There are currently 4,823,479 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, around the world and 1,508,957 confirmed cases across the country. The global total number of deaths stands at 318,857, and the United States’ at 90,369. Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University has been keeping up-to-date information through an interactive map.
As of Tuesday morning, Virginia had 31,140 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 3,822 people hospitalized, 1,014 deaths and 194,677 people tested. Fairfax has the highest total number of cases, with 7,843 to date, with 1,100 hospitalized and 284 deaths. Arlington has reported 1,638 cases with 323 hospitalized and 77 deaths. Alexandria has 1,510 cases with 162 hospitalized and 34 deaths. Loudoun County has 1,486 cases with 139 hospitalized and 48 deaths and Prince William County has 4,585 cases (including Manassas and Manassas City), with 427 hospitalized and 78 deaths. You can keep up with the commonwealth’s daily updates here. (Virginia Department of Health)
Regional
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, tallied in at 78,172 in the DMV on Tuesday morning. Maryland reported 39,762 cases, Virginia reported 31,140 and Washington, DC reported 7,270. The death toll has reached a total of 3,429, with 2,023 in Maryland, 1,014 in Virginia and 392 in DC. (Virginia Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health; Stay Home DC!)
Local
Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC collectively counted 45 new deaths on Monday, the lowest number since mid-April. The jurisdictions also reported a downward trend in new infections: The seven-day rolling average of new cases now has dropped to 1,906 a day, down from a peak of 2,100 daily cases in early May. (The Washington Post)
Local
Free COVID-19 testing in Loudoun County will take place on Wednesday, May 20, at a drive-thru testing site located at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park on Claudia Drive in Leesburg from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are no age or residency requirements, no appointments and you do not need to be showing symptoms in order to get a test. This is a one-day event. Test results from either nose swabs or oral swabs will be available within a week. (WTOP)
Local
Virginia is investigating complaints that students with disabilities were not given equal learning opportunities during the coronavirus shutdown. The Virginia Department of Education opened its investigation on Monday, based on a complaint filed this month by five parents on behalf of their six children, all Fairfax County students with disabilities, including dyslexia and autism. It is a federal law that children with disabilities attending public school receive a special course of instruction, but according to the complaint, Fairfax County Public Schools told parents it was pausing these courses until brick-and-mortar schooling resumes. (The Washington Post)
Regional
On Monday, May 18, DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced the nation’s capital is six days away from meeting the safety goals required to be reached before safely reopening. Bowser intends to announce her reopening plan in greater detail later this week, including reopening sectors of the city’s economy. (The Washington Post)
Statewide
Across Northern Virginia and beyond, some voters are casting physically distanced, in-person ballots Tuesday in city and town government elections. Polls are open until 7 p.m. in Fairfax, Vienna, Clifton, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Occoquan and Quantico, with a variety of council elections and more. (WTOP)
Statewide
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced on Monday that the state’s first beaches will be allowed to reopen just before Memorial Day, starting Friday, May 23. The only beaches allowed to reopen are Virginia Beach and First Landing State Park, and will be open for swimming and sunbathing, and prohibited activities include group sports, speakers, alcohol, tents and grouping of umbrellas, fishing on sand beaches and parking garages/surface lots will limit their capacities by 50%. Virginia coastline merchants are eager to compete with open beaches in Maryland and North Carolina this weekend. (The Washington Post)
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