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DC-area's omicron case surge is in decline, but hospitalizations are peaking 01/20/2022 12:51pm • The D.C. area is mirroring the omicron surge and decline that has been seen in other parts of the world. COVID cases are down dramatically in much of the region, but hospitalizations are still peaking to an all time pandemic high. In both the District and Maryland, COVID cases have dropped by ove Masks are staying at Prince William schools, but quarantine changes coming 01/20/2022 06:56am • This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today. Masks will remain in Prince William County schools, at least for now, although the division is making changes to quarantine requirements. Free online course helps parents make decisions about vaccines 01/20/2022 02:17am • A free online course offered by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health aims to encourage parents to make evidence-based decisions about vaccinating their children. It's called "COVID Vaccine Ambassador Training: How to Talk to Parents," and it will train a cohort of vaccine ambassadors c Mask issue in Va. schools: Youngkin gets new support and gets sued 01/19/2022 06:23am • As Virginia's new Republican governor faced pushback from some school systems over his executive order that gives families the ability to opt out of school-issued mask mandates, other school systems decided to follow the order and scrap their requirements. The public school systems in both Spotsy Council to require DC schools to speed up notification of positive COVID-19 cases 01/18/2022 10:43pm • A bill passed by the D.C. Council on Tuesday will require public schools to notify parents if a student in their child’s class has tested positive for COVID-19 within 24 hours. "We are just asking that it happen more quickly," said At-Large Council member Robert C. White Jr., who introduced the How reliable are at-home rapid COVID-19 tests? It depends what you're looking for 01/18/2022 01:16pm • There's more and more demand for at-home rapid COVID-19 testing, and they're hard to find, although the launch of a federal website should help. But how reliable are the tests? "People need to first think about what question they're asking of the test," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at How DC-area libraries became distribution hubs for coronavirus tests, vaccines 01/18/2022 04:07am • WASHINGTON, DC — DECEMBER 15: Local residents wait in-line to receive free COVID test kits outside West End Library on Dec. 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. The City of District of Columbia is distributing free test kits to local residents prior to the holidays as COVID case numbers have surged to a n Is omicron going to be a post-pandemic turning point? 01/17/2022 08:27am • After huge spikes in infections and hospitalizations, there are signs that the omicron strain of COVID-19 is starting to recede, at least in some parts of the country. The highly transmissible strain moved fast and caused a high number of breakthrough cases that infected people who were otherwise Md. congressman joins increasing list of COVID-19 positive officials 01/16/2022 12:33am • Maryland Representative David Trone said he has tested positive for COVID-19 but has only experienced mild symptoms. In a statement on Saturday, Trone said that he planned to vote by proxy the following week and will continue to isolate and recover at home. Trone also said he's fully vaccinated a Activists plan march in DC against COVID vaccinations, restrictions 01/15/2022 06:25pm • As COVID cases surge in the area, activists plan a protest in Washington, D.C., against vaccine mandates and other COVID-related restrictions. Organizers with Defeat the Mandates say they're planning a peaceful march on the National Mall on Sunday, Jan. 23. Among many COVID-19 restrictions, the g Smithsonian announces new schedule, closures amid staff shortage 01/14/2022 11:30pm • Smithsonian museums in the D.C. area and the National Zoo will shift to a new schedule on Tuesday until further notice. In a statement released Friday, the Smithsonian said its most popular attractions, such as the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History and th Wizards’ Wes Unseld Jr. enters protocols, Pat Delany to coach vs. Portland 01/14/2022 09:54am • Wizards’ Unseld Jr. enters protocols, Delany to coach vs. Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe Wizards announced Friday that head coach Wes Unseld Jr. has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will be unavailable for at least Saturday’s game against t Amid omicron surge, Montgomery Co. teachers union issues no confidence vote in school leadership 01/14/2022 03:22am • As COVID-19 cases rise and student and teacher absences mount, Montgomery County Public Schools’ largest teachers union is calling on the Board of Education to do more to address the disruption. In a vote this week, the Montgomery County, Maryland, Education Association overwhelmingly passed a Montgomery Co. set to reveal new plans for shifting to virtual learning 01/13/2022 10:20pm • After scrapping its previous formula on when a school switches to virtual learning due to COVID-19, Montgomery County, Maryland, schools are expected to soon reveal the new plan for making the pivot. During a board of education meeting on Thursday, officials for the school district previewed the How DC's limited health emergency helps hospitals recuperate 01/12/2022 10:10pm • A shortage of hospital staff as the omicron variant continues to infect and make people seriously ill has all but forced the D.C. mayor to declare a limited public health emergency through Jan. 26 to allow the hospitals flexibility in how they operate. The D.C. Hospital Association pleaded for th