictions. Daniella Cheslow

Some D.C. restaurants open on Friday. Tobias Tullias / Unsplash

New Hours Govern D.C. Restaurants Reopening With Booze On Friday

May 28, 2:45 p.m.: Some D.C. restaurants with outdoor seating will open Friday for the first time in more than two and a half months, as part of the city’s phased reopening plan. But if you’re thinking about rushing out to your favorite restaurant at 12:01 a.m., think again.

The city’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration voted today to limit the hours that businesses with alcohol licenses can operate. Phase One of D.C.’s reopening technically begins at 12:01 a.m., but operating hours for establishments with ABC licenses will be restricted to 8 a.m. to midnight.

Carryout and delivery are not limited to those hours.

Establishments planning to open Friday will also have to follow a number of other regulations. Customers can be served only at outdoor patio areas or “summer gardens” at least six feet away from other parties, and go hungry: You’ll have to buy food, not just drinks. —Mikaela Lefrak

Virginia Sees Record Death Toll For Second Day

May 28, 12:11 p.m..: D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are reporting a high combined case count today as more localities move to roll back pandemic-related restrictions. There are 2,524 new known cases of the coronavirus in the three jurisdictions as testing continues to ramp up. It represents the highest tally since May 21 and the fourth-highest to date.

One hundred and one more people have died, 4,219 known total. More than half of those deaths were in Virginia, which saw a record toll for the second day in a row today.

These totals include all confirmed and probable cases and deaths linked to the coronavirus that are reported by local jurisdictions. Here’s what the numbers look like in each jurisdiction.

The District

D.C. reported eight new deaths this morning, as the city prepares to ease restrictions in phase one of its reopening tomorrow. The District recorded 86 new positive cases, up from yesterday’s 72 but otherwise on the lower end. That brings its total to 8,492 cases with 43,514 tests administered.

Ward 4 continues to see the most cases (1,771, and 63 deaths), and Ward 8 has the most deaths (92, with 1,1742 cases). By neighborhood, Columbia Heights and 16th Street Heights continue to see the highest number of infections, with 532 and 485 cases respectively. (The numbers look different when controlled for population, however.)

D.C. has hit 15 days of “sustained decline” in the community spread of COVID-19; officials wanted to see 14 days before reopening. Community spread is calculated by the date of symptom onset and removes cases at confined facilities such as nursing homes. This past weekend D.C. saw a brief uptick in cases, and officials reset the calendar back by three days.

Virginia

Virginia reported 57 deaths today—its highest to date and second record toll in a row—and tallied 1,152 new cases, which is a bit higher than its 7-day average. The Commonwealth’s positivity rate stands at 13.8%, with 285,273 tests administered.

Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, and Alexandria counties continue to see the most cases, in that order. Today the Northern Virginia region recorded another 685 cases of the virus, which is a bit higher than its 7-day average.

Nonetheless, Arlington, Fairfax, and other Northern Virginia jurisdictions will begin phase one of reopening tomorrow. A statewide mask requirement also goes into effect Friday for people entering shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

Maryland

Maryland recorded another 36 deaths this morning and 1,286 new cases—its highest count since May 19—as it moves to further relax restrictions tomorrow.

The state’s positivity rate has dropped to 12.4%, down by more than half from its April 17 peak of 26.9%. Governor Larry Hogan cited this drop in positivity rate and the state hitting its goal of 10,000 tests per day as reasons for easing the shutdown. So far, 316,797 tests have been administered in total.

Today Prince George’s Executive Angela Alsobrooks confirmed the county will move to the first phase of its gradual reopening on June 1. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is expected to make an announcement about reopening this afternoon.

Another 67 people have recovered, 3,468 total, while hospitalizations dropped by four to 1,334 total. Today’s decrease follows a two-day uptick in hospitalizations, which broke a nine-day decline. This week Hogan spokesperson Mike Ricci noted the state’s hospitalizations have dropped 25% since April 30.

Prince George’s and Montgomery counties still have the highest number of deaths and cases in the state, with 14,508 and 10,752 cases respectively, followed by Baltimore County and Baltimore City. —Julie Strupp

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. , questions witnesses during a virtual Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing, Tuesday. Toni L. Sandys / AP Photo

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine Says He Tested Positive For COVID-19 Antibodies

May 28, 11:26 a.m.: Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said on Thursday that both he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies this month, indicating a high likelihood that they contracted the virus at some point recently.

In a statement, Kaine said that in March both he and his wife Anne Holton developed symptoms that were at first attributed to a bout of the flu, but later assumed to be a “mild case of coronavirus.” They were not tested due to a national test shortage at the time, and by mid-April were both symptom-free.

This month, though, they were both tested for antibodies, which can indicate that a person may have contracted the virus and developed an immune response to fight it. While early antibody tests were prone to returning false positives, more recent developments have made the tests more accurate — and more states and cities are using them as a means to see how extensive the spread of COVID-19 has been.

Still, Kaine said he wouldn’t use the test as a license to change his behavior.

“While those antibodies could make us less likely to be reinfected or infect others, there is still too much uncertainty over what protection antibodies may actually provide,” said Kaine. “So we will keep following CDC guidelines—hand-washing, mask wearing, social distancing. We encourage others to do so as well. It shows those around you that you care about them.”

