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 seven-day coronavirus average dropped to 40 new cases a day on Thursday. That’s the city’s lowest point in two months. While some of that progress may be due to reduced testing numbers from Labor Day weekend, the city had already been on a declining trend for more than a week going into the holiday.
- As of Thursday, Maryland reports that just 92 ICU beds in the state are in use to treat coronavirus patients. That’s the state’s lowest number since the pandemic began, and a reduction of nearly 85% from the virus’ peak in May.
- Testing numbers returned to closer to the normal in Maryland on Thursday, with the results of more than 18,000 new tests reported. The tests had an average percent positivity of 3.5% -- less than the average for the previous seven days.
- After three days of reduced case counts due to low testing numbers, Virginia reverted to closer to its pre-Labor Day norm on Thursday – reporting 1,236 new cases of the coronavirus. That’s the commonwealth’s highest single-day count in a month.
- Virginia reports that more than 10,000 people in the commonwealth have now been hospitalized due to the coronavirus. Virginia has averaged around 1,100 coronavirus patients hospitalized at any one time for the past month.
- The commonwealth had seemed to be making some progress on ventilated coronavirus patients as well, with that number dropping by 10 over the holiday weekend. However, as of Thursday, more than 130 coronavirus patients in the state of Virginia were once again on ventilators.
Reopening the DMV
The latest in reopening news:
- Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that the county will remain in Phase 2, despite most of Maryland now in Phase 3 of reopening.
- Maryland has entered the third and final stage of its reopening plan, with all businesses able to reopen. Details on what Phase 3 looks like here.
- Montgomery County will not enter Phase 3, despite Gov. Hogan's announcement. Here's the latest.
- Virginia has begun Phase 3 of reopening. More details about Phase III in Virginia here.
- Gov. Ralph Northam has promised stricter enforcement of mask and social distancing rules.
- Gov. Northam has tightened some coronavirus restrictions in the Hampton Roads area.
- D.C. is now in Phase II of reopening. It means restaurants and non-essential retail can open indoors at 50% capacity and gyms and yoga studios can reopen with restrictions. Full details on what Phase II means in D.C. here.
- Metro returns to normal schedule with masks and social distancing still required. Here's the latest.
Previous Updates
September 9:
- Like the rest of the DMV, D.C. saw reduced testing numbers over the holiday weekend. Over the past three days, DC Health has reported an average of about 2,000 test results a day – nearly half of the average from the week prior.
- Maryland, like Virginia, has seen lower-than-average coronavirus numbers over the past several days – corresponding with much lower-than-average testing numbers over the Labor Day weekend. In the week prior, Maryland was averaging nearly 22,000 coronavirus tests a day. Over the past three days, that has dropped to 15,000, and on Tuesday, the state reported the results of fewer than 10,000 new tests for the first time since July 7.
- The reduced testing over the holiday weekend has caused a slight uptick in the state’s average percent positivity – rising from 3.3% last week to roughly 3.7% as of Wednesday – but this will likely return to the recent normal once testing resumes.
- Virginia has reported lower-than-average coronavirus numbers over the past several days, which is in line with the significantly lower-than-average number of tests the state reported over the same period. In the week prior to Labor Day weekend, the Virginia Department of Health reported the results of an average of 13,000 coronavirus tests a day. Over the pat three days, that number has been cut nearly in half. On Tuesday, VDH reported the results of just 4,655 new tests.
- With testing down over the holiday weekend, and the coronavirus’ long incubation time, it may be a week or more before we are able to see what, if any, effect Labor Day festivities may have had on the state’s coronavirus numbers. Holiday travelers could potentially exacerbate already high numbers in the Hampton Roads region.
September 8:
- D.C.’s seven-day average has been on a slight downward trend recently, dropping by 11% over the past two weeks. Most of that progress has been made in the past seven days.
- Saturday marked six months since the first cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in the DMV in Montgomery County, Maryland. Since then, more than a quarter of a million people in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have contracted the virus.
- Maryland reported a one-month high in daily coronavirus cases on Friday, and then similarly elevated numbers on Saturday and Monday, followed by its lowest single-day case count in two months (356) on Tuesday. All of this is likely attributable to people getting tested prior to Labor Day and then the subsequent drop-off of tests during the actual weekend.
- More than 125,000 people in Virginia have now contracted the coronavirus, and more than 2,600 of those have died from the virus.
- The number of coronavirus patients hospitalized in Virginia has been on a downward trend over the past two weeks – dropping by a little more than 10% over that period. The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU beds in the commonwealth has seen a similar drop over the same period.
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: