Virginia reported its first coronavirus-related death and four additional cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. The total number of positive cases in Virginia is now at 41, Gov. Ralph Northam confirmed.
In Maryland, the state reported five new cases on Sunday morning, putting the running total at 31. Maryland has embedded a dashboard for tracking cases on its health department web page dedicated to tracking coronavirus cases.
Today’s daily count from the @MDHealthDept shows that the state has 31 confirmed cases of #COVID19US.
We have added FIVE cases since yesterday. https://t.co/9iLyYFFsYN
— Mike Ricci (@riccimike) March 15, 2020
In D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said there have been six additional confirmed cases, bringing the total to 16 positive cases in the District.
With the news on Sunday, the total number of coronavirus cases is now near 90 in the region. D.C., Maryland and Virginia have all declared states of emergency.
In addition, one of the individuals who tested positive in Fairfax County is a teacher at Lynbrook Elementary School. It’s the first confirmed case involving staff at Fairfax County Schools.
Almost all area schools have been canceled as school systems prepare to switch to distance learning and many local venues have shuttered their doors.
The Virginia Department of Health said the patient who died was a man in his 70s from the Virginia Peninsula, which is just north of Norfolk.
Health officials said he got the disease from an unknown source. The official cause of death was respiratory failure as a result of COVID-19.
Congressman Rob Wittman (R, Va. 1) said the man was from James City County.
“My heart breaks for that patient, their family, and all those affected around the world by this virus. My staff and I are working extremely closely with Governor Northam and his staff as well as the Virginia Department of Health to address this ongoing situation,” Wittman said in a statement.
Northam confirmed Saturday that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Virginia had risen to 41. A total of 395 Virginians had been tested as of Saturday afternoon.
Fairfax County had the highest number of confirmed cases in Virginia with 10.
The District’s number of reported cases has reached 16, following the mayor’s announcement Saturday of six new cases. How the patients contracted the disease is being investigated.
According to D.C. officials, two of the individuals — two men ages 28 and 46 — had contact with someone who had tested positive. Two other men, a 45-year-old and a 67-year-old, had a history of travel. The other cases involved a 45-year-old man who had attended an out-of-state conference and a 55-year-old woman whose contact with the coronavirus was still being investigated.
Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, the director of D.C.’s Department of Health, said the District has taken steps to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, including social distancing. That includes the decision to ask government employees to telework and to close the public schools.
D.C. leaders have been pointing the public to coronavirus.dc.gov for updated information, like where students who depend on the schools for their daily meals can be fed, public funding for child care, rules on mass gatherings and details on how to protect yourself from COVID-19.
Nesbitt affirmed the District’s ability to test patients, and reminded residents that most primary care physicians can take samples and send them to labs for testing.
“Not everyone needs to go to an emergency room to be tested,” she said. “[That way] we can be sure to ensure our healthcare infrastructure remains intact in the District of Columbia.”
D.C.’s Department of Aging and Community Living would continue its usual meals for seniors, according to Tomas Talamante, Bowser’s Deputy Chief of Staff.
In Maryland, the total number of coronavirus cases had reached 26, according to a spokesman for Md. Gov. Larry Hogan. Maryland’s first three patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered, officials say.
A spokesperson for Johns Hopkins Hospital confirmed that a “provider” had tested positive for coronavirus Saturday morning, according to The Associated Press. The Baltimore Sun reported that the provider is at home recovering and that all patients, clinicians and staff who may have had contact with the provider “have been identified and instructed to self-quarantine as directed.”
COVID-19 pandemic, Fire Fighters, when appropriate wear personal protective equipment on calls to help prevent the spread of the virus. Don’t be alarmed, by protecting our Fire Fighters they will always be able to answer every call. #iaff1619 #PrinceGeorgesProud @IAFFNewsDesk pic.twitter.com/n6xW4vTklu
— IAFF Local 1619 (@IAFFLocal1619) March 15, 2020
Across the region, parents are suddenly finding themselves without resources to manage their children’s care while schools are closed.
On Saturday, Hogan enacted an emergency order to expand child care access to those who provide health care, emergency services and law enforcement while schools are closed.
The state also affirmed instructions to day care centers so they may limit the spread of coronavirus. The state’s schools superintendent, Karen Salmon, called these “extraordinary precautions.”
Some of the mandates include: keeping children in small groups (10 or fewer), instructing staff members to stay home if they feel sick, instructing parents to keep their children at home if they’re not feeling well, mandating frequent hand-washing, restricting field trips and limiting outside visitors. Read the full guidelines.
Closures, cancellations and leniency announced
- On Saturday afternoon, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera issued an Administrative Order closing all Maryland courthouses to the public for a three week period, according to a press release. The release emphasized that courts will remain open in some capacities. As per the Order, the courts will be staffed to handle emergency matters including, but not limited to, domestic violence petitions, bail reviews, juvenile detention and shelter hearings and search warrants. Courts will also be staffed accordingly to handle the emergency matters outlined in Section (b) (1), (2), (3), and (4) of the Administrative Order.
- Capital One in Tysons closed an office after an employee tested positive for the virus. The employee was last in the office, at 8020 Towers Crescent Drive, adjacent to the popular Tysons Corner Center mall, on March 6.
- The popular Cherry Blossom Ten-Miler (and 5K) has been canceled for 2020. It was scheduled for April 5. Runners are being offered three options related to their race entry fee.
- The utility companies PEPCO and BGE are suspending disconnections and waiving new late-payment fees through May 1. WSSC is taking similar measures and suspending “in-home, nonemergency, work.”
- Circle Yoga, a yoga studio in Northwest D.C., off Connecticut Avenue near Chevy Chase Circle, has closed until April 6, after a student tested positive for coronavirus. Those who attended the same class (on Feb. 29) as the person who tested positive have been notified.
- Many local parents are struggling to find child care options after schools are closed or will close on Monday.
- Area schools are closed for at least two weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. Here’s a comprehensive list of what each county and some city school districts are doing for children who will miss both lessons and meals.
- While numerous grocery stores have experienced a rush of customers who are buying supplies based on concerns that they may need to quarantine, Harris Teeter, which operates numerous stores in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, announced Saturday that all stores will close for cleaning and restocking each night at 9 p.m. and then open the next day at their normally scheduled time. This will start on Sunday, March 15.
- Transportation schedules and costs have been changed as local providers follow advice to promote social distancing. Some routes will be running less frequently, some are canceled due to reduced demand, and even some services will be free due to concerns related to handling money. See the full story.
- The Avalon Theatre in D.C. announced Saturday afternoon that it has temporarily closed in compliance with the D.C. Department of Health’s order prohibiting mass gatherings of 250 or more people.
WTOP’s Liz Anderson, Zeke Hartner and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
