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/virginia-dc-maryland-coronavirus-news-thursday/2020/03/12/77d178ce-6410-11ea-acca-80c22bbee96f_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_homepage
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Virginia declares coronavirus state of emergency; Capitol, White House tours cancelled as cases and closures spread | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| This is a developing story. It will be updated. | This is a developing story. It will be updated. |
| 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. | |
| 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 announced this morning that its schools will be closed through next week. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Live updates: See the latest news on the coronavirus here | Live 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. | |
| “We are concerned. We cannot trace at this moment where he was exposed,” Alsobrooks said. “This means we’re in a different stage. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | Tours of the White House are canceled until further notice, White House spokesman Judd Deere said. |
| Coronavirus in the DMV: What you need to know | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| Sign up for The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletter | Sign up for The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletter |
| “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. | “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. | |
| On Wednesday, Sidwell Friends School said it would shut its Northwest Washington and Bethesda Maryland campuses next week and transition to remote learning through at least April 10. | |
| The Smithsonian Institution said it is canceling public events and tours through May 3, although its museums and the National Zoo will stay open. | |
| Virginia officials told House lawmakers in Richmond Thursday of five new cases in the state. | |
| Although the vast majority of cases in the Washington region have been linked to specific outbreaks — in foreign countries, at a conference, on a Nile River cruise ship or through a D.C. church whose pastor became ill — there are a few cases in which the source of the virus is not yet known. | Although the vast majority of cases in the Washington region have been linked to specific outbreaks — in foreign countries, at a conference, on a Nile River cruise ship or through a D.C. church whose pastor became ill — there are a few cases in which the source of the virus is not yet known. |
| 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 limit the spread of the virus by patients who have not yet been diagnosed and quarantined. | 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 limit the spread of the virus by patients who have not yet been diagnosed and quarantined. |
| With every diagnosed case, state and local health officials begin an intensive process known as “contact tracing,” which involves interviewing patients to see who they may have exposed, then trying to reach those people to ask them to quarantine at home and monitor themselves for symptoms. | With every diagnosed case, state and local health officials begin an intensive process known as “contact tracing,” which involves interviewing patients to see who they may have exposed, then trying to reach those people to ask them to quarantine at home and monitor themselves for symptoms. |
| The D.C. attorney general’s office said residents should be wary of scams, including charities purporting to collect money for coronavirus victims, and report price gouging. District law prevents overcharging for similar goods or services that were sold in the 90 days before the mayor’s emergency declaration. | The D.C. attorney general’s office said residents should be wary of scams, including charities purporting to collect money for coronavirus victims, and report price gouging. 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. Erin Cox, Paul Duggan, Fritz Hahn, Patricia Sullivan, Marissa J. Lang, Luz Lazo, Antonio Olivo and Rebecca Tan contributed to this report. | |
| Washington National Cathedral, hundreds of churches close for two weeks to stop spread of virus | Washington National Cathedral, hundreds of churches close for two weeks to stop spread of virus |
| Vargas: Coronavirus means uncertainty for the nonprofits that provide society’s safety net | Vargas: Coronavirus means uncertainty for the nonprofits that provide society’s safety net |
| To close schools or not? Confusion and uncertainty reign | To close schools or not? Confusion and uncertainty reign |
| Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.) | Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.) |
| Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local news | Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local news |