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Coronavirus in the DMV: October 31

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

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

  • On Saturday, D.C. health officials reported 122 new cases of coronavirus. That's the District's highest single-day case count since June 3.
  • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called for a moment of silence Saturday as the state recorded its 4,000th death due to COVID-19. "While our statewide health metrics continue to be below the nation and most other states, this tragic milestone is a sobering reminder that this crisis is by no means over," Hogan said in a Facebook post.
  • Maryland is now averaging 827 cases of coronavirus a day. That's a 33% increase from two weeks ago.
  • On Friday, Gov. Hogan extended the Maryland's state of emergency for the 10th time since March.
  • Virginia reported 1,551 new cases of coronavirus Saturday, the highest single-day case count in the commonwealth since August 7, when Virginia health officials reported a record high 2,015 cases. (Earlier this month health officials reported 1,844 cases in a day, but that was the result of a data entry error)
  • Virginia has now averaged more than 1,000 coronavirus cases a day for 11 consecutive days.

Reopening the DMV

The latest in reopening news: 

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks advises against trick-or-treating this Halloween, per CDC guidelines. Haunted houses will also not be allowed in the county this year.
  • Prince George's County health authorities are also cautioning against "trunk or treat" events that draw people to parking lots where candy is given from trunks of cars – suggesting that residents participate in organized drive-thru alternatives.
  • 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.
  • DC health released its latest list of high-risk states.
  • D.C. announced a pilot that will allow a limited number of venues to host live entertainment. Here are the details.
  • 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 has adjusted some of its Phase 2 guidelines. More here. 
  • Prince George's County, Maryland, remains in Phase 2, but released additional reopenings. Here's a look.
  • Metro returns to a normal schedule with masks and social distancing still required. Here's the latest.

Previous Updates

October 29:

  • On Thursday D.C. reported 101 new cases of the coronavirus – the first time the city has reported more than 100 cases in a day in more than three weeks.
  • D.C. is now averaging 77 new cases of the coronavirus a day. That’s more than twice the daily cases it was reporting at the beginning of October (36).
  • Maryland reported 962 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday. That’s its highest single-day count since August 1. Cases in the state have risen sharply over the past week, with Maryland’s seven-day averaging increasing by 22% over just seven days.
  • Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have both seen significant increases in their daily coronavirus averages over the past two weeks. Both counties are now averaging more than 130 new cases of the virus a day – which, for Montgomery County in particular, is its highest point since early June.
  • Virginia reported 1,429 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday – its highest single-day count in three weeks and its eighth consecutive day of averaging more than 1,000 new cases.

October 28:

  • D.C. is now averaging 68 new cases of the coronavirus a day. That’s its highest daily average since mid-August.
  • Maryland is now averaging 741 cases of the coronavirus a day. Two weeks ago it was averaging 607 cases. That's an increase of 22%.
  • As of Wednesday, more than 500 people are currently hospitalized in Maryland for treatment of COVID-19. Of those, nearly 400 are in acute care. That’s the highest number the state has seen in two months.
  • Virginia is now averaging 1,140 new cases of the coronavirus a day. That’s its highest daily average in more than two months, and more than 50% higher than where the commonwealth started off October.
  • Prince George's County will remain in Phase 2 ahead of the holidays.
  • Prince George's County reports seeing a 19% increase in COVID-19 cases.
  • Prince George's County officials released guidance on how to safely celebrate the Halloween and Thanksgiving holiday. They urge residents to avoid large holiday gatherings due to the risk.

October 27:

  • D.C.’s coronavirus trend is rising again. The city has reported an increase in its daily average case count of nearly 30% over the past four days.
  • Maryland’s coronavirus trend continues to rise as well. The state is now averaging more than 700 new cases a day for the first time since mid-August.
  • Maryland’s average percent positivity for coronavirus cases has also continued to rise. Since the end of September, that number has risen by nearly a full percentage point. As of Tuesday, the state is now averaging a test positivity of 3.35%.
  • As of Tuesday, more than 175,000 Virginians have contracted the coronavirus and more than 3,600 have died from it. According to nationwide data tracked by the New York Times, Virginia ranks 18th in the country for total number of coronavirus cases.

