This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-maryland-virginia-coronavirus-latest-news/2020/03/10/88eb6de4-62d6-11ea-acca-80c22bbee96f_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_homepage

The article has changed 30 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 20 Version 21
D.C. declares state of emergency as officials say ‘non-essential mass gatherings’ should be canceled or postponed D.C. declares state of emergency as concerts, parades, church services are cancelled
(about 2 hours later)
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced six new coronavirus cases in the District on Wednesday and declared a state of emergency in the nation’s capital, giving her the power to order mandatory medical quarantines and to make price gouging illegal. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser declared a state of emergency Wednesday that allows her to enforce quarantines and cancellations to slow the spread of coronavirus, as major churches organizations in and around the nation’s capital said they would shut down for the rest of the month.
Bowser’s declaration came hours after the city urged the cancellation of all “mass gatherings” through the end of March and expanded a self-quarantine request for people who visited a church where two staff members and a parishioner have tested positive for covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. The Episcopal dioceses of Washington and Virginia said churches including the National Cathedral would close for two weeks. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center cancelled upcoming events, as did the promoter of concerts at The Anthem, the 9:30 Club the Lincoln Theater and the U Street music hall.
“We have person-to-person transmission occurring in the District of Columbia as well as at least two individuals whose reasons for covid-19 have yet to be identified,” said D.C. Health director LaQuandra Nesbitt. Organizers said parts of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival would be shelved, the Rock n’ Roll marathon would likely be impacted, and the St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for Sunday was postponed indefinitely.
Organizations across the region — from churches to professional sports teams — were scrambling to decide how to react to the threat posed by the virus. More colleges and schools announced plans to close for deep cleaning or move to online classes.
Episcopal leaders said hundreds of churches in the District, Maryland and Virginia — including the National Cathedral — would be closed for the next two weeks. Officials with the Cherry Blossom Festival, which starts in late March said they would cancel some events, including the welcome area on the Tidal Basin and the kite festival. The opening ceremony may be livestreamed instead of having a crowd at the Warner Theatre. Bowser announced six new coronavirus cases, including two not linked to any known source of infection, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the District, Maryland and Virginia to at least 29.
But Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, said their games will go on as scheduled at Capitol One Arena. The organization said it has consulted with the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League, and would continue to assess options as the situation develops. She said the city has leased an undisclosed location that can be used to quarantine up to 50 people.
Bowser’s emergency declaration, which came later in the day, means she would have the power to close the arena to spectators if she deems it necessary. “I want to continue to remind everyone to be vigilant,” Bowser said at a news conference. “Our duty now as citizens is to try to contain the spread of germs and this virus in our communities.”
Live updates: See the latest news on the coronavirus hereLive updates: See the latest news on the coronavirus here
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reported a 9th coronavirus victim in that state Wednesday, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said a Montana resident in her 70s tested positive while visiting Anne Arundel County. The woman had close contact with someone else who had the virus, officials said. Before the emergency declaration, the owner of Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals said their games will go on as scheduled at Capitol One Arena in the District’s Chinatown neighborhood. Monumental Sports & Entertainment said it would continue to assess options as the situation evolves.
Nearly 30 people in the District, Maryland and Virginia so far have been diagnosed with the virus. Bowser now has the power to overrule the teams or close the arena to spectators if she deems it necessary, she said.
Shortly after Bowser declared the emergency declaration, IMP Concerts said all events scheduled for the 9:30 Club, the Lincoln Theatre and The Anthem, as well as shows the 9:30 Club Presents at U Street Music Hall, would be canceled starting March 12, regardless of the size of the gathering. Shows will resume April 1. City health officials earlier Wednesday had recommended cancelling all “non-essential mass gatherings” of 1,000 people or more through the end of the month Health officials also expanded a self-quarantine recommendation for people who have visited Christ Church of Georgetown, which is now linked to three confirmed coronavirus cases.
“Patrons who have tickets for tonight’s shows can choose to attend as planned -- or if they prefer not to attend, they can contact us for a refund,” the company said in a statement. Rev. Timothy Cole, 59, the church rector, was diagnosed with the virus after attending an Episcopal leaders conference in Louisville, Ken. Organizers of the conference said Wednesday that two other conference attendees have tested positive as well.
The District’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which was to be held Sunday, was postponed indefinitely. And the Walter E. Washington Convention Center suspended its operations through the end of the month. In recent days, Christ Church organist Tom Smith and a church member from Loudoun County also were diagnosed with the virus.