Earlier this month, Kaine’s choice of face covering during a Senate hearing drew attention.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) tested positive for COVID-19 in late March, as did a handful of members of the House of Representatives. More recently, a Republican member of Pennsylvania’s Legislature tested positive — news that wasn’t shared with his colleagues for days. —Martin Austermuhle

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the 2019 National Book Festival in D.C. Library of Congress / Flickr

Big-Name Authors Like Colson Whitehead Will Still Appear At The Virtual National Book Festival

May 28, 11:12 a.m.: In a typical year, the National Book Festival draws around 200,000 book lovers to D.C.’s convention center for author talks, book signings, and other literary events.

For the festival’s 20th iteration this year, all those events will be virtual. The Library of Congress, which puts on the festival, announced today that the festival has also been pushed back a month to Sept. 25-27.

The event will still feature streamed and recorded talks with blockbuster names from Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead, to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, to bestselling children’s book author (and D.C. area native) Jason Reynolds.

The library is also in discussions with broadcast networks in the hopes of reaching a larger audience. —Mikaela Lefrak

Dr. Ernest Cárter, director of the Prince George’s County Health Department, and County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announce the county’s plan to reopen. Dominique Maria Bonessi / WAMU

Prince George’s County Will Start Its Gradual Reopening On June 1

May 28, 10:45 a.m.: Prince George’s County will enter its first phase of loosening pandemic restrictions on June 1, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced at a press conference on Thursday.

The reopening means that houses of worship can hold gatherings of 10 people or less — or otherwise maintain online services. Farmers’ markets will be open for carryout. Restaurants will be allowed to open outdoor seating, but employees must wear masks, guests must be seated at least 6 feet apart, and no more than 50 people will be allowed at any establishment regardless of space. Barbershops and hair salons will be allowed to open by appointment only, while keeping distance between customers and using personal protective equipment. Childcare facilities will also be open for employees who are returning to work. Golf courses and tennis courts in the county are open, but basketball courts and playgrounds will remain closed.

Because they have the highest number of infections in the state, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County have delayed reopening, even as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has allowed jurisdictions in the state to loosen restrictions. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is expected to make an announcement about reopening on Thursday afternoon.

Alsobrooks and county health officials said declining rates of deaths and hospitalizations, improving hospital capacity, improved testing and improved contact tracing capacity led to the decision to reopen. Alsobrooks said the county will open several new additional testing sites in the next several weeks, including a new site in Chillum on June 1. Alsobrooks said. The county currently has 50 contact tracers, and Alsobrooks said 150 contact tracers would be working by the end of next week.

At least 14,627 residents of Prince George’s County have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least 478 people have died from it — numbers that Alsobrooks said were “almost unthinkable.” Alsobrooks urged residents of the county to continue staying at home when possible and keeping physical distance from people outside their households.

“The loss of life from this virus has been unthinkable,” said Alsobrooks. —Jenny Gathright

The region has seen historic highs in the number of people filing for unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Tyrone Turner / WAMU

As States Start To Reopen, Unemployment Claims Continue Historic Increases

May 28, 9:05 a.m.: An additional 2.1 million people across the U.S. filed jobless claims last week, bringing the total since mid-March to more than 40 million, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

But as states gradually reopen their economies, the number of people actively receiving unemployment benefits dropped slightly, a possible hint of a recovery to come in what has otherwise been a season of historic unemployment levels.

In D.C., 5,123 new claims for unemployment benefits were made in the week ending May 23, a slight decline from the week prior. The same drop held in Maryland, which saw 33,240 in that week. In Virginia, on the other hand, there were 58,591 new claims last week, a jump of almost 14,000 from the week before.

All told, there have been more than 104,000 claims for unemployment benefits in D.C. since mid-March, and 656,000 in Maryland. In Virginia, there have been more than 700,000 claims.

All three jurisdictions are now in some phase of reopening their economies. D.C. and Northern Virginia will start a first phase on Friday, while Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are expected to follow within the week. Other portions of Maryland and Virginia started reopening earlier this month. —Martin Austermuhle

Arlington County Joins Other Northern Virginia Jurisdictions In Phased Reopening Starting Friday

May 27, 8:05 p.m.: Arlington County will join other parts of Northern Virginia in reopening Friday, county officials announced Wednesday.

Starting Friday, non-essential businesses can open at 50 percent capacity as long as they follow certain requirements. Restaurants will be allowed to offer outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity, for example. Gyms will be allowed to offer limited outdoor classes. Beauty and nail salons, barbershops, and other personal grooming services can provide appointment-only services as long as they follow strict guidelines. Drive-in worship services and outdoor services will be allowed.

But other activities will still be off-limits. Movie theaters, basketball courts, racquetball courts, and spray parks will remain closed. Social gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited.

“We have a long way to go before we can be confident the virus is under control,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in a press release. “Continuing our forward progress depends on everyone following health guidelines. We will continue to watch the metrics closely in the coming weeks.”

Earlier Wednesday, officials in Fairfax County similarly announced they would start loosening restrictions on Friday. Several other counties in Northern Virginia have signaled they will start reopening businesses and resuming certain outdoor activities on Friday.

On Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam gave Northern Virginia jurisdictions the green light to enter Phase One of loosening pandemic restrictions — two weeks after the rest of the state had begun reopening. (Coronavirus infection rates in Northern Virginia are among the highest in the state.) Leaders of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties had previously sent Northam a letter saying they were ready to enter Phase One, and they would like to move into Phase Two with the rest of the Commonwealth when the time comes. –Jenny Gathright

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced that some businesses may begin to reopen. Brian Witte / AP Photo

Hogan Says Montgomery And Prince George’s Counties ‘Ought To Move Forward’ As He Announces New Reopenings

May 27, 6:20 p.m.: A new round of reopenings in Maryland could begin Friday evening, but not necessarily in counties that border D.C.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced today that restaurants will be allowed to open outdoor seating starting Friday at 5 p.m. Social distancing and other precautions must be in place. Outdoor pools, drive-in movie theaters, day camps, and youth sports will also be allowed to reopen, with restrictions.

Individual counties can still make their own decisions about reopening, however. Leaders of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, which have been hit hardest by the coronavirus, have not yet announced dates to reopen.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said last week that the county was on track to begin reopening certain businesses on June 1. Earlier Wednesday, officials in Montgomery County said the high utilization of intensive care beds in the county was still a concern for reopening, which they said they were on track to announce within about a week.

Hogan said he disagreed with Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s decision not to set a date for reopening.

“The county leaders aren’t really paying attention to the state plan,” Hogan said. “They’re kind of making up their own metrics … I think they ought to move forward.”

DCist/WAMU has reached out to officials with the counties for comment. Elrich recently criticized Hogan’s decision to announce reopenings but leave details up to individual counties, saying he felt “hung out to dry.”

Today’s announcement places Maryland in its first phase of reopening, but Hogan said he thinks moving to a second phase with more reopenings could be possible as soon as next week. The governor advised Marylanders to continue to avoid crowds of people, and to stay home and work remotely if they can.

“While we are moving to safely reopen our economy and put more people back to work, we want to continue to strongly stress the need to follow CDC guidelines,” Hogan said. “The fight against this virus is by no means over. We must all continue to remain vigilant, particularly as we begin to come into contact with more people.” —Jenny Gathright

Fairfax will gradually begin reopening on Friday. Machvee / Flickr

Fairfax County Will Begin Reopening Friday, Following Northam’s Decree

May 27, 4:45 p.m.: Beginning Friday, people in Fairfax County will be able to dine outside at restaurants, exercise outside at pools and gyms, and attend religious services inside houses of worship—all at limited capacity and in accordance with public health guidelines, county officials announced today.

Social gatherings of more than 10 people will remain banned. Movie theaters, music venues, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment businesses will remain closed. Officials are still advising residents that they’re “safer at home” than in places where people gather, due to coronavirus risks.

The announcement follows Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam saying Tuesday that Northern Virginia could commence the first phase of its reopening May 29—two weeks later than the rest of the commonwealth. Future phases will depend on continued mitigation of COVID-19, but Virginia officials haven’t revealed a date for when those phases might begin.

At restaurants, breweries, distilleries and wineries in Fairfax County, outdoor dining must be restricted to half the capacity of those establishments’ normal indoor capacity, with tables spaced six feet apart and indoor bars closed. Servers must wear cloth face coverings and establishments must use disposable menus.

Houses of worship also must operate at half their normal capacity, with congregants spaced six feet apart (“except for families,” the regulations say). Attendees are strongly advised to wear face coverings. “Items should not be passed around during a religious service,” the county notes in a release. “Wine, beverages and food must be served in individual, disposable containers.”

At fitness facilities, customers, instructors, and equipment must stay 10 feet apart, with classes limited to 10 people each. Outdoor swimming pools will be limited to lap swimming, with one person per lane.

Beauty salons, barbershops, and spas must run at half their normal capacity. Appointments and face coverings are required. “These businesses must keep a record of all clients served, including name, contact information, date and time of service,” the county says. Other retailers can reopen at half capacity, with employees required to wear face coverings. —Andrew Giambrone

The 9:30 Club in D.C. is turning 40 this weekend. Paul Sableman / Flickr

9:30 Club Turns 40 As Pandemic Casts Cloud Over D.C.’s Music Scene

May 27, 3:30 p.m.: The 9:30 Club, one of D.C.’s most beloved and longstanding music venues, celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend amidst a time of uncertainty and upheaval for the city’s live music scene.

The Club takes its name from its original location — 930 F Street NW. It opened there on May 31, 1980, with performances by the Lounge Lizards, a new-wave band from New York, and the local band Tiny Desk Unit. It quickly became a hub for up-and-coming musicians and the city’s punk, hardcore and go-go scenes.

9:30 inaugurated its current location on V Street in 1996 with a set by the Smashing Pumpkins. The club has since hosted performances by some of the country’s biggest touring artists, from Bob Dylan to Radiohead.

This weekend’s anniversary celebration will, of course, be virtual. D.C. businesses will begin to partially reopen on Friday, but gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited, and music venues remain shuttered. The 9:30 Club’s management is urging fans to explore the club’s history on its website, buy a special edition t-shirt, or watch concerts through NPR’s All Songs Considered.

Meanwhile, the club’s leadership is urging local and federal officials to provide economic relief to ensure that it and other venues can survive another 40 years.

“This is an existential threat to every live music venue in the city and the country,” said Audrey Fix Schaefer, the communications director for I.M.P., the company that manages the club. “Our employees are our family. We just want to get back to what we love doing.” —Mikaela Lefrak

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. Tyrone Turner / DCist/WAMU

Maryland Suburbs Hold Off On Reopening, Splitting With D.C. And Northern Virginia

May 27, 3:15 p.m.: D.C. and Northern Virginia have both announced that they will begin gradually reopening certain businesses and activities on Friday, but Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties will not follow suit. However, they may do so soon.

