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Maryland closes school for two weeks, bans large gatherings as Virginia declares coronavirus state of emergency Arlington National Cemetery, Smithsonian museums close because of coronavirus, as regional shutdown spreads
(about 2 hours later)
BREAKING:The state of Maryland ordered all public schools to close for two weeks starting Monday, and Gov. Larry Hogan cancelled all gatherings of 250 people or more — part of a string of emergency actions to slow the spread of coronavirus in the state. BREAKING: Arlington National Cemetery and the Smithsonian museums are closing to help stem spread of coronavirus.
The governor also curtailed hospital visits and public access to state government buildings, closed senior centers, suspended prison visits and and ordered state employees who can work from home to do so. The military cemetery will close to visitors starting Friday. Funerals will be conducted as scheduled, but family members should contact 1-877- 907-8585 for more information on new arrival procedures or if they would like to reschedule a funeral. The cemetery will be open to family pass holders only for visitation from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the cemetery said in a news release.
He said private schools should consider following the lead of the state Superintendent of Public Schools Karen B. Salmon and shut down as well. The Smithsonian said the National Zoo and all museums in the Washington area and New York City will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday.
“We are all in this together,” Hogan (R) said. “We cannot stop the spread of this virus without each and everyone of you doing our part.”
It was not immediately clear whether the restrictions would last until or impact Maryland’s April 28 presidential primary.
Hogan said no decision had been made about MARC and other mass transit, and state Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said there would be further announcements soon about Maryland’s 90-day legislative session, which is scheduled to end April 6.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.This is a developing story. It will be updated.
Earlier version of this story is below: Earlier version:
Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency Thursday and canceled conferences and out-of-state travel for public employees, as the number of Virginia coronavirus cases rose to 17. The state of Maryland closed public schools for two weeks starting Monday, and Gov. Larry Hogan canceled all gatherings of 250 people or more, including at churches and sporting events.
Northam (D), a pediatrician by training, said the state is developing its own coronavirus tests, and urged public schools to make their own decisions on whether to close. Loudoun County Public Schools said its schools will be closed through next week. The measures were part of a string of sweeping actions taken across the region Thursday to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Across the District and Maryland, too, officials announced new cases and new closures and urged the public to take all possible precaution to limit the virus’s spread. Tours of the White House and the Capitol Visitor Center were canceled, and restrictions were put in place in the House and Senate office buildings. Using his emergency powers, Hogan (R) curtailed hospital visits, closed senior centers, suspended prison visits and ordered state employees who can work from home to do so.
In Maryland, where concerned officials reported that a Prince George’s County case had been classified as a “community transmission” — meaning it has no known source — lawmakers suspended receptions and rallies and canceled public tours of the historic State House. House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) said legislative hearings will no longer include public testimony. The governor also activated the National Guard, closed the cruise ship terminal at the Port of Baltimore and shut down public access to state buildings – including the State House in Annapolis.
Loudoun County, where at least one person has tested positive for the virus, said school was canceled through the end of next week, becoming the first public school system in the Washington region to announce an extended virus-related closure. He and other officials said they are particularly concerned that one of the 13 coronavirus cases reported in the state over the last week — a person from Prince George’s County — appears to be a “community transmission.” That means the patient is not known to have been exposed to someone else with the virus.
The restrictions illustrate the sweeping measures officials are taking as the number of people diagnosed with the virus grows. As of midday Thursday, 39 cases had been reported in the District, Maryland and Virginia. “For Marylanders, the actions that I have announced here today will be disruptive to your everyday lives, and they may sound extreme, and they sound frightening,” Hogan said. “But they could be the difference in saving lives and in helping keep people safe.
Live updates: See the latest news on the coronavirus hereLive updates: See the latest news on the coronavirus here
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) said the county was entering a “new phase” in its coronavirus response because of the Prince George’s man who appears to have contracted the disease without any known travel history or contact with a known patient. It was not immediately clear how long the restrictions would last or whether they would impact Maryland’s April 28 presidential primary.
“We are concerned. We cannot trace at this moment where he was exposed,” Alsobrooks said. “This means we’re in a different stage. State officials said they were working on plans to provide childcare for essential workers, including health care workers. Day care centers will remain open for now, but the state is considering whether they must be shuttered too, officials said.