Greg O’Dell, the leader of Events D.C., the city’s tourism arm, said events impacted by the closure include three Capital City go-go basketball games, a circus and the finish line and expo associated with the Rock n’ Roll marathon on March 28, which attracts as many as 25,000 runners and thousands more spectators. After Cole’s diagnosis, city officials urged people who had been at the church on Feb. 24 or between Feb. 28 and March 3 — days when Cole was there -- to quarantine at home and monitor themselves for symptoms.
Opening Day for the World Series champion Washington Nationals is not until April 2, a few days after the time frame specified by D.C. officials, but the team has an exhibition game scheduled for Nats Park on March 24. But the city has since extended the recommendation to include people at the church March 4 through 6, to account for the days Smith was there. Smith played at a funeral on March 6 and those who attended that service are also being alerted, the church said in an email to member. City officials want people to stay isolated until two weeks have passed since their last time at the church.
O’Dell said it was too early to tell how much revenue the city would lose and that officials are trying to reschedule some events.
Coronavirus in the DMV: What you need to knowCoronavirus in the DMV: What you need to know
Events D.C. said officials have learned of two more people who have tested positive for the virus who attended this month’s American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference at the convention center. The new cases involve people from Ohio and Toronto. There are also three previously reported patients who came to the 18,000-person conference from New York and Los Angeles. Authorities say anyone who develops symptoms, such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath, and believes they have been exposed to the virus, should consult their health care provider about whether to be tested.
Officials still believe there was a low risk of exposure for people who attended the AIPAC conference in the convention center, O’Dell said, because the attendees who tested positive did not show symptoms during the conference. Indoor venues managed by Events D.C. — including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which hosted AIPAC; the D.C. Armory, and the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center — will undergo a deep cleaning. Health care experts say those who are sick should stay at home, and everyone should wash their hands thoroughly and regularly, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Those with compromised immune systems are also advised to take precautions.
“We just wanted to act out of an abundance of caution right now,” O’Dell said. “We want to make sure we take time to clean our facilities again. Now we have an opportunity to do so and provide our employees an opportunity to telework, we thought it was the good and right thing to do” The six new coronavirus cases in the District include a 59-year-old man and a 39-year-old man who traveled abroad; a 58-year-old woman who attended a conference where other participants tested positive; and a 59-year-old woman who came in contact with another with a person who previously tested positive in the District. Officials said they have not identified a likely source of exposure for the other two victims, a man in his early 20s and a 69-year-old woman.
City health officials have expanded a self-quarantine recommendation for people who visited a church at the center of three confirmed coronavirus cases, and D.C. Public Schools said it would close Monday to give teachers a chance to prepare for distance learning for students. The school system shifted a teacher training day from March 20 to March 16 to do the preparations as quickly as possible. Such cases — when there is no obvious likely origin — are the most concerning to health officials, and are a primary reason for considering widespread closures and disruptions, officials say. The goal is to and limit the spread of the virus by patients who have not yet been diagnosed and quarantined.
In the District, three cases have been reported that are connected to Christ Church, a historic Episcopal congregation. Rev. Timothy Cole, 59, the church rector, was diagnosed with the virus, as was the church organist and a member from Loudoun County. “We have person-to-person transmission occurring in the District of Columbia, as well as at least two individuals whose reasons for covid-19 have yet to be identified,” D.C. Health director LaQuandra Nesbitt said at the news conference where Bowser announced the state of emergency.
Before he got sick, Cole attended an Episcopal leaders conference in Louisville, Ken.; as of Wednesday two other attendees at the conference also had tested positive, organizers said.
Christ Church emailed parishioners Wednesday to tell them that D.C. health officials have expanded the self-quarantine recommendation announced Monday, to account for days the organist was there.
In addition to people who were at the church on Feb. 24 or between Feb. 28 and March 3, those who were there from March 4-6 should also self quarantine, the email said. The email said the organist played at a funeral on March 6 and those who attended that service are also being alerted.
Sign up for The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletterSign up for The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletter
City officials want people to isolate at home and monitor themselves for symptoms until two weeks have passed since their last time at the church. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Wednesday reported the 9th coronavirus victim in his state: a male teenager in the Chickahominy Health District, in the area of Hanover County.
Officials in the D.C. region have said those who are sick should stay at home and health experts are reminding people to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly. Those with compromised immune systems are also advised to take precautions. And anyone who develops a fever, cough or shortness of breath is advised to see a doctor and get tested. The teen, who does not attend school, visited a country where there is “ongoing transmission” of the virus, said Caitlin Hodge, a spokeswoman with the health district. He returned from his trip on March 4, began having symptoms on March 8, and was tested.