October 26:

  • D.C. has seen its testing numbers continue to drop since they jumped earlier this month after several White House staffers reported positive. Since October 8, when the city hit a peak of more than 6,700 average tests a day per million people, that number has dropped by nearly 25%. As of Monday, DC Health reports the city is averaging around 5,200 tests a day per million people.
  • In Maryland, the city of Baltimore has now reported more than 20,000 cases of the coronavirus. It ranks third in the state behind Prince George’s (32,292 cases) and Montgomery (25,281) counties.
  • As of Monday, there are now nearly 40% more coronavirus patients in Maryland hospital beds than there were at the beginning of October. The state department of health reports more than 450 patients are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 in the state.
  • Virginia’s testing numbers have been on a downward trend lately. As of October 22, the most recent date available, the commonwealth was averaging around 16,500 COVID-19 tests a day. Ten days prior, Virginia was averaging nearly 19,000 a day.
  • Virginia’s average percent positivity is on a slightly increasing trend as well. As of October 22, the commonwealth was reporting an averaging positivity for coronavirus tests of 5%. That’s up from Virginia’s low of 4.6%, which it hit on October 8.

October 24:

  • D.C. health officials reported 97 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, the highest single-day increase since cases spiked to 105 in early October
  • D.C. is now averaging 53 cases of coronavirus cases a day, two weeks ago, the District was averaging 63 cases a day
  • Maryland is now averaging 623 coronavirus cases a day, a 9% increase from where the state was two weeks ago.
  • Those between the ages of 20 and 29 account for 26,393 coronavirus cases in Maryland. Most cases for any age range in the state. 
  • Virginia has averaged more than 1,000 coronavirus cases a day for 12 of the last 13 days.
  • Virginia is now averaging 22 deaths a day from coronavirus.

October 23:

  • The FDA has approved the first drug for treating coronavirus, details here
  • As of Friday, D.C. is now averaging 50 new cases of the coronavirus a day. That’s down 17% from where the city was two weeks ago after cases jumped upward in early October.
  • In D.C., the average turnaround time for coronavirus test results has fallen over the past two weeks back down to roughly 2.5 days. The wait had increased to more than three days earlier this month, at least partially as a result of a spike in testing after October 1.
  • In Maryland, average daily cases among people over the age of 65 have risen sharply during the month of October. That demographic was averaging about 65 new cases a day at the end of September. As of Friday, that number is now nearly 100 new cases a day – a 56% increase.
  • In Virginia, the state health department says more than 12,000 people have now had to be hospitalized due to COVID-19. More than 1,000 Virginians are currently being treated for the coronavirus, and more than 200 of those are currently in the ICU.

October 22:

  • DC launches CAN COVID-19 exposure alert system
  • DC Public School officials announce building checklist to prepare for Term 2 of in-person school reopening.
  • DC parents will be notified on Oct 23 to accepts an in-person learning seat and Oct. 30 for CARE seats.
  • DC Public Schools announces two in-person learning options: regular in-person learning or CARE classroom seat.
  • PreK to fifth grade will begin Term 2 on Nov. 9.
  • D.C.’s coronavirus trend decline continues. As of Thursday, the city is now averaging 9% fewer new cases per day than it was two weeks ago.
  • In Maryland’s D.C. metro counties, Montgomery County’s seven-day coronavirus average exceeded Prince George’s County’s this week for the first time since July. As of Thursday, Montgomery County was averaging 105 new cases of the coronavirus a day. Prince George’s County was averaging 104.
  • Virginia is now averaging 35% more new deaths from the coronavirus each day than it was two weeks ago. The commonwealth is averaging almost four times as many deaths each day from COVID-19 as Maryland is.
  • In Northern Virginia, Fairfax County reported 166 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday – its second-highest single day count since June. NoVa’s most populous county is now averaging nearly 100 new cases of the coronavirus a day.

