COVID is back on the upswing in the region. D.C., Maryland and Virginia are reporting rising daily case counts, with the most dramatic surge happening in the District. The rising numbers are largely credited to the spread of the BA.2 variant. 

Even so, cases are significantly lower than in early January, when the region’s average daily count surged past 30,000. The current 7-day average case count for D.C., Maryland and Virginia is approaching 2,000. 

COVID cases are rising nationwide, as well. Last week, Philadelphia reinstated its indoor mask mandate, effective today. DC Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said earlier this month that the district had no plans to do the same because community levels were still substantially low.

With case numbers on the rise, however, the CDC now designates both D.C. and Arlington County as “Medium” level, a metric based on COVID hospitalizations and new cases. More than 90 percent of the country, include the other counties in the region, are at the “Low” level. The CDC recommends masking in public indoors regardless of vaccination status in counties where community level is “High,” which currently describes only 14 counties nationwide, or .43 percent of the country.

When Arlington County lifted its mask mandate inside government buildings in early March, it said that masks would not be required “so long as Arlington is in the ‘Low’ level.” Even though it no longer is, the county has made no statements suggesting it plans to require masks again.

Area schools, however, are adjusting their safety measures in response to rising case numbers. American and George Washington Universities reinstated indoor mask mandates last week, and Howard University moved classes back online.

Ahead of returning to in-person classes Tuesday after over a week off for spring break, D.C. Public Schools and Prince George’s County Public Schools are requiring that all students test negative for COVID. Students were sent home with rapid test kits before the break. In D.C., they  must upload results online by 9 p.m. on Monday April 18. PGCPS is asking students to do so online by 7 p.m. 

Montgomery County is also asking all families to test students before they return to class tomorrow, but requiring reporting of positive tests only. Counties in Virginia are not requiring COVID tests before students return to class tomorrow.