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Triage tests, testing sites open in region as coronavirus spreads Triage tents, testing sites open in region as coronavirus spreads; officials say thousands more beds needed.
(32 minutes later)
George Washington University Hospital erected a tent to treat coronavirus patients at its Foggy Bottom campus on Wednesday, as authorities reported dozens more cases and medical facilities struggled to keep up. George Washington University Hospital opened a tent to treat coronavirus patients at its Foggy Bottom campus on Wednesday, as authorities reported dozens more cases and medical facilities struggled to keep pace.
Several health providers in Virginia and Maryland region had already set up triage and treatment tents or drive-through testing sites for people who appear to have symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Several health providers in the Virginia and Maryland region had already set up triage and treatment tents or drive-through testing sites for people who appear to have symptoms of the novel coronavirus.
But one of them, Sentara Healthcare system in Virginia, said it was closing three drive-through sites in Hampton Roads after three days because its supply of tests was running low. Since opening the sites Monday, Sentara had screened 1,760 people and tested 786, a spokeswoman said. Results are expected in two to five days. Maryland officials say they hope to add thousands of hospital beds — including by opening shuttered hospitals or placing beds in nontraditional settings — and are working with supply chain partners to ensure there is enough protective gear, including masks, gowns and gloves.
The number of cornavirus cases reported in Maryland, Virginia and the District had reached 195 by Wednesday afternoon. Maryland added 23 cases, bringing the state’s total to 86. Virginia reported 10 more cases, for a total of 77, including the Washington region’s only two deaths so far. The number of known patients in the District, Maryland and Virginia on Wednesday climbed to 203.
The District, which generally reports new cases later in the day, said there were nine new patients as of Tuesday evening, bringing its total to 32. “Everybody is working 24/7 to get ready for what could be coming,”said Bob Atlas, president of the Maryland Hospital Association.
Most of the new cases in Maryland are concentrated in counties bordering the District. In its first six hours of collecting coronavirus swabs at a temporary drive-through testing site, Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington tested 60 people.
Of the 77 cases in Virginia, most are in the northern part of the state officials said. But another Virginia provider, Sentara Healthcare system, said it was closing three drive-through sites in Hampton Roads because supplies were running low after it screened 1,760 people and tested 786 in just three days. Officials there said they were working with federal and state officials to get more tests.
Here is a Washington Post analysis of coronavirus patients in the DMVHere is a Washington Post analysis of coronavirus patients in the DMV
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said there are three “outbreaks” in the state, meaning clusters of patients where two or more can be traced to common exposure. One of those outbreaks is on the peninsula, in James City County, where there have been 17 confirmed cases. That is the general area where both of the fatalities occurred. Maryland added 23 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 86. Virginia reported 10 cases, for a total of 77, including the Washington region’s only two deaths so far. The District said there were eight new patients as of early Wednesday evening, bringing its total to 40.
Virginia labs have capacity to test 260 to 360 patients, Northam said. They anticipate receiving new reagents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the next day, which would increase capacity for testing. Most of the new Maryland and Virginia cases in Maryland are in the populous Washington suburbs.
Northam floated the idea of possibly activating the National Guard, which might be able to help deliver food, providing staffing at hospitals or erecting tents at hospitals to increase capacity. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has already deployed the Maryland National Guard to help enforce shutdowns and provide other assistance, and D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has launched the process for activating the D.C. National Guard if needed. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said there are three “outbreaks” in the state, meaning clusters of patients where two or more can be traced to common exposure. One of those outbreaks is on the peninsula, in James City County, where there have been 17 confirmed cases. That is the general area where both of the fatalities occured.
The demand for testing was evident Wednesday. Sentara Healthcare system, which on Monday launched the screening and testing sites outside its facilities in Hampton Roads, said it was closing its three drive through sites in Hampton Roads after two days because its supply of tests is running low. Virginia labs have capacity to process 260 to 360 tests, said Norman Oliver, the state health commissioner. Officials anticipate receiving new reagents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the next day, which would increase capacity.
A spokeswoman could not immediately say how many tests were conducted before the suspension. The sites were limited to people experiencing certain symptoms who had contact with someone who recently tested positive or was suspected to have the virus, or someone who traveled to an area with a known outbreak. Northam (D) floated the idea of possibly activating the National Guard, which he said might be able to help deliver food, providing staffing at hospitals or erecting tents at hospitals to increase capacity.
“We know that covid-19 is a critical concern for our communities, so we are actively working with state and federal officials to get more testing supplies,” the health system said in a statement. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has already deployed the Maryland National Guard to help enforce shutdowns and provide other assistance, and D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has launched the process for activating the D.C. National Guard if needed.