Several colleges in the D.C. region are temporarily stopping in-person classes to try to stop the fast-spreading virus. In Virginia, Fairfax County Public Schools are preparing to have students do distance learning for the coming weeks. Northam said steps were being taken in several agencies — including schools, transportation and health — to make sure the commonwealth is prepared to deal with the virus. He has not yet declared a state of emergency but said he is “prepared to do so.”
The federal government, the country's largest employer and the largest employer in the D.C. region, has told people to be prepared to work remotely full time. The state’s public lab has testing supplies for 300 to 400 patients, and they anticipate soon receiving additional tests to increase that capacity to 600. Until testing capacity increases, health department officials will give priority to people who have had contact with others with confirmed cases, who have traveled to impacted areas and who live in nursing homes. Dr. Daniel Carey, Virginia’s secretary of Health and Human Resources, said that given the limited number of tests available, it makes sense for doctors to first test patients for flu, pneumonia or bacterial infections to rule those things out.
In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said that a woman in her 70s had tested positive in Anne Arundel County, after having close contact with someone else who had the virus. The woman lives primarily in Montana and was visiting, Hogan said.
The governor told residents to brace for social distancing measures and warned of “significant disruption to your daily lives for a period of time.” He urged local governments to consider canceling large events, ordered nursing homes to bar non-essential visits, curtailed walk-in visits to the Motor Vehicle Administration and instructed local schools and preschools “to be prepared with contingency plans for potential longterm closures.”
Maryland businesses will have an automatic extension on state tax filings, until June 1, state Comptroller Peter Franchot said. The federal Internal Revenue Service deadline of April 15 for income and corporate taxes remains unchanged.Maryland businesses will have an automatic extension on state tax filings, until June 1, state Comptroller Peter Franchot said. The federal Internal Revenue Service deadline of April 15 for income and corporate taxes remains unchanged.
The new positive case in Virginia is a male teenager in the Chickahominy Health District, in the area of Hanover County. He visited a country where there is “ongoing transmission” of the virus, said Caitlin Hodge, a spokeswoman with the Chickahominy Health District in Virginia. National Cathedral, hundreds of Episcopal churches closing for the month
The teen, who does not attend school, returned from his trip on March 4, started having symptoms on March 8, and tested positive, Hodge said. Events D.C., the District’s tourism arm, said Wednesday that officials learned of two more people diagnosed with the virus — from Ohio and Toronto — who attended this month’s American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference at the convention center. Three other attendees have the virus as well.
The Montana woman who tested positive in Maryland will not be classified as a Maryland case, Hogan said, but the state and Anne Arundel county officials will investigate whether people she came in contact with in Maryland could be at risk. The woman is currently hospitalized. Officials still believe there was a low risk of exposure for people who attended the conference, because the patients did not show symptoms during the conference, said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and CEO of Events D.C.
At a news conference Wednesday, Northam said steps were being taken in several agencies including schools, transportation and health to make sure the commonwealth is prepared to deal with the virus. He has not yet declared a state of emergency but said he is “prepared to do so.” Indoor venues managed by Events D.C. — including the convention center; the D.C. Armory, and the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center — will undergo a deep cleaning in coming days, he said, “out of an abundance of caution.”
Vozzella reported from Richmond. Erin Cox, Luz Lazo, Justin Wm. Moyer and Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report. He said the suspension of operations at the convention center and other facilities will affect three Capital City go-go basketball games, a circus and the finish line and expo associated with the Rock n’ Roll marathon.
The decision to shutdown immediately impacted SATELLITE 2020, an annual technology convention that has been held in D.C. for 39 years. The convention started Monday, was scheduled to end Thursday, and was supposed to draw more than 15,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, organizers said.
Pete Schramm, a sales engineer based in Maryland, said the mood at the convention was “subdued” Wednesday over concerns about the coronavirus.
“Nobody wants to touch you and people are keeping their distance,” he said while having a cigarette outside the convention center. “People are very reserved, they’re quiet and they seem to have a lot on their minds.”
Restauranters like Jamie Leeds, the chef-owner of Hank’s Oyster Bar, were bracing for a significant drop in customers, especially in neighborhoods anchored by large event spaces.
“The Anthem is a huge driver of business for us,” said Leeds, referring to the huge new concert venue in Southwest D.C. that has cancelled all events until April 1.
But Leeds, who has three other locations in the D.C. area, said the restaurant is also a neighborhood destination with many regulars.
Leeds said she supports the Anthem’s decision to cancel events. “It’s important to follow the guidance of the city and what’s best for people’s safety,” she said.
Laura Vozzella contributed to this report from Richmond. Erin Cox, Fritz Hahn, Marissa J. Lang, Luz Lazo, Justin Wm. Moyer and Ovetta Wiggins also contributed.