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| Virginia declares coronavirus state of emergency; Capitol, White House tours cancelled as cases and closures spread | 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. | 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 said 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
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| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. |
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