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Bowser forms advisory group on D.C. reopening, as cases keep climbing Bowser forms advisory group on D.C. reopening, as cases keep climbing
(about 1 hour later)
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D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced plans Thursday for an advisory group focused on when and how to lift covid-19 restrictions — a day before Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan plans reveal his blueprint for reopening the economy and pulling the Washington region back toward normalcy. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced plans Thursday for an advisory group focused on when and how to lift covid-19 restrictions — a day before Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan plans to reveal his blueprint for reopening the economy and pulling the Washington region back toward normalcy.
Bowser (D) said the “Reopen D.C. Advisory Group” will include a dozen committees that will focus on health disparities in the city and what reopening would mean for restaurants, food retailers and the real estate and construction industries. Bowser (D) said the “Reopen D.C. Advisory Group” will include committees focused on health disparities in the city and what reopening would mean for restaurants, food retailers and the real estate and construction industries.
The group will recommendations in May, mindful of the potential for a new spike in covid-19 infections if the restrictions are lifted too soon or too broadly. The group will issue recommendations in May, mindful of the potential for a new spike in covid-19 infections if restrictions are lifted too soon or too broadly.
“We all know our community has made too many sacrifices to move forward too quickly or in a way that doesn’t prioritize the health and safety of our residents, so we will be deliberate and strategic in our plans to reopen,” Bowser said.“We all know our community has made too many sacrifices to move forward too quickly or in a way that doesn’t prioritize the health and safety of our residents, so we will be deliberate and strategic in our plans to reopen,” Bowser said.
Both Hogan (R) and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) have struck the same note of caution in the face of pressure to end stay-at-home orders and restrictions that have crippled the local economy, causing more than half a million area residents to lose their jobs since late March.Both Hogan (R) and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) have struck the same note of caution in the face of pressure to end stay-at-home orders and restrictions that have crippled the local economy, causing more than half a million area residents to lose their jobs since late March.
Hogan is scheduled to unveil his “Roadmap to Recovery” on Friday. Northam has not announced similar plans. All three leaders are watching for sustained declines in new covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.Hogan is scheduled to unveil his “Roadmap to Recovery” on Friday. Northam has not announced similar plans. All three leaders are watching for sustained declines in new covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
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The day still appeared far away on Thursday. The tally of known infections in the District, Maryland and Virginia took another big leap to 30,138, with 87 new fatalities. Officials have reported 1,273 covid-19 deaths during the pandemic. Those markers still appeared far away on Thursday. The tally of known infections in the District, Maryland and Virginia took another big leap to 30,138, with 87 new fatalities.
Maryland saw the largest increase in fatalities Thursday, 51, for a total of 756. An additional 152 covid-19 patients were hospitalized. Hogan, Northam and Bowser urged the Trump administration to allow federal workers to continue to do their jobs remotely, and Northam rejected a plea from Virginia hospitals to lift a ban on elective procedures.
Maryland saw the largest increase in fatalities — 51 reported Thursday, for a total of 756. An additional 152 covid-19 patients were hospitalized.
Virginia reported 24 new deaths, for a total of 377, and 94 more patients admitted to hospitals.Virginia reported 24 new deaths, for a total of 377, and 94 more patients admitted to hospitals.
D.C. reported another 12 fatalities for a total of 140. Among them were a 105 year-old woman and six people in their 70s and 80s. Nearly all are African American, continuing a trend where the virus has had a disproportionate impact on black residents, particularly in poorer neighborhoods. D.C. reported another 12 fatalities for a total of 140. Among them were a 105 year-old woman and six people in their 70s and 80s. Nearly all were African American, continuing a trend where the virus has had a disproportionate impact on black residents, particularly in poorer neighborhoods.
Are Maryland, D.C. and Virginia meeting benchmarks to reopen? Not yet.Are Maryland, D.C. and Virginia meeting benchmarks to reopen? Not yet.
With the economic shutdown threatening to cripple state and local budgets, Hogan sharply criticized Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) Thursday over his reluctance to offer states more federal aid. On Wednesday McConnell said during a radio interview that states should instead file for bankruptcy. With the economic shutdown threatening to drain state and local budgets, Hogan sharply criticized Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) Thursday over his reluctance to offer states more federal aid. On Wednesday McConnell said during a radio interview that states should instead file for bankruptcy.