“Last week, we said we thought we’d be able to open within a week or two,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said Wednesday. “We are still in that time frame. We think that’s actually possible.”

Last week Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said she was looking to cautiously reopen the county starting June 1.

Elrich said Montgomery County will provide businesses with information about what the first phase of reopening would look like and will come back later with a specific date.

According to the county’s website, there still have not been 14 days of adequate capacity or decline on several key metrics. A particular challenge has been the county’s acute-care bed utilization rate, which is currently at 73 percent. Officials have said they would like to see acute-care bed utilization below 70 percent for 14 days before they reopen, and said Wednesday they are adding new hospital beds in the county to address the capacity issue.

When asked by a reporter whether he was worried that Montgomery County residents would flock to parts of the area that reopen on Friday, Elrich said no, because all parts of the area will still have strict restrictions on the number of people who can gather and the types of activities that can resume.

“I think people don’t understand fully how constrained things are,” said Elrich. “There’s a lot of stuff that’s still in place that’s going to keep people from flocking anywhere.”

When asked about Montgomery County’s decision not to open, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she thought “it made sense for the region to largely move in step,” adding, “I think that will continue to be the case.” —Jenny Gathright

Six Flags is opening, but not for recreation. The park will host a coronavirus testing site. Scott Ableman / Flickr

Maryland Rolls Out Free Coronavirus Testing At Six Flags In Upper Marlboro

May 27, 12:40 p.m.: Local amusement parks may be closed to roller coaster enthusiasts, but one Maryland park will open for free coronavirus testing Friday.

Gov. Larry Hogan said today that the Six Flags America park in Upper Marlboro will offer drive-through testing, courtesy of the state’s health department, to Marylanders who believe they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. No doctor’s order or appointment will be required.

Another free testing site will open Thursday at a converted Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program station in Clinton. Both sites are in Prince George’s County. As of Friday, Maryland will have opened 11 drive-through community testing sites across the state, per Hogan’s office.

A state-run testing site in Hyattsville has closed, according to Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. In a tweet today, Alsbrooks said the state government didn’t notify her administration that the site, which had opened just last week, would be shuttering.

“As a reminder, any resident seeking testing can call our County Health Department hotline at 301-883-6627,” she added. “We regret so many of our residents were inconvenienced by this unexpected closing.”

More than 48,400 Maryland residents have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, and nearly 2,300 have died from complications related to the virus. —Andrew Giambrone

Cases Top 97,000 In D.C., Maryland, And Virginia

May 27, 12:01 p.m.: D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are reporting low numbers of new cases today, but have also seen an uptick in deaths.

An additional 109 more people have died from the coronavirus in the three jurisdictions. And there are 1,715 new known cases of the virus in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. That number is down significantly from the past two days.

These totals include all confirmed and probable cases and deaths linked to the coronavirus that are reported by local jurisdictions. Here’s what the numbers look like in each jurisdiction.

The District

D.C. has hit 14 days of “sustained decline” in the community spread of COVID-19, a key metric for reopening. With hospitals below maximum capacity, testing on the rise, and the city hiring more contact tracers, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced today that the city will begin phase one of reopening on Friday.

The District reported five new deaths this morning, and another two people have been cleared from isolation, 1,082 total. D.C. recorded 72 new positive cases, its lowest count in several weeks, bringing its total to 8,406. Ward 4 continues to see the most cases, and Ward 8 has the most deaths.

The indicators D.C. officials are relying on to figure out when to reopen have shifted over the past few months, as the Washington Postreported yesterday: “In April, the mayor and officials in her administration repeatedly said they wanted to see a two-week decline in new cases before reopening the city. By mid-May, city officials said they were instead looking for a decline in the community spread of the virus.”

“Community spread” is calculated by counting new infections by the date people reported developing symptoms, rather than when they tested positive. It excludes cases in facilities like nursing homes and jails where the virus is unlikely to spread to the general population. This past weekend D.C., saw a spike in cases, but officials removed that two-day aberration instead of resetting the 14-day count.

Virginia

Virginia tallied 907 new coronavirus cases today, down from a two-day streak of record high numbers. The Commonwealth also reported 45 new deaths.

Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, and Alexandria counties continue to see the most cases, in that order. Governor Ralph Northam announced yesterday that Northern Virginia can begin lifting stay-at-home orders by the end of the week. A statewide mask requirement will also go into effect Friday for people entering shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

Health officials say Northern Virginia has met four out of six metrics to begin the phased reopening, but still needs to boost its contact tracing capacity and supply of personal protective equipment. While the region continues to have high case and death counts, Northam cited a decline in hospitalizations and the percentage of positive tests.

Maryland

Maryland recorded another 59 deaths, its highest count in about two weeks. It also reported 736 new cases, up from yesterday but otherwise the lowest count in the past several weeks.

Another 67 people have recovered, 3,401 total, while 23 more people have been hospitalized. Hospitalizations are back on the rise, with 1,338 total. Yesterday’s uptick broke a nine-day decline. On Monday Mike Ricci, spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, said the state’s hospitalizations have dropped 25% since April 30.

Prince George’s and Montgomery counties still have the highest number of deaths and cases in the state, with 14,100 and 10,467 cases respectively, followed by Baltimore County and City.