The man, who is in his 60s, is currently hospitalized in “critical but stable” condition, said Alsobrooks spokesman John Erzen. In the days leading up to his diagnosis, he largely stayed at home, Alsobrooks said. The man came into contact with 12 firefighters over three occasions, including when he was transported to the hospital, officials said. Hogan directed all Maryland hospitals to adopt new policies to limit the spread of COVID 19, including allowing only one adult visitor per patient and barring visitors under the age of 18 and those who recently traveled internationally.
“We are all in this together,” Hogan said. “We cannot stop the spread of this virus without each and every one of you doing our part.”
Hogan announced the state’s first three coronavirus cases March 5 and declared a state of emergency to speed the delivery of funding and other resources. Since then, eight more cases have been diagnosed — although the state’s official tally is 12, because one of those eight patients lives in Montana and has not been formally classified as a Maryland case.
Gov. Ralph Northam also declared a state of emergency Thursday, and canceled conferences and out-of-state travel for public employees, as the number of Virginia coronavirus cases rose to 15 .
In the District, which has reported 11 cases, Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency on Wednesday.
Northam (D), a pediatrician by training, said the state is developing its own coronavirus tests, and urged public schools to make their own decisions on whether to close. Loudoun County Public Schools said its schools will be closed through next week.
Northam also criticized the federal government’s response to the outbreak, saying, “it has become clear to everyone that states .... need to take a greater leadership role.”
“We have new cases in Virginia just since I spoke to you all yesterday. And quite frankly, we’re getting mixed messages from the federal government,” said Northam, who did not elaborate. “We find that unacceptable, so I’m taking the lead on this.”
Coronavirus in the DMV: What you need to know
President Trump has charged Vice President Mike Pence with overseeing the administration’s response, but the effort has been undermined by contradictions and falsehoods — many of them coming from the president himself. Last week, Trump repeatedly spread false information about just how soon a coronavirus vaccine would be available.
In the nation’s capital, a growing sense of urgency took hold, as officials urged the public to take all possible precautions to limit the virus’s spread.
Tours of the White House and the Capitol Visitor Center were canceled until further notice, and restrictions were put in place in the House and Senate office buildings.
On Capitol Hill, officials said access to the U.S. Capitol, as well as House and Senate office buildings, will be shut off to tourists until April 1. Only staff members, the news media and those conducting official business will be able to enter.On Capitol Hill, officials said access to the U.S. Capitol, as well as House and Senate office buildings, will be shut off to tourists until April 1. Only staff members, the news media and those conducting official business will be able to enter.
“We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public,” House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D. Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger said in a statement. “We appreciate the understanding of those with planned visits interrupted by this necessary, but prudent, decision.”“We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public,” House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D. Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger said in a statement. “We appreciate the understanding of those with planned visits interrupted by this necessary, but prudent, decision.”
Tours of the White House are canceled until further notice, White House spokesman Judd Deere said.
The announcements came one day after D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) declared a state of emergency that allows her to enforce quarantines and cancellations to slow the spread of the virus. A growing list of churches, entertainment venues, museums and conference centers have said they would curtail operations or shut down for days.
Coronavirus in the DMV: What you need to know
Rail ridership dropped by 100,000 trips Wednesday compared with last week as companies encouraged telework, Metro board members were told Thursday.Rail ridership dropped by 100,000 trips Wednesday compared with last week as companies encouraged telework, Metro board members were told Thursday.
The possibility of fewer passengers has the transit agency preparing to scale back service. Metro officials said Thursday they want to maintain full subway and bus service as long as possible but are preparing for the possibility that they would need to decrease service if too many employees call in sick or work from home.The possibility of fewer passengers has the transit agency preparing to scale back service. Metro officials said Thursday they want to maintain full subway and bus service as long as possible but are preparing for the possibility that they would need to decrease service if too many employees call in sick or work from home.
Loudoun County Public Schools said Thursday it will cancel classes until March 20 because of coronavirus concerns. The county has one confirmed case of the virus, but school officials said there’s no known connection to the school system.
“While Loudoun County has not experienced the extent of presumptive positive cases of covid-19 as some other areas within our nation or globally and has not had cases that meet the definition of community transmission, we are making this decision out of an abundance of caution,” Williams said.
Arlington Public Schools said all nonessential events would be canceled until further notice, but schools would remain open. The county’s transit agency is deep-cleaning and sanitizing its buses daily, while libraries have removed “high-touch” items like shared toys.
The Smithsonian Institution said it is canceling public events and tours through May 3, although its museums and the National Zoo will stay open.