“The last thing we need in the middle of an economic crisis is to have states all filing bankruptcy all across America and not able to provide services to people who desperately need them,” Hogan said in a live-streamed interview with Politico. As chair of the National Governors Association, Hogan has been pushing for Congress to send another $500 billion in relief to the states.“The last thing we need in the middle of an economic crisis is to have states all filing bankruptcy all across America and not able to provide services to people who desperately need them,” Hogan said in a live-streamed interview with Politico. As chair of the National Governors Association, Hogan has been pushing for Congress to send another $500 billion in relief to the states.
The rebuke came as federal data released Thursday showed that nearly 140,000 more residents in the Washington region filed jobless claims last week. More than 529,000 area residents have lost their jobs in the five weeks since the local economy essentially ground to a halt,, Labor Department data showed. The rebuke came as Labor Department data released Thursday showed that nearly 140,000 more residents in the Washington region filed jobless claims last week. More than 529,000 area residents have lost their jobs in the five weeks since the local economy essentially ground to a halt.
In hopes of being able to ease restrictions, all three jurisdictions have begun to ramp up testing to better determine how much the virus has spread, while buying more protective gear and adding more hospital beds to keep their health care systems from being overwhelmed. In hopes of being able to ease restrictions, all three jurisdictions have begun to ramp up testing to better determine how much the virus has spread, while buying more protective gear and adding more hospital beds to keep health care systems from being overwhelmed.
District officials said they plan to hire more contact tracers to reach out to people who have come into contact with known covid-19 patients — a crucial step in preventing further infections. The work typically involves interviewing at least 8 people per patient.District officials said they plan to hire more contact tracers to reach out to people who have come into contact with known covid-19 patients — a crucial step in preventing further infections. The work typically involves interviewing at least 8 people per patient.
Sixty five people are doing that work in the District, and officials hope to add at least 135 more contact tracers in coming weeks. They said they would need about 900 such workers in place when the city starts to reopen.Sixty five people are doing that work in the District, and officials hope to add at least 135 more contact tracers in coming weeks. They said they would need about 900 such workers in place when the city starts to reopen.
“We need to know who has it and who has been exposed to it,” Bowser said.“We need to know who has it and who has been exposed to it,” Bowser said.
Patient tracker: The latest on coronavirus patients and fatalitiesPatient tracker: The latest on coronavirus patients and fatalities
Bowser also said the city’s public health department will soon be able to double its testing capacity to 1,000 per day. Overall, public and private labs in the city have the ability to conduct 3,700 tests per day, but, so far, have only had a need to perform between 400 and 800 per day. Bowser also said the city’s public health department will soon be able to double its testing capacity to 1,000 per day. Overall, public and private labs in the city have the ability to conduct 3,700 tests per day, but, so far, have only had requests for between 400 and 800 per day.
LaQuandra Nesbitt, the director of the D.C. Health department, said about 20 percent of those tests are positive. The city wants to see that number decline to about 10 percent before it decides its safe to end the city’s stay-at-home order, closure of nonessential businesses and ban on gatherings of 10 or more. LaQuandra Nesbitt, the director of the D.C. health department, said about 20 percent of those tests are coming back positive. The city wants to see that number decline to about 10 percent before ending the city’s stay-at-home order, closure of nonessential businesses and ban on gatherings of 10 or more people.
In Virginia, Northam extended a ban on elective procedures in hospitals through at least May 1. The governor’s office said Northam wants to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment inside hospitals before that gear is also used for nonessential medical procedures.
“My top priority is protecting public health, and that includes ensuring that our front line medical staff have the equipment they need to stay safe and treat Virgininans who are sick,” Northam said in a news release.
A group representing hospitals had called on the governor to lift the restriction — a day after the Inova Health System announced plans to lay off 427 workers due to financial problems caused by the economic shut down.
In a letter, the Virginia Hospitals and Healthcare Association said that with thousands of hospital beds available and just 21 percent of Virginia’s 2,865 ventilators being used, the state is equipped to handle the expected influx of covid-19 patients and deal with other patients.
