WASHINGTON — The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) remains present around the country, as well as here in the DMV. Things like masks and social distancing are the most important to help combat the spread of the virus.
This blog details the latest updates on the coronavirus in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Check-in each day for what’s new, where each part of the DMV is at in its phased reopening plan and what direction the coronavirus trend is headed.
Have a question? Text it to us at 202-895-5599.
Updates on coronavirus cases come from health departments between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. every day.
Tracking the Coronavirus
- D.C.’s daily case rate has been climbing rapidly since the beginning of October, and is now at the highest point the city has seen since early June. D.C. is now unquestionably in a third wave of the virus that is already more severe than the second wave it saw from July to August.
- Testing declined sharply in the week prior to the election – nearly to the level the city was seeing before numbers spiked in October after White House staffers began testing positive. The data on this is delayed several days, so we may not see what effect the weekend’s celebrations have on this for another week.
- On Monday, Maryland reported a new all-time high for its seven-day average, which is now at 1,197 cases a day. The state is also on its fourth-consecutive day reporting more than 1,000 cases.
- In Maryland, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to skyrocket. As of Monday, more than 700 hospital beds are now in use in the state to treat COVID-19 patients. That’s an increase of 80% from where the state was just a month ago.
- Maryland’s average percent positivity has also been rising quickly over the past several weeks. Tests in the state are now coming back positive an average of 5% of the time – the highest rate the state has seen since June. Maryland began October averaging below 3% positivity.
- Virginia has set a new record-high daily average for coronavirus cases three days in a row, and Monday marks the commonwealth’s 20th consecutive day averaging more than 1,000 cases.
- Virginia is on pace to see its 200,000th case of the coronavirus by the end of the week. It remains in the top 20 states with the most cases, according to data tracked by the New York Times.
Reopening the DMV
The latest in reopening news:
- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is requesting outside residents to have a negative test result when traveling to the District.
- Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Maryland are still in Phase 2 of reopening, but the governor says it's time for everyone to be on the same page. More here.
- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan calls the rise in case numbers concerning, urging people to "Wear the damn mask."
- A new order from Maryland's governor may allow fans to watch football in person again. Details here.
- County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced some youth sports registration would reopen to children in the county.
- Mayor Bowser extends D.C.'s public health emergency order until Dec. 31, 2020. Read the full order here.
- D.C. Public Schools announces that a limited number of DCPS students can return to in-person learning starting in November. Read the detailed plan here.
- Montgomery County has adjusted some of its Phase 2 guidelines and proposed new restrictions. More here.
- Metro returns to a normal schedule with masks and social distancing still required.
Previous Updates
November 7:
- Virginia reported its highest single-day case count for the entire pandemic Saturday, with 2,103 new cases, for a total of 190,873 cases. The commonwealth has 13,022 hospitalizations and 3,704 deaths total.
- Maryland reported more than 1,000 new cases for the fourth day in a row, with 1,410 new cases. The state is totaling 152,915 cases, 632 hospitalizations and 4,052 deaths. The statewide positivity rate is now 4.54%
- In D.C., while cases continue rising, DC Health reports the city maintains sufficient hospital capacity for now. The agency estimates just under 5% of patients in city hospitals are coronavirus patients. The District reported 99 new cases and two new deaths.
November 6:
- Maryland reported more than 1,541 new cases of the coronavirus – its highest single-day total since May 19.
- In Maryland, more than 150,000 people have now contracted the coronavirus. Of those, more than 4,000 have died.
- More than 600 Marylanders are now hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19. That’s the highest number the state has seen since June.
- In Virginia, the commonwealth’s average percent positivity for coronavirus tests has continued to rise since early October. As of Monday, the most recent date available, Virginia was averaging a nearly 6% positivity rate. That’s its highest since mid-September.
November 5:
- D.C. is now averaging 86 cases of coronavirus a day. Just two weeks ago, the District was averaging 53 cases -- an increase of 62%.
- The District is continuing to average zero deaths a day from coronavirus.
- Maryland is now averaging 939 cases of coronavirus a day, an increase of 48%. The state is averaging seven deaths a day from the virus.
- Virginia is now averaging 1,288 cases of coronavirus a day, an increase of 25%. Just two weeks ago, the Commonwealth was averaging around 1,000 cases a day.
- Virginia's daily death rate from the virus decreased to seven deaths a day.
November 4:
- D.C.’s coronavirus transmission rate has risen rapidly over the past few weeks. According to DC Health, on October 13, the city was averaging 0.8 new infections per each case. As of October 23 – the most recent date available – that number had risen above the 1.0 goal to 1.14. This is one of D.C.’s reopening metrics.
- As of October 31, D.C. remains in the “minimal community spread” category, but that metric has been rising and is not right on the edge of moving over into “moderate community spread.
- Maryland reported 1,000 new cases of the coronavirus today. That's the first time it has been at or above the 1,000 mark in a single day since August 1.
- The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Maryland continues to rise. As of Wednesday, 595 patients were being treated in the state’s hospitals for the virus. That exceeds the state’s most recent peak in August, and is now the highest number since June.
- Maryland’s average percent positivity for coronavirus tests continues rising for all age groups. Those above and below 35 have seen an increase of one percentage point to their average test positivity over the past week. The state is now averaging above a 4% average positivity rate for the first time since August.
- In Northern Virginia, Fairfax County has seen a significant increase in its number of daily coronavirus cases over the past two weeks. The county is now averaging 135 new cases of the virus a day. That’s up 65% from two weeks ago.
- Virginia is now averaging 1,297 new cases of the coronavirus a day – down slightly from its all-time high yesterday, but still up 26% from where it was two weeks ago.
Read previous updates here.
What precautions should you take?
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Check the status of the virus in your state with your state health department's websites by tapping below:
D.C. Coronavirus Surveillance Data
Virginia Department of Health
Maryland Department of Health
