D.C. officials flagged a high daily COVID-19 case rate and long testing turnaround times on Sunday.
Data released by the District says the seven-day average of cases per 100,000 residents now tops 27. D.C. flagged this metric as red in its system of green, yellow or red indicators. The average test turnaround time also is red and tops four days.
D.C. announced another 140 cases of the virus on Sunday. Two more people died, including a 49-year-old man.
Black residents continue to disproportionately be killed by the virus. Seventy-four percent of D.C. residents who died of COVID-19 were Black or African American, the city said. Black residents make up an estimated 46% of the city’s population.
A day earlier, D.C. announced more new coronavirus infections on Saturday than on any other day since the pandemic began. The number of new infections was 371 on Saturday. The District only once before diagnosed more than 300 new cases in a single day, on May 1.
Sunday’s number was 140 cases.
What the Data Shows
D.C. announced on Sunday another 140 cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths. In Maryland, another 1,999 people tested positive. Twenty-three more deaths were announced. And in Virginia, another 1,614 people tested positive and four more people died.
The seven-day rolling average of cases was about steady in all three jurisdictions, as compared with previous days.
Local Coronavirus Headlines
- Fairfax County health officials released a list of holiday coronavirus guidelines, breaking up activities into varying risk categories.
- Some Fairfax County students have returned to all-virtual learning amid a rise in coronavirus cases.
- A total of 51,510 coronavirus tests were administered in Maryland last Friday, the highest ever on a single day.
- The Smithsonian is shutting down its museums and the National Zoo once again due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases.
- A program that provided extended unemployment benefits to out-of-work Virginians ended earlier this month.
- COVID-19 numbers continue to paint a dire picture for Black Americans, and there is an ongoing effort in the Black community to increase testing.
- The Metro board voted to close a budget gap by changing how often trains run.
- Officials have reversed a decision to cancel the annual Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery. The event, held in December, will happen after all.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced how the state will allocate about $70 million in federal aid as the state braces for months of rising coronavirus cases.
- Maryland released a new contact tracing app, and has reduced indoor operations for bars and restaurants from 75% to 50% in response to rising coronavirus cases and increased hospitalizations.
- A review by the News4 I-Team has found concerns that Prince George’s County, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, has received what some are calling an underwhelming share of the more than $165 million in aid thus far.
- D.C. now requires travelers from all but four states get tested for COVID-19, once before travel and again if they plan to stay in the District for more than three days. Maryland, Virginia, Hawaii and Vermont are the exceptions.
Reopening Tracker
How to Stay Safe
There are ways to lower your risk of catching coronavirus. Here are guidelines from the CDC:
- Anyone over the age of 2 should wear a mask or face covering. Keep it over your nose and mouth.
- Wash your hands often. When you do, scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. As a backup, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who lives outside your home. That means staying six feet away from anyone outside your circle, even if you’re wearing masks.
- Always cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.