Prince George’s Executive Angela Alsobrooks said she hoped to move to a modified reopening for the county by June 1, while Montgomery Executive Marc Elrich said the county could begin a phased reopening as soon as this week. However, neither jurisdiction has announced a date. —Julie Strupp

Ahead of its phase one reopening Friday, restaurants in Arlington County will be able to receive approval for outdoor seating quicker than usual. ShyCityNXR / Flickr

Arlington County Board Votes To Expedite Outdoor Seating Process For Restaurants

May 26, 7:01 p.m.: The Arlington County Board voted Tuesday to establish an administrative process for restaurants to create temporary outdoor seating areas.

During a special meeting, the board voted 4-0 to adapt an ordinance it previously adopted in March, allowing businesses to apply to create or expand their outdoor seating options during the pandemic, as Northern Virginia prepares to begin reopening on Friday. As part of phase one, restaurants are allowed to seat at 50 percent capacity outdoors and on patios.

Before the pandemic, Arlington County restaurants creating outdoor seating areas on private property could seek approval through an administrative process, but restaurants seeking to do so on county sidewalks or other public spaces had to go through a special exception use permit process, which requires approval by the county board and can take at least 60 days.

“[This is] basically cutting a couple months out of the process for review and approval, at least,” says Anthony Fusarelli, the assistant director for the Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development.

Though the county can now move forward with the process, the board will need to reaffirm the action by taking another vote in June.

Fusarelli declined to disclose how long the new review process will take. The county expects to have an application form posted online by Wednesday, and is planning to create a public map of restaurants that have been approved, so residents can see what their outdoor dining options are.

Other jurisdictions are also adjusting to meet the requirements of the reopening plan, and on Tuesday night, the Alexandria City Council will discuss strategies for facilitating outdoor dining. –Nathan Diller

Megabus Will Resume Service Between New York City and D.C. on June 1

May 26, 6:00 p.m.: Megabus will resume service between New York City and D.C. beginning on June 1, the company said in an email to customers on Tuesday.

“We are reopening responsibly with several adjustments to our policies and procedures in the wake of COVID-19,” the company wrote. The email said Megabus will continue to enforce social distancing measures and stringent cleaning.

The company previously said on its website that all customers will be required to wear face coverings wherever social distancing is not possible, including while waiting in line, boarding, and moving around the bus.

Megabus said that it will start with a “limited schedule” between New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and D.C., after cancelling all trips in and out of New York City in March. Tickets are now available. All other New York City routes, however, will remain suspended through June 17.

Other companies are also beginning to resume service with similar rules in place. Amtrak announced earlier this month that it will require passengers to wear face coverings when its Acela service in the Northeast corridor resumes with a modified schedule on June 1. –Nathan Diller

The court previously postponed jury trials until June 11, and other proceedings through June 1. NCinDC / Flickr

U.S. District Court For D.C. Extends Postponement Of Jury Trials To August 1

May 26, 3:30 p.m.: The U.S. District Court for D.C. issued an order on Tuesday that extends the postponement of jury trials from June 11 to August 1.

Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell cited Mayor Muriel Bowser’s extended stay-at-home order and ongoing safety risks for potential jurors as reasons for the extension.

With the exception of criminal jury trials, the court did open the door for some in-person activities to resume on July 15, including hearings, non-jury trials and settlement conferences. The order also states that the presiding judge in the case can issue an order directing that the proceeding take place virtually before that date.

The court previously postponed jury trials until June 11, and other proceedings through June 1. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is set to resume in-person appearances on June 11, though no criminal jury trials will be conducted until July 7. In Maryland, no civil or criminal jury trials will be held before June 30, though some in-person proceedings will resume June 5. –Nathan Diller

Masks will be a requirement in Virginia businesses as of Friday, though enforcement may be a hurdle. Vera Davidova / Unsplash

Virginia To Require Masks In Businesses Friday

May 26, 3:09 p.m. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that people entering businesses in the state will have to wear masks beginning Friday, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. However, enforcement may be a hurdle — and the governor’s message was undercut by weekend photographs that showed him speaking with supporters at Virginia Beach without a mask.

“Everyone will need to wear a face covering when you’re inside at a public place starting this Friday. That’s at a store, a barbershop, a restaurant, on public transportation, at a government building or anywhere where people can congregate in groups,” he said. “This is about protecting those around us, especially our workers.”

Northam said during a press conference on Tuesday there would be exemptions for people who were eating, exercising or had a health condition that prevented them from wearing a mask. But compliance could be a challenge. Northam said police would not enforce the requirement and not wearing a mask would not bear criminal penalties. He said he would likely discuss a potential civil fine with lawmakers when they reconvene in a special session over the summer. Northam also said the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry would draft new standards for workplace safety around COVID-19.

Northam began his remarks by explaining his weekend visit to Virginia Beach, where he was captured maskless and speaking at close distance with supporters. The governor said he intended to speak to the mayor and the press, and was surprised to meet supporters.

“Some well-wishers came up to me and asked to take pictures. I was not prepared because my mask was in the car. I take full responsibility for that,” he said. “We’re all forming new habits and routines.”

The mask requirement will be in effect as Northern Virginia is scheduled to join the rest of the state on Friday in phase one of easing restrictions. Northam said the percentage positive rate of tests and the amount of patients needing hospitalization appeared to be moving downward across the state.

“The virus clearly is still here, but overall these numbers are trending in the right direction,” he said. — Daniella Cheslow

Businesses in Old Town Alexandria. Flickr / Ken Lund

Alexandria Launches ALX Promise To Help Local Businesses Reopen Safely

May 26, 1:29 p.m.: The Alexandria Health Department has partnered with Visit Alexandria and local restaurant associations to create ALX Promise, a program to help local businesses safely reopen.

