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Coronavirus in the DMV: May 15

The coronavirus impact on the DMV continues to grow. Here are the latest updates.

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

This blog details the latest updates from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

THIS STORY IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.

Have a question? Text it to us at 202-895-5599.

Friday, May 15:

  • Here's a look at who reopened Friday, and who is still restricted:

RELATED: Here's who is reopening around the DMV and who isn't

  • Richmond and Accomack County will delay reopening with the rest of the state, waiting to see a continued downward trend of coronavirus cases.
  • D.C. is now on Day 6 of a sustained downward trend in new cases, and Maryland is on its 5th day of a slight downward trend. Virginia has been heading upward for four days.
  • As of Friday, Northern Virginia now makes up an average of 70% of new COVID-19 deaths and more than 60% of new cases of the virus reported in Virginia.
  • Virginia's 7-day average of new cases broke 900 on Friday – the highest point since the pandemic began.

Thursday, May 14:

  • Ocean City lifted lodging restrictions on short-term rentals effective May 14 at 5 p.m
  • Face masks will be required on Metro beginning May 18
  • Passengers on Fairfax Connector buses will be required to wear face coverings starting May 18
  • Charles County will wait until May 29 to institute phase one of Governor Hogan’s order, with stay-at-home orders remaining in effect until that date. 
  • Frederick County will phase in its approach to reopening with just a few changes Friday, with a projected goal to get into a full Stage 1 on May 29.

RELATED: Frederick County will partially reopen on Friday

  • Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has extended the county's stay-at-home order until at least June 1.

RELATED: Prince George's County extends stay-at-home order until June 1

  • Montgomery County confirmed it will remain under the same stay-at-home order despite Governor Hogan calling for the rest of Maryland to begin Stage 1 of reopening.

RELATED: 'We're not ready' | Officials: Montgomery County won't reopen yet

  • The DMV hit a number of milestones on Thursday: 70,000 people in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia have now been infected with the virus. More than 10,000 of those have had to be hospitalized, and more than 3,000 have now died.
  • In D.C., the District has been on a downward trend in new cases for 5 days. 
  • Virginia, which begins reopening on Friday, reported a new record single-day high of 1,067 cases and an additional 18 deaths. 

RELATED: Virginia coronavirus updates: Northam finalizes details for parts of Va. entering Phase 1

  • Roughly 36 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces, the Labor Department said Thursday

Wednesday, May 13:

  • Maryland lifts its stay-at-home order on May 15 at 5 p.m. Montgomery and Prince George's counties have made it clear they're not ready to move into Stage 1 of recovery when the rest of the state does. 

RELATED: 'We're not ready' | Montgomery County won't reopen yet, officials say

  • D.C. health officials have extended stay-at-home orders in the District until June 8.
  • The District's doubling time -- the time it takes for total cases to double -- has slowed to more than a month for the first time since the pandemic began.
  • Also in D.C., the seven-day average for daily new cases has been on a downward trend for four days.
  • In Maryland, new case numbers have been below the weekly average for the past three days.
  • Meanwhile in Virginia, which begins partial reopening on Friday, new cases have been trending upward for three days. Northern Virginia won't begin reopening on May 15.
  • On Wednesday, the DMV reported the following new case counts:
    • DC: 99 new cases, bringing the total to 6,584 -- 350 people have now died of COVID-19 in the District.
    • Maryland: 751 new cases, bringing the total to 34,812 -- 1,643 people have now died in Maryland from COVID-19.
    • Virginia: 946 new cases, bringing the total to 26,746 -- 937 people have now died of COVID-19 in the commonwealth.

Tuesday, May 12:

  • Northern Virginia can delay reopening until May 29, according to a new executive order signed by Gov. Ralph Northam.
  • The seven-day average for D.C.'s daily cases continues on a downward trend, with the District now reporting 6,584 confirmed cases of COVID-19. A total of 250 people have died.

RELATED: Northern Virginia can delay reopening until May 29

  • Metro announces a requirement to wear face masks when using bus or rail. 
  • The DMV as a whole reported its lowest number of daily new cases since April 29.
  • Also, DMV cases as a whole grew by only 2 percent today -- the lowest daily growth rate since the pandemic began.
  • D.C. and Maryland's doubling time -- the number of days it requires total cases to double -- has also hit its slowest pace yet: 25 days for D.C.; and 23 days for Maryland.
  • D.C.’s daily cases have dropped for four days straight, and its seven-day average is also on a downward trend.
  • In Maryland, the state reported 70 new deaths on Tuesday -- its highest single-day count from the virus.

RELATED: Maryland reports nearly 30% more deaths in March than normal

  • D.C. is now reporting 6,485 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 335 deaths.
  • Maryland is reporting 34,061 cases and 1,643 deaths.
  • Virginia is reporting 25,800 cases and 730 deaths.

Monday, May 11:

  • Metro won't resume full service until 2021.

RELATED: With Metro's new reopening plan, service not being restored fully until 2021

  • While Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said most of the commonwealth has a 10% positive rate for the coronavirus, the Northern Virginia area's positive rate is 25%. A few counties in Northern Virginia accounted for more than 70% of new positive tests the state got over the weekend.
  • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said local leaders should make their own calls on when it is safe to reopen regions.

RELATED: Local leaders should make their own decisions on reopening, Gov. Hogan says

  • Maryland is reporting 30% more deaths in March than normal.
  • When should businesses reopen during the coronavirus pandemic? Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a tool to assess the risk for business owners.

RELATED: Johns Hopkins scientists release COVID-19 risk plan to help businesses safely reopen

  • D.C. unveiled the transformation of the D.C. Convention Center into a field hospital to support the District’s response to a possible medical surge.

RELATED: 'We hope we never need this facility' | Washington Convention Center transforms into extra COVID-19 hospital

  • Virginia, which is scheduled to begin reopening on Friday, has reported increasing case numbers for four days straight. Three of those days have exceeded the seven-day average.
  • D.C. and Maryland both reported daily declines in their new case numbers on Monday. The District's new case numbers have now declined for three days straight. Maryland's seven-day average remains flat.
  • D.C. now has an additional 117 coronavirus cases. Five more people have died from coronavirus. Health officials said there are now 6,389 cases and 328 lives lost in the District.
  • Maryland reports 786 new positive cases of coronavirus. State health officials said an additional 35 people have died as a result of the virus.
  • Virginia reports 989 new positive cases of coronavirus in the commonwealth with 11 additional deaths. In total, health officials report 25,070 total cases and 850 deaths as a result of the virus so far.

Sunday, May 10:

  • Northern Virginia leaders send a joint letter to Gov. Ralph Northam and a memo from the Northern Virginia Health Directors to the State Director explaining their decision to not reopen their counties despite the governor's plan.

RELATED: These 5 areas of Northern Virginia say they aren't ready to reopen yet, despite Northam's plan

  • D.C. reports an increase of 170 new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the District’s overall positive case total to 6,272.
  • Virginia reports 24,081 positive coronavirus cases and 839 deaths in the commonwealth.
  • Five additional inmates in D.C. Department of Corrections custody tested positive for coronavirus, officials with the jail confirmed Sunday, May 10.
  • Maryland now has 31,534 positive COVID-19 cases. A total of 1,510 people have died from the illness in the state.

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: CDC alerts doctors to childhood coronavirus-related syndrome

RELATED: Reopening Loudoun: 3 county supervisors are urging Northam to open western districts ASAP

RELATED: Multiple COVID-19 deaths at Fairfax nursing home, doctor asks for all patients to be tested

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