“While the crisis is far from over and COVID-19 will continue to be the primary focus of our hospitals and health care providers for the foreseeable future, we are mindful of the tens of thousands of Virginians who have deferred care for chronic conditions and other non-urgent medical needs,” Sean T. Connaughton, the group’s president said in the letter.
“We are concerned that continuing to delay their care while we have available capacity to address and/or stabilize their conditions will have long-term negative impacts on health across the Commonwealth.”
Coronavirus in the DMV: What you need to knowCoronavirus in the DMV: What you need to know
Meanwhile, local jurisdictions continued to beef up their own efforts to respond to the crisis. Local jurisdictions are continuing to beef up their efforts to respond to the crisis.
The D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Services has joined George Washington University and Reston-based Nova Labs to manufacture an adapter needed for airway pressure machines that paramedics use to treat patients with respiratory ailments, including covid-19.The D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Services has joined George Washington University and Reston-based Nova Labs to manufacture an adapter needed for airway pressure machines that paramedics use to treat patients with respiratory ailments, including covid-19.
Increasing global demand for those adapters has made it harder to find them, a fire department spokesman said.Increasing global demand for those adapters has made it harder to find them, a fire department spokesman said.
The District is paying for the parts, and Nova Labs is building the adapters with the help of the George Washington’s Department of Emergency Medicine Training Center, the spokesman said.The District is paying for the parts, and Nova Labs is building the adapters with the help of the George Washington’s Department of Emergency Medicine Training Center, the spokesman said.
Department officials said the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines that use the adapters prevent patients’ breath from escaping into the air as they exhale, which, in the case of a covid-19 infection, “aerosolizes the coronavirus into the atmosphere” and exposes the emergency workers.Department officials said the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines that use the adapters prevent patients’ breath from escaping into the air as they exhale, which, in the case of a covid-19 infection, “aerosolizes the coronavirus into the atmosphere” and exposes the emergency workers.
In Maryland, the Prince George’s County Police Department is launching a pilot program that will allow people who have covid-19 symptoms to text 911 for help. The texting ability is meant to help those who might be having “shortness of breath, trouble breathing and/or coughing” and might be “unable to speak over the phone.”In Maryland, the Prince George’s County Police Department is launching a pilot program that will allow people who have covid-19 symptoms to text 911 for help. The texting ability is meant to help those who might be having “shortness of breath, trouble breathing and/or coughing” and might be “unable to speak over the phone.”
But, in a county with a substantial immigrant community, the service is currently only available in English, officials said.But, in a county with a substantial immigrant community, the service is currently only available in English, officials said.
Montgomery County announced two more walk-through, drive-through testing sites. Health officials said testing has started at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center on Wednesday. On April 27, they will start testing at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown.Montgomery County announced two more walk-through, drive-through testing sites. Health officials said testing has started at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center on Wednesday. On April 27, they will start testing at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown.
Montgomery officials also said they are assembling “action teams” to help give support to roughly 200 group homes with residents who have developmental disabilities, many of whom have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus.Montgomery officials also said they are assembling “action teams” to help give support to roughly 200 group homes with residents who have developmental disabilities, many of whom have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus.
The teams are made up of staff from the county’s Aging and Disability Services agency, the county said.The teams are made up of staff from the county’s Aging and Disability Services agency, the county said.
Social workers in Montgomery said they are worried that the covid-19 crisis is leading to more unreported incidents of child abuse. Increased stressors of the pandemic — health worries, financial worries — may lead some adults to act out their frustrations, said Lisa Merkin, head of Child Welfare Services. Rachel Chason, Dana Hedgpeth, Peter Hermann, Dan Morse and Laura Vozzella contributed to this report.
But with day-care workers, teachers, counselors and medical professionals all avoiding unnecessary daily contact with families, there may fewer people around to report signs of child abuse, Merkin said.
“The people who really keep their eyes on these kids aren’t around them,” Merkin said. “They’re not seeing them every day.”
Rachel Chason, Dana Hedgpeth, Peter Hermann, Dan Morse and Gregory S. Schneider contributed to this report.
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