There are over 1,286,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 270,098 people have recovered. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
Virginia now has 2,637 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 431 people hospitalized, 51 deaths and 23,671 people tested. You can keep up with the commonwealth’s daily updates here. (Virginia Department of Health)
Local
As of Monday morning, the combined total of COVID-19 cases across Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC stood at 7,252, with a total of 141 fatalities. It’s been exactly one month since the first case was confirmed in the Washington, DC region. (The Washington Post)
Local
If you’re following the new CDC guidelines—and Gov. Ralph Northam’s—on wearing a mask while in public for essential purposes, you will not be charged with a crime in Virginia. Yes, it is illegal to wear a face mask in Virginia based on state law, and prior to a public health emergency, you could have been charged with a class six felony, with up to five years in jail and a fine of no more than $2,500. The law states that anyone over the age of 16 cannot wear a mask or anything that may conceal the face in public, but Gov. Northam has insisted that no one will be charged during this time due to exceptions of the law. (3WTKR)
Local
When will the DMV hit its peak? No one really knows, and all three state and territory governments are predicting different time frames. In Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday that the models he’s referencing suggest a surge in May, whereas Mayor Muriel E. Bowser is projecting DC’s peak to be in late June and early July. Maryland’s Gov. Larry Hogan is still reviewing projections for the state. For updates on the day-to-day changes and estimations, check The Washington Post’s live updates. (The Washington Post)
Local
According to the Rappahannock Area Health District, there have been 81 cases of COVID-19 in the Rappahannock area, including 41 in Stafford, 24 in Spotsylvania, eight in King George, seven in Fredericksburg and one in Caroline County. On Sunday, a second COVID-19 patient in Fredericksburg passed away from the virus. (Inside NoVA)
Local
Three Fauquier County hospital employees have tested positive for COVID-19, as of Saturday morning. Only one of the employees was a care provider for Fauquier Health, and all contacts of the individuals have been informed of potential exposure. (Inside NoVA)
Local
Airline travel at Northern Virginia’s two airports—Dulles International and Reagan National—is down an estimated 90%, and both locations have now closed their economy parking lots, canceled valet parking and lowered their parking rates to economy prices in other areas. In the last few days of March, the Transportation Security Administration reported screening fewer than 200,000 passengers a day at U.S. airports, compared with 2 million or more passengers a day during the same time period in March 2019. (Inside NoVA)
Local
In attempts to provide local families with school-aged children a week’s worth of meals before spring break, Arlington Public Schools ran out of food during distribution on Friday, April 3. Long lines formed at the five pickup locations, where the school system is offering free meals to any child in attendance, and many were turned away after giving away nearly double the county’s daily average of 1,000 meals. The school system will now pause distribution through the student’s originally scheduled spring break, being held this week. (The Washington Post)
Regional
Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive is now closed for the foreseeable future to motorized vehicles, from mile 0 in Front Royal to mile 65.5 at Route 33, west of Stanardsville. The road will be open to pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized vehicles from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, but all park picnic grounds will remain closed. (Rappahannock News)
Regional
On Saturday, April 4, hundreds of people gathered at DC’s Fisherman’s Market within The Wharf complex, and caused the city to issue an emergency closure order. Caution tape and orange cones will now block residents from visiting the area. (WTOP)
National
The U.S. Surgeon General has warned Americans that this will be “the hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives,” with the official death toll of the country shortly reaching 10,000. The White House’s estimates have totaled up to 240,000 deaths. (The Washington Post)
National
A coughing tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first known animal in the United States to contract the virus. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia was tested for the virus after she and several other lions and tigers came down with a dry cough starting March 27. The tiger is believed to have been exposed to the virus by an asymptomatic zookeeper. (The Washington Post)
The spread of COVID-19 continues to impact the Northern Virginia region on a daily basis. If you’re looking for ways to stay entertained at home, check out our Things to Do page, and stay up to date by subscribing to our weekly newsletters.