After launching on Friday, environmental health manager Rachel Stradling said 150 businesses have already signed up, including restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and more.

“A lot of our businesses expressed concerns about reopening and making sure that they got it right,” says Stradling. “So, we felt that this program would offer them the resources that they needed in a more structured way.”

The program is voluntary, and those who sign up will receive a consultation from the health department walking them through the process of reopening. The health department also provides training materials and checklists including their recommendations, like asking customers waiting in line to wear face coverings.

Businesses that return a completed checklist and training record to the health department and pledge their commitment to ensuring customer safety will receive an ALX Promise decal to display in their windows or front doors, which Stradling hopes reassures residents and visitors.

Alexandria, along with other parts of Northern Virginia, remained closed while the rest of the commonwealth began phase one of its reopening plan on May 15, due to the high number of infections in the area. But local leaders wrote to Governor Ralph Northam on Monday, stating that they are preparing to begin lifting stay-at-home orders on May 28, as Northern Virginia is meeting four out of six key metrics to begin a phased reopening. —Nathan Diller

No New Deaths In D.C., While Cases In D.C., Maryland And Virginia Top 95,000

May 26, 12:24 p.m.: Fifty eight more people have died from the coronavirus in Maryland and Virginia as the jurisdictions continue to move to relax restrictions. There are 2,259 new known cases of the virus in D.C., Maryland and Virginia as of Tuesday morning, down slightly from Monday’s count.

The case numbers continue to show inconsistencies in trends. After a spike of cases reported over the Memorial Day weekend, D.C. has now recorded 13 days of decline in community spread of the virus, while Maryland tallied its lowest case count since April 21. Virginia, meanwhile, saw a second day of record new case numbers.

Here’s what the numbers look like in each jurisdiction.

The District

For the first time since April 7, D.C. reported no new deaths, and the city is only one day away from meeting a key metric needed to begin phase one of reopening on Friday, May 29. The District recorded 109 new positive cases, down from the past few days, bringing its total to 8,334. So far 1,080 people have been cleared from isolation, a number that’s unchanged since yesterday.

D.C. must reach 14 days of decline in “community spread” of the virus by Wednesday. Today’s data shows an additional day of decline in community spread (13 days total), after an uptick over the weekend set D.C.’s downward trend back by three days.

Community spread is more nuanced than simply looking at the number of new cases. It’s calculated by the date of symptom onset while removing cases at facilities such as nursing homes.

Virginia

For the second day in a row, Virginia saw record increases in new cases, with 1,615 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday morning. The Commonwealth also reported 28 new deaths today, which is down from yesterday but on par with last week’s numbers.

On Monday, Northern Virginia health officials told the region’s elected officials that Northern Virginia has met four of the six required metrics to begin phase one of reopening. Contact tracing infrastructure and additional personal protective equipment for outpatient facilities are two key metrics that the region has yet to meet.

Sunday saw 495 cases while Monday saw 1,483 new infections. On Monday, the Virginia Department of Health said that data recording was briefly interrupted on Sunday, and that data was added into Monday’s numbers, possibly attributing to the sharp increase. A majority of the new cases reported Monday are in Northern Virginia: Prince William County reported a record 290 cases, and Fairfax County added 357 more cases.

Maryland

Maryland recorded another 30 deaths, up from yesterday’s 26 but otherwise the lowest toll in about three weeks. It also reported 535 new cases, its lowest count since April 21.

Hospitalizations are back on the rise with 1,315 total, breaking a nine-day decline. Yesterday Mike Ricci, a spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, said the state’s hospitalizations have dropped 25% since April 30.

Prince George’s and Montgomery counties still have the highest number of deaths and cases in the state, with 13,819 and 10,291 cases respectively. Still, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said she hoped to move to a modified reopening for the county by June 1, while Montgomery Executive Marc Elrich said the county could begin a phased reopening as soon as this week. —Julie Strupp

Northern Virginia is set to enter phase one of reopening on May 28. John Brighenti / Flickr

Northern Virginia Officials Say Their Region Is Inching Toward May 28 Reopening

May 26, 10:49 a.m.: Leaders from Northern Virginia wrote to Governor Ralph Northam on Monday, noting their jurisdictions are preparing to begin lifting stay-at-home orders on May 28, marking phase one of the commonwealth’s reopening plan. The rest of Virginia began phase one on May 15, but Northern Virginia opted out, due to its high numbers of infections.

Health officials say Northern Virginia is meeting four out of six metrics to begin the phased reopening. The two metrics still not being met are contract tracing capacity and supply of personal protective equipment. According to a May 24 letter from local health officials to the state health commissioner and county leaders, PPE needs are being met for hospitals, but supplies are still lacking at outpatient facilities, such as private practices and long-term care facilities. In terms of contact tracing, the letter notes, “Infrastructure is currently being put into place, with sequential increased capacity anticipated in the coming weeks.”

The metrics already being met include a downward trend in positive tests and hospitalizations over 14 days, increased testing, and hospital bed and intensive care capacity.

In the letter to the governor, regional leaders make two requests: That Northam plan phase two to allow the entire state, including Northern Virginia, to move forward at the same time, and that he provide more resources to Virginians with mental health diagnoses, especially veterans.

Virginia’s phase one includes allowing retail stores to open limited to 50% capacity, restaurants to serve patrons at outdoor seating at 50% capacity, personal grooming services to operate with one client at a time, and fitness centers to offer outdoor exercise.

