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Coronavirus in the DMV: May 26

The coronavirus impact on the DMV continues to grow. Here are the updates for May 26.

WASHINGTON — The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading across the DMV, leading to unprecedented changes to our everyday life to reduce the disease.

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Tuesday, May 26:

  • Gov. Ralph Northam made the announcement during a news conference Tuesday. He said starting Friday, May 29, "everyone will need to wear a face-covering" to protect others. Face covering enforcement would be done through the Virginia Department of Health and not through law enforcement, Northam said. 
    • "This is for businesses who are grossly negligent. If a manager of a restaurant is not adopting this policy, then VDH can enforce (with a warning or fine)," Northam's Chief of Staff Clark Mercer said Tuesday. 
  • Gov. Northam said that Northern Virginia is on track for Phase 1 of reopening starting this Friday.
  • D.C. announced the addition of two new testing sites in the city and the onboarding of 50 new contact tracers.
  • Charles County announced it is ready to move toward phase one and reopen Friday.

RELATED: Charles County reopens Friday, officials to share next steps

  • Maryland reported 535 additional cases of coronavirus in the state. Health officials say 30 more people have died as a result of the virus. It's the lowest single-day increase in cases in a month.
  • D.C. reported no new deaths as a result of COVID-19 on Tuesday. Health officials reported 109 new positive cases in the District. There are now 8,334 total cases in D.C. 440 people have lost their lives.
  • Virginia reports 1,615 new cases of coronavirus and 28 deaths as a result of the virus. An additional 56 people have been hospitalized according to health officials. The 1,615 new cases in Virginia is a single-day high for the commonwealth and brings its 7-day average over 1,000 cases for the first time. 
  • Face masks may soon be required in Virginia.

RELATED: Wearing masks could be mandated in Virginia

Monday, May 25:

  • Health officials in Northern Virginia say the region has not met all reopening criteria

RELATED: Northern Virginia has not met all reopening metrics yet

  • DC reports 115 new cases of COVID-19 and 8 new deaths, bringing the District's totals to 8,225 positive cases and 440 deaths. Bowser says the city is still on track for Phase 1 reopening this week. 

RELATED: 'We can still make it' | Mayor Bowser says DC is still on track for Phase 1 of reopening

  • Maryland reports 839 new cases of COVID-19 and 35 new deaths, bringing the state's total number of cases to 47,152.
  • Virginia sees a spike in the number of cases over the weekend, reporting 1,438 new cases of coronavirus.

Read previous updates here.

Updates on coronavirus cases come from health departments between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. every day.  


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:

RELATED: Wearing masks could be mandated in Virginia

RELATED: WHO warns 1st worldwide coronavirus wave not over

RELATED: 'This is a battle' Remembering COVID-19 victims on Memorial Day

RELATED: Alexandria launches 'ALX Promise' to prepare businesses to reopen during the coronavirus' spread

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