At GWU, officials said the new tent would limit exposure to the virus by separating coronavirus cases from the larger population. Patients can be triaged and tested there, and those who are well enough to be sent home will be. Bruno Petinaux, the hospital’s chief medical officer said 80 percent of patients infected with the virus have been able to recuperate at home. Critical cases will be admitted into the hospital.
“It’s all about how we use our staff in a smart and effective way,” Petinaux said.
Live updates: The latest coronavirus news in the District, Maryland and VirginiaLive updates: The latest coronavirus news in the District, Maryland and Virginia
In Arlington, Virginia Hospital Center set up a drive through testing site in partnership with several county agencies, testing 60 people within its first six hours of collecting coronavirus swabs. In Arlington, the Virginia Hospital Center set up the drive-through testing site in partnership with several county agencies. The tests, open only to Arlington County residents or employees with pre-submitted doctor’s orders, will take five to seven business days to be processed.
The tests, open only to Arlington County residents or employees with pre-submitted doctor’s orders, will take 5 to 7 business days to be processed. Chief nursing officer Melody Dickerson said the testing is going smoothly and she is confident the hospital has enough test kits for the immediate future. Chief nursing officer Melody Dickerson said the testing is going smoothly and the hospital has enough test kits for the immediate future.
Throughout Virginia, there are currently about 18,500 licensed beds, including about 2,000 intensive care unit beds, which have the most direct access to ventilators or respiratory support equipment, said Julian Walker, a spokesman with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Throughout Virginia, there are currently about 18,500 licensed hospital beds, including about 2,000 intensive care unit beds, which have the most direct access to ventilators or respiratory support equipment needed for the most critical covid-19 patients, said Julian Walker, a spokesman with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Six regional health care coalitions in Virginia help coordinate response in the event of a public health emergency, natural disaster or other emergency, as well as the acquisition of equipment. The coalitions collectively have another 400 ventilators that could be deployed to hospitals if needed, Walker said. Six regional health care coalitions in Virginia that help coordinate emergency responsescollectively have another 400 ventilators that could be deployed to hospitals if needed.
In Maryland, major hospital systems including Johns Hopkins Health and the University of Maryland Medical System have suspended elective surgeries to increase their capacity to treat coronavirus patients. D.C. offiicals said there are 3,273 licensed acute care hospital beds in the city. In a statement, health officials said they are committed to supporting the health-care system throughout the pandemic, “including implementing strategies to manage current and future needs.”
In Maryland, officials are hoping to add about 6,000 hospital beds across the state’s four dozen hospitals, said Dennis R. Schrader, the chief operating officer and Medicaid director of the Maryland Department of Health.
The state currently has about 7,400 operational beds.
Officials said they expect hospitals to add roughly 1,000 beds statewide in existing facilities in the next 45 days. The rest would have to be placed in old facilities that would be reopened, or in nontraditional spaces.
“We are planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Schrader said.
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About 75 percent of Maryland’s hospital beds are currently occupied, said Timothy Chizmar, the state EMS medical director at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, which conducts a daily survey. He said the figure is at or slightly below average.
Major hospital systems in the state, including Johns Hopkins Health and the University of Maryland Medical System, have suspended elective surgeries to increase their capacity to treat coronavirus patients.
“It’s a logistical nightmare for my physicians,” said Gene Ransom, chief executive of the Maryland State Medical Society. “But the key thing is that it frees up space.”“It’s a logistical nightmare for my physicians,” said Gene Ransom, chief executive of the Maryland State Medical Society. “But the key thing is that it frees up space.”
Ransom said hospitals statewide are now seeing historic lows in terms of patients as officials have warned people to stay away. But they are preparing for a dramatic increase in patient volume as the number of cases continue to increase.Ransom said hospitals statewide are now seeing historic lows in terms of patients as officials have warned people to stay away. But they are preparing for a dramatic increase in patient volume as the number of cases continue to increase.
“We just don’t know how big the bump will be,” he said.“We just don’t know how big the bump will be,” he said.
Get behind the paywall with The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletter The ripple effect of the coronavirus crisis in the District continued to play out in other areas, as well, including public transportation.
The ripple effect of the coronavirus crisis in the District continued to play out in other areas, as well, including public transportation. Officials said the DC Circulator is suspending fares on all routes. Officials said the DC Circulator is suspending fares on all routes. Metro, which is operating on a reduced schedule with trains every 15 minutes on all lines, asked residents to stay home so the available trains can be used by hospital staff, first responders, and others who need to travel during the coronavirus crisis.