Elsewhere in the region, D.C. is moving toward phase one of its reopening on May 29. — Jacob Fenston

A nurse tests a patient for COVID-19 at the Neighborhood Health clinic in Fairfax County on May 5. Daniella Cheslow / WAMU

Free, One-Day Testing Site Opens In Arlington

May 26, 9:20 a.m.: Health officials in Arlington are offering free testing to anyone today — no appointment or doctor’s note required. The drive-through / walk-up testing site is located in South Arlington, home to many of the county’s African American and immigrant residents.

“Hosting testing in this location is a conscious effort to concentrate resources in an area easily reachable to those residents who may not otherwise be able to access testing and information,” said Arlington’s public health director, Reuben Varghese, in a press release.

Testing will be conducted at the Barcroft Fitness and Recreation Center, at 4200 S. Four Mile Run Dr. Several nearby roads will be impacted by lane closures to accommodate the expected heavy traffic from people getting tested. Testing will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and face masks are advised.

The free site is the latest in a state-sponsored program to increase testing in Northern Virginia — the hardest-hit part of the commonwealth. Other recent pop-up testing sites in the area have been swamped with patients.

You can find a comprehensive list on testing sites in the D.C. region here. —Jacob Fenston

While D.C. officials are encouraging voters to request absentee ballots for the June 2 primary, they’re also opening 20 vote centers on Friday — and adding pandemic-era protections for voters and staff. Martin Austermuhle / DCist

Today Is The Last Day To Request An Absentee Ballot In D.C.

May 26, 8:56 a.m.: If you’re a D.C. voter and haven’t yet requested your absentee ballot for the city’s June 2 primary, you have until today at 4:45 p.m. to do so. All the details on how to do so are here.

D.C. officials have urged as many voters as possible to vote via absentee ballot, thus preventing any crowding at polling places come Election Day. As of last week, more than 65,000 D.C. voters had requested their absentee ballots — that’s roughly half the number of voters who cast ballots during the 2016 primary.

If you do vote absentee, your ballot has to be postmarked by June 2 and received by the D.C. Board of Elections by June 9 to be counted.

Hey, did we tell you that you have until 4:45 p.m. today to request your absentee ballot? All the details on how to do so are here.

If you don’t get around to requesting an absentee ballot or just really love in-person voting, fear not: D.C. has 20 vote centers that are open this week and on Election Day. But if you vote in person, you’ll have to bring a face covering with you and you may have to wait in line as election officials are limiting how many people can be in any vote center at one time.

Voters with filled-out absentee ballots can also drop them off at any vote center.

One final reminder: You have until 4:45 this afternoon to request your absentee ballot, and all the details on how to do so are here. —Martin Austermuhle

D.C. Residents Close Streets In A Call For Expanded Pedestrian And Cyclist Access

May 25, 6:26 p.m.: Residents across D.C. closed their streets to cars today in protest with a safer-streets advocacy group, D.C. Department of Transformation.

The group — not to be confused with the official D.C. Department of Transportation — launched a citizen-led movement across the District today, closing residential streets to through traffic to expand space so pedestrians and cyclists can social distance safely. Some also touted climate change concerns as a motivation for shutting down streets.

Residents taking part in the demonstrations today documented families and children playing in the blocked streets on social media with the hashtag #DCStreets4People.

https://twitter.com/keya_chatterjee/status/1264999199088742402

According to the Department of Transformation’s Twitter account, 14 streets across the city participated in the shutdowns by this afternoon.

D.C. Police also appeared to respond to the street closures. Keya Chatterjee, leader of Safe Street for Hill East and Near Northeast, shared a video of a police officer asking: “Who gave you permission to block the street?” Another tweet suggested that police officers had stopped a shutdown on a Northwest street, only for residents to resume the blockage later.

Champlain St NW was opened to pedestrians earlier and then was shut down by the police.

But neighbors who saw loved the idea and went back out to reopen it to let their kids play outside!

There is so much demand for this type of space! @MayorBowser #DCStreets4People #ArmInArm pic.twitter.com/f3fyhgkeug

— Sultry and Sexy Department of Transformation (@DCDOTRA) May 25, 2020

D.C. Police spokesperson Kristen Metzger says no street closure-related incident reports were filed, but added that “the community cannot close down the street for recreation or other use without a block party permit or public space permit issued by DDOT.”

Monday’s demonstrations follow earlier calls for roadway reform as the coronavirus slows traffic and pushes more pedestrians outside for exercise. The ReOpen DC task force recommendations released last week lacked concrete plans for expanded sidewalks, lowered speed limits, or closing off some streets entirely, prompting outcry from advocates, demanding further action from D.C. officials. — Colleen Grablick

Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Washington. Nick Wass / AP Photo

Patrick Ewing Released From Hospital After Being Treated For COVID-19

May 25, 3:40 p.m.: Georgetown men’s basketball coach and NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing is recovering at home after being hospitalized for the coronavirus.

Ewing’s son, Patrick Ewing Jr., released a statement on Twitter Monday, saying his father is “now home and getting better.”

“I want to thank all of the doctors and hospital staff for taking care of my father during his stay, as well as everyone who has reached out to us with thoughts and prayers to us,” said Ewing Jr. “We’ll continue to watch his symptoms and follow the CDC guidelines.”

Ewing, 57, tweeted Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, and said he was isolating in the hospital. Ewing was the only member of the Georgetown basketball team to test positive for the virus.

“This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly,” Ewing said in his Friday tweet. “I want to encourage everyone to take care of yourselves and your loved ones.”

Ewing came to Georgetown in 2017 after 15 years of assistant coaching in the NBA. He was a first round pick in the 1985 NBA draft, and was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. —Colleen Grablick

RFK venues were originally closed until June 8. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Events DC Indefinitely Closes RFK Venues To The Public

May 25, 3:25 p.m.: Events DC announced the closure of all RFK amenities on Monday until further notice.

In late March, Events DC closed RFK Stadium, DC Armory, The Fields at RFK Campus, Skate Park at RFK Campus, and Festival Grounds at RFK Campus with a plan to resume operations on June 9.

These venues will now remain closed indefinitely, along with the The Lawn at Oklahoma Avenue, the RFK batting cages and all RFK campus parking lots.

Operations at Gateway DC and R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center are also suspended until further notice, and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center will remain closed to the public as it serves as an alternate care site for the District’s hospital surge response.

D.C. is set to enter into phase one of reopening on Friday, May 29, barring any spikes in case data. Per the ReOpen DC task force recommendations, playgrounds and outdoor activities (excluding tennis, golf, and track) would not be permitted to reopen until Phase 2. —Colleen Grablick

D.C., Maryland and Virginia Top 93,100 Cases

May 25, 2:32 p.m.: Coronavirus cases in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are now at 93,104 as of Monday afternoon. Here’s what the numbers look like in each jurisdiction.

The District

D.C. saw an increase of 115 new positive cases on Monday, bringing the city’s case total to 8,225. Eight District residents died of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the city’s death toll to 440. D.C. also said 1,080 people total have been cleared from isolation.

In interviews on FOX 5 and NBC 4 Monday morning, Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday’s data demonstrated an additional day of decline in community spread, after an uptick over the weekend set back D.C.’s downward trend in community spread by three days.

The community spread data — a key metric for officials — is calculated by the date of symptom onset while taking out cases at facilities such as nursing homes.

D.C. will need to reach 14 days of decline by Wednesday, May 27, to begin phase one reopening on Friday, May 29. According to Bowser, it is still possible to meet this metric by Wednesday.

Virginia

Virginia reported 1,483 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the state’s total cases to 37,737. Sunday saw 495 cases, the fewest since late April.

The Virginia Department of Health also issued a statement on Monday that data recording was briefly interrupted yesterday, and that data has been added into Monday’s numbers — possibly attributing to large spikes in positive case data.

Northern Virginia accounted for 1,069 of the new cases, up from 216 reported on Sunday. The jump in cases on Monday also follows increased testing efforts across Northern Virginia in the past week. The state reported 20,640 tests since Friday, with 8,051 of those tests coming from Northern Virginia.

Per Monday’s data, 2,022 people were tested statewide in the past 24 hours, with a percent positive rate of 11.8%. Last week’s average percentage of people who tested positive hovered near 14%. The state’s aim is to bring that average down to 10%.

Virginia reported 37 new deaths. The number of patients hospitalized with a pending or positive coronavirus test is 1,376 — up 25 patients in 24 hours — but continues to follow a downward trend in average hospitalized cases.

On Sunday, Northern Virginia health officials told the region’s elected officials that as of May 24, Northern Virginia had met four of the six required metrics to begin phase one of reopening. Health officials said in a letter that contact tracing infrastructure and additional personal protective equipment for outpatient facilities are two key metrics that the region has yet to meet.

Maryland

Maryland reported 839 cases on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 47,152. Total hospitalizations continue to drop, with 1,279 on Monday compared to Sunday’s 1,290. According to Mike Ricci, a spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, hospitalizations in Maryland have dropped 25% since April 30.

Prince George’s and Montgomery counties still have the highest number of cases in the state, with 13,726 and 10,111 cases respectively.

There are currently 517 people in intensive care in Maryland, up slightly from 503 on Sunday. The state reported 25 new deaths on Monday, bringing the death toll to 2,187. —Colleen Grablick

Mayor Bowser said the District is on day 12 of a case decline, part of a crucial two-week benchmark for reopening. D.C. reset to day 11 on Sunday after a new peak was detected. Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

Bowser Says D.C. May Still Reopen On May 29

May 25, 11:58 a.m.: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Monday that D.C. may still begin phase one of reopening on May 29, after a spike in the city’s community spread data caused a setback over the weekend.

In interviews on FOX 5 and NBC 4 on Monday, Bowser said today’s data showed an additional day of decrease, marking day 12 of community spread decline. She did not provide further specifics, and as of 11:55 a.m., D.C. had yet to release its daily coronavirus data. Bowser said on FOX 5 that the city may still reopen in phase one if 14 days of decline in community spread is met by May 27.

The community spread data — a key metric for officials — is calculated by the date of symptom onset while taking out cases at facilities such as nursing homes.

On Sunday, city health officials reported a “new peak” in community spread, which reset the 14-day decline by three days. More than 140 new cases were added to D.C.’s total on Sunday, which was nearly double the 73 cases reported on Saturday.

Prior to Sunday’s reported jump, the city was headed for the 14th day of decline. White House officials also said last week that the metropolitan D.C. area has the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests in the United States, a key metric in determining whether a jurisdiction is ready to reopen. —Colleen Grablick

For more on how coronavirus has impacted the D.C. region, see these updates from the week of May 18-May 24.

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