Coronavirus update: Md. sees deadliest report yet; Northam, Hogan detail plans to slowly reopen

The latest

Saturday morning’s report from D.C., Maryland and Virginia brought somber news of the region’s deadliest day by far due to COVID-19. Between the three there were 112 reported new deaths.
In Maryland, 74 new deaths were reported, moving the state’s total to 797. More than 1,100 new cases were reported, putting the state’s total at 17,766. It’s the deadliest report for Maryland since the outbreak began.
In Virginia, 772 new cases were reported Saturday morning, that’s the most for the state in a single day. The total number of positive infections is 12,366. The death total is 436, as 26 new deaths reported.
In D.C., 171 new cases were reported, along with 12 new deaths. The District has seen 165 residents pass away due to the virus. More than half of the deaths reported Saturday were African-American. Residents of homeless shelters in D.C. are being exposed to the virus as well, the District reports nearly 150 positive tests among shelter residents.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam revealed the commonwealth’s plan, called the “Forward Virginia Blueprint,” to eventually reopen once the coronavirus pandemic slows down.
Larry Hogan, Maryland’s governor, detailed plans for his own state to gradually reopen. Hogan called it Maryland Strong.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, coughing and shortness of breath. Health officials say that if you have these symptoms, you should call your doctor. Do not just show up. Medical facilities need to get ready for you. If you don’t have a doctor and you live in D.C. or the nearby Maryland suburbs, D.C.’s mayor recommends calling the Testing Triage Center at 855-363-0333 or Mary’s Center at 844-796-2797. If you live in Virginia, call 211.

Va. Gov. Northam outlines plan to reopen state

Gov. Northam revealed the commonwealth’s plan, called the “Forward Virginia Blueprint,” to eventually reopen once the coronavirus pandemic slows down.

Northam detailed a plan of increased testing, contact tracing and isolating those who are sick, “not everyone in Virginia.” The three-phase plan, however, is not yet ready to be put in action, he said.

“I am as eager as anyone to move into the time when we can ease some of these restrictions,” Northam said.

“But we must do so in a safe manner, one that seeks to avoid causing a spike in cases or a surge our hospitals cannot handle. As I’ve said before, we cannot and will not lift restrictions the way you turn on a light switch.”

Phase One will include the reopening of some nonessential businesses with strict safety regulations in place in order to protect the public; continued teleworking; continued social distancing; and a recommendation to wear face masks when in public.

In order to reach the first phase of the blueprint, Northam said that the following criteria had to be met:

A downward trend of the percentage of positive cases over 14 days
A downward trend of hospitalizations over 14 days
Increased testing and contact tracing
Enough hospital beds and intensive care capacity
An increased and sustainable supply of personal protective equipment.

‘Maryland Strong’ is Gov. Hogan’s plan for his state

Larry Hogan, Maryland’s governor, detailed on Friday his state’s plan to open up again. Hogan called it Maryland Strong. The “road map to recovery” is a three-stage plan that might allow some businesses to reopen in May.

“If we try to rush this, and if we don’t do it in a thoughtful and responsible way, it could cause a rebound of the virus, which could deepen the economic crisis, prolong the fiscal problems, and slow our economic recovery,” he said.

Here’s a look at the three stages:

Stage One

The stay-at-home order can be lifted
Many small businesses can reopen
Lower-risk community activities and quality-of-life improvements can resume
This stage could see the reopening of golf courses, the return of recreational boating and fishing
Elective outpatient surgeries can resume

In addition, local governments would have additional flexibility to open local parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and libraries if safety protocols are followed.

If officials don’t see any spikes in deaths, ICU cases or “significant outbreaks of community transmission,” then the plan would move to the second stage, Hogan said.

Stage Two

More businesses can reopen
Nonessential workers who cannot telework can return to work
Indoor religious gatherings can resume with limited capacity
Limits on social gatherings can be raised
Can return to normal transit schedules
Restaurants and bars can open with “significant restrictions”

Stage Three

Some “higher-risk activities,” including larger social gatherings can be re-instituted
High-capacity bars and restaurants can reopen
Some restrictions on visits to nursing homes and hospitals can be lifted
Some restrictions on entertainment venues and larger gatherings can be lifted

The reopening of schools is not mentioned in any of the three stages. Regarding schools, the plan states: “The governor will continue consulting with the state superintendent of schools, as well as area school superintendents, to evaluate the safe use of educational and child care facilities throughout Maryland.”

Parents work to save Montgomery County private school

Describing Seneca Academy in Darnestown, Maryland as the opposite of “chic, high-end private schools where everybody drives fancy cars and you have a ton of really wealthy people that send their children there,” parents are concerned their school may not be able to come back from the coronavirus outbreak.

The school has about 200 students from preschool through fifth grade.

Caraline Hickman, who has two children at the school, said Seneca has been a place where children who have had trouble fitting in at other schools manage to thrive.

As of now, the school is closed and does not plan to reopen this school year in order to allow teachers to look for new jobs and parents to find new schools for their kids.

However, parents are trying to save the school, and have so far raised about 10% of a $750,000 goal to keep the school in business next year. They say big donors are needed if they’re going to reach that number.

Md. daycares still waiting to be paid by the state

About 3,700 daycares across Maryland are owed millions of dollars from the state despite Governor Larry Hogan’s executive order last month to keep them open to essential workers.

The Maryland State Child Care Association told the Washington Post it’s an unorganized and uncoordinated effort. Hogan’s executive order was signed on March 25.

Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon expressed her sympathy for the providers, according to the Post.

Salmon is overseeing the program and said Friday the comptroller’s office will expedite payments. She added the department will also issue $2,000 grant payments by the end of next week.

Comptroller Peter Franchot said his office has been working “tirelessly” with the education department and will issue payments “within hours of receiving the necessary information.”

16 more prisoners in D.C. jails test positive for COVID-19 over past week

Sixteen more inmates in D.C.’s jails have tested positive for coronavirus this week, according to a Friday update provided by the District.

The total number of inmates infected with COVID-19 is now 112 per D.C.’s Department of Corrections.

Forty-nine prisoners remain in isolation due to their positive test; 62 have recovered from the disease.

One inmate has died from coronavirus.

The Department also says 154 residents at the Correctional Treatment Facility have been released from two-week quarantine and returned to the general population, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

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WTOP’s Zeke Hartner, Jack Moore, Melissa Howell and Matthew Delaney contributed to this report