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Leaders in DC, Maryland and Virginia – as well as the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – have asked residents to avoid traveling on Thanksgiving. Now that the holidays are over, we are closely monitoring the data for signs of the increased spread of the coronavirus.
Millions of Americans took to the skies and highways for Thanksgiving at the risk of spilling gasoline on the coronavirus blaze, ignoring increasingly serious warnings to stay home and limit their holiday gatherings members of their own household.
As the number of Americans traveling by air in the past few days has declined significantly from the same time last year, many have continued with vacation plans amid the spike in deaths, hospitalizations and infections. confirmed across the United States.
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Some were tired of more than eight months of social distancing and determined to spend time with loved ones.
“I think with the holidays and everything, it’s so important right now, especially because people are so disappointed with the whole pandemic,” said Cassidy Zerkle, 25, of Phoenix, who is flew to Kansas City, Missouri, to visit family.
It’s too early to see what impact vacation travel and gatherings will have on cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Your chances of encountering the coronavirus at a Thanksgiving event
This map, based on a model by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, uses real-time data to show the risk of witnessing an event given its size and location. Risk level refers to the likelihood of encountering at least one COVID-19 positive individual, and the model assumes there are at least five times as many cases as reported.
The district on Wednesday banned outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people and added other restrictions:
- Restaurants can stay open until midnight, but sales and alcohol consumption must end by 10 p.m.
- The number of people inside places of worship has been reduced from 100 to 50 people, or from 50% to 25% of capacity, whichever is smaller.
- All indoor group lessons and all outdoor group lessons of 25 people or more must be suspended. Individuals can still exercise solo in gyms.
- The live entertainment pilot is suspended.
An owner of an exercise facility is fighting against mayor’s orders calling them “unfair”.
Anne Mahlum, Founder and CEO of SolidCore, sent a letter to clients saying DC locations will remain open despite the city’s new COVID-19 restrictions suspending all indoor group training classes.
A chain of fitness studios in Washington will remain open despite the city’s order to suspend all indoor group exercise classes. The owner explained to News4 why she is defying the order.
Also beginning on Wednesday, Maryland state soldiers began deploying statewide to strengthen enforcement of the governor’s emergency orders for bars, restaurants and private places.
Health officials say making the tough choices now will leave us with plenty to be thankful for in the weeks to come.
Hogan is also urging residents of Maryland to participate in the state’s COVID-19 tracking app to quell the virus this holiday season.
Bars in Montgomery County are usually packed with students the day before Thanksgiving, but it was much less crowded this year as the county enforces COVID-19 restrictions. News4’s Jackie Bensen reports.
What the data show
DC announced 201 more cases of the virus on Friday. No additional person died. The seven-day moving average of cases and the number of hospitalizations were roughly stable.
Maryland has announced 2,378 more cases of the virus. Twenty-two other people died. The seven-day moving average of cases was up. The number of hospitalizations was roughly constant.
Virginia has announced 1,226 more cases of the virus. Six other people died. The moving average of cases was roughly stable and hospitalizations had increased, with 1,276 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized.
Local headlines on the coronavirus
- Fairfax County health officials have released a list of holiday coronavirus guidelines, dividing activities into different risk categories.
- Some students in Fairfax County have returned to fully virtual learning amid an increase in coronavirus cases.
- A total of 51,510 coronavirus tests were administered in Maryland last Friday, the highest on record in a single day.
- The Smithsonian is once again closing its museums and the National Zoo due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases.
- A program that provided extended unemployment benefits to unemployed Virginians ended earlier this month.
- COVID-19 numbers continue to paint a dire picture for black Americans, and the black community is working to increase testing.
- The metro’s board of directors voted to fill a budget deficit by changing the frequency of train movements.
- Officials overturned the decision to cancel the annual Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery. The event, which will take place in December, will take place after all.
- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has announced how the state will allocate about $ 70 million in federal aid as the state braces for months of rising coronavirus cases.
- Maryland has released a new contact tracing app and has cut indoor bar and restaurant operations by 75% to 50% in response to rising coronavirus cases and increased hospitalizations.
- A review by News4’s Team I revealed concerns that Prince George County, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, has received what some are calling a disappointing share of the more than 165 million in aid dollars so far.
- DC now requires travelers from all but four states to be 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 of the Tracker
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 shield. 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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