Metro, which is operating on a reduced schedule with trains every 15 minutes on all lines, asked residents to stay home so the available trains can be used by hospital staff, first responders, and others who need to travel during the coronavirus crisis.
Ridership on the rail system was down to 140,000 trips on Tuesday, a nearly 80 percent drop from the 663,00 trips the system carried on the same Tuesday last year, the transit agency said.Ridership on the rail system was down to 140,000 trips on Tuesday, a nearly 80 percent drop from the 663,00 trips the system carried on the same Tuesday last year, the transit agency said.
“Nice Job, #DMV! You are staying home, listening to officials, limiting travel to essential only,” Metro tweeted early Wednesday.
As many as 73 D.C. firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians have self-quarantined after they potentially were exposed to the coronavirus or came in contact with someone who has tested positive, according to the president of the firefighters union.
The information came a day after the chief of the District’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department announced that one firefighter has tested positive for the virus and is being treated. The department has about 1,800 members.
Union officials said they do not think the large number of firefighters in self-quarantine will affect the department’s ability to cover shifts.
Dabney Hudson, the president of the firefighters union, Local 36, said a group of firefighters had self-isolated after returning from a trip out of the country. The remaining firefighters under quarantine are all linked to the one member who tested positive. That firefighter worked out of two stations in Southeast — Engine Co. 19 on Pennsylvania Avenue SE and Engine Co. 32 in Garfield Heights.
Hudson said that six members could return to work Wednesday or Thursday.
Kids are carriers. Grandparents are vulnerable. Families face wrenching choices.
D.C. police announced a series of “operational adjustments” so they could respond to residents and at the same time minimize being exposed to coronavirus to officers and the general public.D.C. police announced a series of “operational adjustments” so they could respond to residents and at the same time minimize being exposed to coronavirus to officers and the general public.
The police force urges people calling 911 to tell the operator if they are experiencing covid-19 symptoms such as fever, cough and shortens of breath. That way, dispatchers can advise responding officers to “take appropriate safety precautions.”The police force urges people calling 911 to tell the operator if they are experiencing covid-19 symptoms such as fever, cough and shortens of breath. That way, dispatchers can advise responding officers to “take appropriate safety precautions.”
In addition, officers will ask to speak to people who call “outdoors when possible,” and to maintain a distance as they interact. Police also urged residents to file for routine police reports or for nonemergencies to do so online. In addition, officers will ask to speak to people who call “outdoors when possible,” and to maintain a distance as they interact. Police also urged residents to file for routine police reports or for non-emergencies to do so on-line.
Meeting and other public events with D.C. police are temporarily suspended, but authorities are available by telephone and through email. Regularly scheduled community crime meetings will be held by conference call.Meeting and other public events with D.C. police are temporarily suspended, but authorities are available by telephone and through email. Regularly scheduled community crime meetings will be held by conference call.
With thousands of parents working from home while looking after restless children, virtual library borrowing soared at the D.C. Public Library, which closed to visitors on Monday. Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan tweeted that more people checked out more books in the past three days than in all of February. John Hopkins University said its May graduation ceremonies will be held online. In-person celebrations will occur at a later date. Georgetown University said it was postponing commencement ceremonies.
With thousands of parents working from home while looking after restless children, borrowing soared at the D.C. Public Library before it closed to visitors as of Monday.
Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan tweeted that more people checked out more books from Friday to Sunday than had been checked out in all of February.
“This is the only acceptable form of hoarding,” the tweet said.“This is the only acceptable form of hoarding,” the tweet said.
Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando tried to offer some relief by hosting a daily virtual story-time from his office in Rockville. Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando tried to offer some relief by hosting a daily virtual story-time from his office in Rockville on Wednesday.
Seated on his couch, he opened the book, “Waiting Is Not Easy,” by Mo Willems. Seated on his couch, he opened his first book, “Waiting Is Not Easy,” by Mo Willems.
“Now, how many of you know I picked this book because it’s hard right now to stay in the house, not be at school, not see your friends and wait for this to be over?” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.”“Now, how many of you know I picked this book because it’s hard right now to stay in the house, not be at school, not see your friends and wait for this to be over?” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.”
Rachel Chason, Peter Hermann, Rebecca Tan, Patricia Sullivan, Laura Vozzella and Luz Lazo contributed to this report. Peter Hermann, Fenit Nirappil, Rebecca Tan, Patricia Sullivan, Laura Vozzella, Luz Lazo and Susan Svrluga contributed to this report.
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