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Former Md. county health officers, whisteblower allege politicization within health department 03/02/2022 05:13am • This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today. Two former county health officers told state lawmakers that pandemic policy-making in Maryland has become dangerously politicized and that Boom in luxury retail despite decrease in downtown DC foot traffic 03/02/2022 04:53am • More than two years after the pandemic turned downtown D.C. into a ghost town, businesses that rely on foot traffic are still feeling the effects — except those in the business of luxury. Ted Rossman, senior analyst at Bankrate, said that it’s “good times right now for luxury retailers.” DC-area business owners want customers to be 'comfortable' now that masks are optional 03/02/2022 01:42am • Just as schools are working to make students and staff comfortable with the shift to going mask-optional, businesses across the D.C. region are also trying to accommodate customers and staff. For Kathleen Donahue, owner of Labyrinth Games and Puzzles on Capitol Hill, the decision to ask patrons State and Local Taxes: What Is the SALT Deduction? 03/01/2022 07:00pm • The focus of lawsuits and much congressional attention, the state and local tax deduction, known as the SALT deduction, and the creation of a $10,000 cap on the deduction in 2017 have both practical ramifications for taxpayers and larger ideological consequences. The SALT deduction gets at the heart How to Disinfect After Someone in Your House Has Had COVID-19 03/01/2022 07:00pm • In May 2020, experts spoke with U.S. News about effective cleaning after a household member had been isolated at home with COVID-19. A lot has changed during the pandemic since then, but thorough cleaning and sanitation of living quarters where the virus has circulated is still essential. Thankfully DCPS drops outdoor mask mandate; masks still required indoors 03/01/2022 03:54pm • Public schools in D.C. are easing some of their COVID-19 restrictions. In a letter to families Tuesday, Chancellor Lewis Ferebee said students, staff and visitors to D.C. public schools will no longer have to wear masks when outdoors at schools. They’re still required while indoors. DC giving away child-size KN95 masks 03/01/2022 01:14pm • D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Tuesday that all D.C. Health COVID Centers will offer free child-size KN95 masks starting Wednesday. Proof of residency will be required and residents can obtain two packages of children’s masks, with each containing five masks, for a total of 10 masks per res Raskin tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of State of the Union 03/01/2022 11:50am • Rep. Jamie Raskin said in a statement Tuesday that he's tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress. "Yesterday I took a COVID-19 test for members planning to attend the State of the Union address and tested positive," Raskin said. "Having be Nando’s pokes fun at anti-vaxxers in new app ads 03/01/2022 09:00am • Flame-grilled chicken chain Nando’s PERi-PERi is launching a new app, and using the occasion to poke fun at conspiratorial COVID-19 anti-vaxxers, an expression of what it calls the company’s exhaustion with customers who refuse to get vaccinated. In a series of parody videos, online ads, post DC dials back masking in most indoor settings 03/01/2022 04:34am • D.C. lifts its mask mandate in most indoor settings on Tuesday. During a briefing on Feb. 14, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was gradually doing away with the requirement. She cited dramatic drops in COVID-19 cases, a reduction in hospitalizations since the omicron wave, and a rise in vaccinatio DC-area schools revise classroom, bus mask policies 02/28/2022 11:55pm • Following new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shift focus on positive test results and more on what's happening at hospitals, D.C.-area schools are revising their mask policies in classrooms and buses. This list will be updated as more schools update their poli Maryland Athletics lifts indoor mask mandate at home games 02/28/2022 11:13pm • The University of Maryland Athletics Department ended its indoor mask policy for fans at home games Monday night. According to a news release, the decision comes in conjunction with the university's decision to lift its indoor mask mandate on campus for all faculty, staff, students and visitors. Virginia mothers have mixed reaction to rollback of mask mandates in schools 02/28/2022 07:34pm • ▶ Watch Video: Parents discuss kids wearing masks in school As more students began returning for in-person learning, schools became battlegrounds over mask mandates. But as COVID-19 cases decline, state and local authorities across the U.S. have started to roll back mask policies. S Medical Schools Teach Value of Doctor-Patient Relationships 02/28/2022 07:00pm • It is not uncommon for patients to be afraid to tell their doctors the truth. Maybe it is about drug and alcohol use, sexual concerns or other problems: not getting the prescription filled when they didn't have the money, or simply forgetting; having the medication but not taking it, or not liking h Montgomery Co. school board says student member subjected to 'vile' social media comments over mask stance 02/28/2022 05:17pm • The Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Education says its student member, Hana O'Looney, has been subjected to "vile" comments on social media after she voiced support for keeping a school mask mandate in place. Montgomery County Board of Education President Brenda Wolff told WTOP she was "app