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As DC, Maryland and Virginia report increasing numbers of coronavirus cases, some businesses in the area are bracing for new restrictions to be imposed at the end of the weekend.
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Maryland added a record number of new coronavirus cases on Saturday: 2,321. This is the first time the one-day jump has represented more than 2,000 cases.
The daily rate of DC cases continues to rise, and hospitalizations in Virginia topped 1,000 for the first time since May.
Leaders have been working this week to combat the spread of the virus by reinstating restrictions.
Reduced restaurant capacity and stricter party size limits come into effect in parts of our area on Sundays, 5 p.m. in Prince George County and midnight in Virginia. Earlier this week, they came into effect for all of Maryland and Montgomery County.
Earlier this week, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was not ruling out the possibility of rolling back some of the phase two openings if the numbers worsen.
Prince George County has allowed two hotels to reopen after they closed due to reported violations of coronavirus restrictions.
The AC hotel and the Hampton Inn and Suites in National Harbor reopened around noon on Saturday.
The closures came about a month after Prince George County police were seen outside the Hampton Inn and Suites in National Harbor interrupting a party attended by teenagers.
The hotels have both been ordered to close “to protect health and safety,” according to notices posted at each establishment.
Coronavirus cases by neighborhood in DC
What the data show
Maryland reported more than 2,300 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, breaking the record set a day earlier.
After a week where the record was broken several times, the state’s moving average for daily coronavirus cases is 1,596.
Twenty people in Maryland died from COVID-19 the day before. A total of 4,144 people have died since the start of the pandemic.
Prince George County is taking one of its toughest positions yet against violators of its coronavirus rules. County chiefs are temporarily closing two hotels in National Harbor, saying they have ignored months of warnings. Prince George County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins reports the sequel.
Other measurements point to a worsening crisis in Maryland.
The statewide positivity rate rose to 6.16%. A total of 920 Marylanders are hospitalized for COVID-19, a 120% increase over the past month, Gov. Larry Hogan said.
DC reported the first death from COVID-19 in the city since Monday, a 55-year-old woman.
The daily case rate currently stands at 17.8 per 100,000 population, indicating a “substantial” community distributed above the phase two targets.
A positive sign, the rate of use of hospitals rose from just over 90% to 88.2% between Friday and Saturday, putting this measure back in line with the objectives of phase two.
It comes after the city reported that two fewer patients had been hospitalized for COVID-19.
The seven-day moving average of DC cases is now 132. Over the past four days, the average has been in triple digits, which has not been seen since May.
The outbreak of cases in Virginia is not increasing as quickly. The state counted 1,008 new cases on Saturday, which is below the seven-day average of 1,042.
Hospitalizations are constantly increasing. On Saturday, 1,019 Virginians were hospitalized with a confirmed case of COVID-19. This is an increase from 798 a week ago.
The last time more than 1,000 people were hospitalized in Virginia with coronavirus was in May.
The map below shows the number of diagnosed coronavirus cases per 100,000 population.
Coronavirus cases in DC, Maryland and Virginia
COVID-19 cases by population in Washington and by county in Maryland and Virginia
Local headlines on the coronavirus
Reopening of the Tracker
- Maryland has lowered capacity limits at indoor restaurants and urged people not to travel to states where the coronavirus is spreading too quickly.
- Montgomery County has reduced capacity limits for many businesses, including indoor dining, to 25%. The county had previously stopped granting waivers for alcohol sales after 10 p.m.
- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said his administration was focused on promoting healthy behaviors like wearing masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing rather than turning back the clock as cases increase.
- The mayor of DC has extended the city’s coronavirus state of emergency until the end of the year.
- Maryland childcare providers can revert to the full teacher-to-child ratios they are licensed for, state officials have said, and some nursing homes will be able to resume indoor visitation.
- Montgomery and Prince George counties are among those that did not enter phase three with the state of Maryland. Here is an overview of the counties in our region.
- Prince George County has allowed tanning salons, banquet halls and other businesses to open with restrictions. Officials recently adjusted some other rules. Read more.
- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has authorized all public schools in the state to begin reopening “safely” as state measures on the coronavirus show improvements. The state “strongly suggests” that local school districts bring students back to school but cannot force them to do so, Hogan said. Both Montgomery and Prince George schools have said they are not changing plans to run online classes throughout the first half of the school year.
- Prince George County has revisited its phase two reopening order due to an increase in coronavirus cases, according to the county executive office.
- Virginia entered phase three by reopening on July 1, easing restrictions on restaurants, stores, gyms and swimming pools. Northam said more restrictions could be implemented if cases continue to grow.
- DC entered phase two on June 22, allowing indoor restaurants, gyms, libraries and places of worship to reopen with restrictions.
- Montgomery County entered phase two on June 19, reopening with restrictions indoor gyms, places of worship, restaurants and stores.
How to stay safe
There are ways to lower your risk of catching coronavirus. Here are the CDC guidelines:
- Anyone over 2 years old must wear a mask or face mask. Keep it on your nose and mouth.
- Wash your hands often. When you do, scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. As a safeguard, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid close contact with anyone living outside your home. This means staying six feet from anyone outside of your circle, even if you are wearing masks.
- Always cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
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