What to Know November 29 – NBC4 Washington

DC officials on Sunday reported a high daily rate of COVID-19 cases and long test turnaround times.

Data released by the district indicates that the seven-day average of cases per 100,000 population now exceeds 27. DC has flagged this metric in red in its green, yellow, or red indicator system. The average test run time is also red and exceeds four days.

DC announced 140 more cases of the virus on Sunday. Two other people died, including a 49-year-old man.

Black residents continue to be disproportionately killed by the virus. Seventy-four percent of Washington residents who died from COVID-19 were black or African American, the city said. Black residents make up about 46% of the city’s population.

A day earlier, DC on Saturday announced more new coronavirus infections than any other day since the start of the pandemic. The number of new infections was 371 on Saturday. The district had only once diagnosed more than 300 new cases in a single day, on May 1.

Sunday’s count was 140 cases.

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What the data show

DC announced another 140 cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths on Sunday. In Maryland, another 1,999 people have tested positive. Twenty-three other deaths have been announced. And in Virginia, 1,614 more people have tested positive and four more have died.

The seven-day moving average of cases was roughly stable in all three jurisdictions, compared to previous days.

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 increasing 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 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 dollars in aid so far.
• DC now requires travelers from all but four of the 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.

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Reopening of the Tracker

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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 face 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 your circle, even if you are wearing masks.
• Always cover coughs and sneezes.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.