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Virginia officials told House lawmakers in Richmond Thursday of five new cases in the state. Two of the cases are Fairfax County residents, officials said. Both men had close contact with a woman who tested positive for the virus in North Carolina on March 9, officials said. A growing list of churches, entertainment venues, museums and conference centers have said they would curtail operations or shut down for days. The Smithsonian Institution said it is canceling public events and tours through May 3, although its museums and the National Zoo will stay open.
On patient, a man in his 60s, is married to the woman. He began to feel ill five days before his wife’s test results came in, Fairfax health officials said. Arlington’s transit agency is deep-cleaning and sanitizing its buses daily, while libraries have removed “high-touch” items like shared toys.
The second patient, who is his 20s, started showing symptoms on March 6, county officials said. He is not related to the patient who tested positive in North Carolina. Both men are in isolation at home, officials said. In Maryland, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) said the county was entering a “new phase” in its response because of the resident who appears to have contracted the disease without any known travel history or contact with a known patient.
Virginia officials said the third person is from Arlington County and is associated with Christ Church in Georgetown, the house of worship where the rector, the organist and a parishioner from Loudoun County have contracted covid-19. “We are concerned. We cannot trace at this moment where he was exposed,” Alsobrooks said.
The person, who is the second Arlington County resident to test positive for the virus, is at home and doing well, officials said. The person was already quarantined at home when they developed symptoms. D.C. officials advised hundreds of people who were at the church on specific dates in late February and early March to stay home and monitor their health for a 14-day incubation perion. The man, who is in his 60s, is hospitalized in “critical but stable” condition, said Alsobrooks spokesman John Erzen. In the days leading up to his diagnosis, he largely stayed at home, Alsobrooks said. The man came into contact with 12 firefighters over three occasions, including when he was transported to the hospital, officials said.
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Virginia officials told House lawmakers in Richmond Thursday of five new cases in the state. Two of the cases are Fairfax County residents — one in his 60s, the other in his 20s — who had close contact with a woman who tested positive for the virus in North Carolina on March 9. Both men are in isolation at home, officials said.
A third person is from Arlington County and is associated with Christ Church in Georgetown, the house of worship where the rector, the organist and a parishioner from Loudoun County have contracted covid-19.
This person was already quarantined at home when they developed symptoms, and is in good condition, officials said. D.C. officials advised hundreds of people who were at the church on specific dates in late February and early March to stay home and monitor their health for a 14-day incubation perion.
No details were given about the other two Virginia cases reported Thursday.
Northam’s declaration has triggered Virginia’s anti-price gouging statutes, which are designed to protect consumers from paying exorbitant prices for necessary goods and services during an emergency, Attorney General Mark Herring (D) said.Northam’s declaration has triggered Virginia’s anti-price gouging statutes, which are designed to protect consumers from paying exorbitant prices for necessary goods and services during an emergency, Attorney General Mark Herring (D) said.
“Virginia law offers protections for folks who find themselves in need of things like medicines, cleaning products, hand sanitizers and other necessities during a public health crisis,” Herring (D) said in a statement.“Virginia law offers protections for folks who find themselves in need of things like medicines, cleaning products, hand sanitizers and other necessities during a public health crisis,” Herring (D) said in a statement.
He said anyone witnessing price-gouging should report it to the attorney general’s office.He said anyone witnessing price-gouging should report it to the attorney general’s office.
The D.C. attorney general’s office also said Thursday that residents should report price-gouging and be wary of scams, including charities purporting to collect money for coronavirus victims.The D.C. attorney general’s office also said Thursday that residents should report price-gouging and be wary of scams, including charities purporting to collect money for coronavirus victims.
District law prevents overcharging for similar goods or services that were sold in the 90 days before the mayor’s emergency declaration.District law prevents overcharging for similar goods or services that were sold in the 90 days before the mayor’s emergency declaration.
Those who work in the District should also know their right to paid sick leave, the attorney general’s office said, as the city’s Sick and Safe Leave Act requires most employers to offer such benefits.Those who work in the District should also know their right to paid sick leave, the attorney general’s office said, as the city’s Sick and Safe Leave Act requires most employers to offer such benefits.
Vozzella reported from Richmond. Paul Duggan, Fritz Hahn, Patricia Sullivan, Marissa J. Lang, Luz Lazo, Antonio Olivo, Rebecca Tan and Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report. Vozzella reported from Richmond. Paul Duggan, Fritz Hahn, Patricia Sullivan, Marissa J. Lang, Luz Lazo, Antonio Olivo, Ovetta Wiggins and Rebecca Tan contributed to this report.
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