October 21:

  • D.C.’s coronavirus average is still declining after spiking in early October. As of Wednesday, the city was averaging 2% fewer new cases each day than it was two weeks ago.
  • On Wednesday, DC Health reported the city’s rate of transmission – the number of new infections a case can be expected to cause – had dropped below the “moderate community spread” mark for the first time since September. The data for this metric is delayed, and so Wednesday’s numbers represent the rate of transmission for October 9.
  • While Maryland’s coronavirus numbers remain on an upward trend, the growth seems to be slowing a bit. As of Wednesday, the state’s average for new cases each day was 9% higher than two weeks earlier. Two weeks ago, that change was 15%.
  • Virginia reported 30 new deaths from the coronavirus on Wednesday – the second day in a row the commonwealth set a new monthly high. Virginia is now averaging nearly 20 deaths a day from the virus. Just a week ago it was averaging nine deaths a day.

October 20:

  • After sharply increasing at the beginning of the month, D.C.’s rate of community spread for the coronavirus has now been on the decline for a week straight.
  • The number of acute care hospital beds in use for COVID-19 patients in D.C. hospitals continues to oscillate between 80% mark – below which the District estimates it has sufficient available capacity. As of October 18 – the most recent date available – that metric is once again in the sufficient capacity category.
  • The number of Maryland hospital beds in use for COVID-19 patients continues its sharp upward climb. Since October 4, the number of hospital beds in use for the state has increased by 45%. As of Tuesday, 464 beds were in use to treat COVID-19 patients, including 123 ICU beds.
  • As of Tuesday, Virginia was averaging just under 1,000 new coronavirus cases a day for the first time in a week. However, the commonwealth also reported 28 new deaths from the virus on Tuesday – its highest single-day total in a month.

October 19:

  • After a significant jump at the beginning of October, D.C.’s seven-day coronavirus average has been on the decline for the past week. It’s dropped by 22% over that period – although the city is still averaging nearly 50% more cases a day than it was on October 1.
  • DC Health reports the city’s rate of transmission – the number of new people who will be infected by a single case – has fallen below the goal of 1 again after rising high enough to be in the “substantial community spread” range (1.2). As of October 7, the most recent date available, DC Health estimates that number is 0.85.
  • Maryland’s seven-day average for new coronavirus cases has now been on an upward trend for more than three weeks. On September 26, the state was averaging 461 new cases of the virus a day. As of Monday, that number was 613 – a 33% increase.
  • Virginia, which was averaging 747 new cases of the coronavirus a day on October 1, has now averaged more than 1,000 new cases a day for a week straight.
  • The number of Virginians on ventilators because of COVID-19 infections dropped significantly over the weekend, declining from 104 on Friday to 81 on Monday. The commonwealth also reported a higher-than-average number of deaths on Monday (24), which could partially explain the former number.

October 18:

  • D.C.'s average number of coronavirus cases continues to trend upward. The District is now reporting an average of 59 coronavirus cases a day, up from an average of 36 two weeks ago.
  • D.C. reported no new deaths as a result of the coronavirus on Saturday
  • Maryland has now conducted more than 3 million coronavirus tests, including more than 36,000 in the last 24 hours.
  • Maryland is now averaging 618 coronavirus cases a day, up slightly from 549 two weeks ago.
  • Virginia has now averaged more than 1,000 coronavirus cases a day for the past six days.
  • The commonwealth is now averaging 1,048 cases per day, up 35% from two weeks ago.

October 16:

  • In D.C., the city’s daily coronavirus case rate per 100,000 people declined on Wednesday – the most recent date available – for the first time in two weeks. At least some of that increase is likely attributable to the surge in testing D.C. saw after White House staffers began testing positive at the beginning of this month.
  • Maryland’s D.C. metro counties have seen an upward trend in coronavirus cases again during October. Since September 30, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County have seen their daily coronavirus averages grow by 25% and 6%, respectively.
  • As of Friday, Virginia was averaging 42% more new cases of the coronavirus a day than it was two weeks ago. The commonwealth had reported an average of more than 1,000 new cases each day over the past five days.
  • Virginia also hit an all-time testing high this week. As of Monday – the most recent date available – the commonwealth was averaging more than 18,600 coronavirus tests a day. That’s more than 2,000 more tests a day than Virginia was averaging a month 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

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