D.C. moved to Phase Two of reopening on Monday, even as COVID-19 cases topped 10,000 over the weekend.

The District still is typically recording dozens of new cases and multiple deaths each day. On Monday, it reported two additional deaths, reaching a total of 535. In all, 10,058 people have tested positive for the virus in D.C.

“We want to continue to reiterate that it is imperative that D.C. residents use good judgment and follow social distancing guidelines for any of the new activity that they are participating in,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said during a press conference Monday morning.

Bowser also attempted to clear up confusion that bubbled up over the weekend regarding the city’s community spread metric, one of its five reopening goals. Data released on Saturday appeared to show a spike on June 11, which would have reduced the trend of sustained decrease down to 11 days instead of the 14 needed to move to the next reopening stage. However, that data no longer appears on the website.

Bowser said there was a “reset of the peak” on Saturday. She declined to clarify further except to say that “we always know that we could have different experiences with the data.”

As of Monday, the city has achieved 13 days of sustained decrease. Bowser said it was her decision to move forward with Phase 2 rather than wait an extra day to get to the 14-day goal.

The city also wants to be able to contact trace new positive cases within a day of reporting, 90% of the time. Bowser said it has achieved that goal “for four or five days.” But according to data released by the city, it has achieved this goal 78.3% of the time as of June 19, the latest day for which data is provided.

What Is Changing In Phase Two?

District residents can now gather in groups of up to 50 people, up from 10 previously. The one exception is for houses of worship, which are allowed to have up to 100 people inside or operate at half capacity (whichever involves fewer people).

Restaurants, libraries and nonessential retail businesses can now allow customers inside, as long as they operate at half capacity or less and put social distancing safeguards in place.

Tanning, tattoo, waxing, threading, electrolysis, cryotherapy, facial, and nail salons can open by appointment only. Gyms and workout studios may open in accordance with guidance from DC Health.

Public pools may open for structured activities such as lessons and lap swimming. Apartment and condo pools may open in accordance with guidance. Playgrounds, courts and fields will open, and low and moderate contact sports, individual running events and soccer, will be allowed.

Camps may open with no more than 10 people in a cohort, so long as they have social distancing protocols and other safeguards in place.

The District has not laid out what metrics must be achieved to enter Phase Three, which would permit higher-risk activities like further reopening pools, higher capacity caps for restaurants and businesses and group gatherings of up to 250 people.

“We’re adding a lot of activity right now,” Bowser said in response to a question about when Phase Three might begin. “We have to have confidence that we could be ready for a spike in cases.”

She ended with a note of caution for residents slowly beginning to return to normal activities outside the home: “The virus is still circulating, not just in our city, but all around our region… You can encounter the virus in any place, so you have to be very careful.”