Thanks to Sam a lam for sending from H Street, NE above.
Covid Christmas Trees are everywhere!! Thanks to Kristen for sending the above from Hill East.
Thanks to Allie for sending “Tim the Tree from Capital Hill” above.
And thanks to John Denver forever.
“Dear PoPville,
I am a commission based stylist at a popular salon in DC and I made the personal choice to stop working on Friday night until April first, and at that point I will reevaluate the situation. As many of us in the industry, we are scared to work on clients for fear of getting or spreading the virus. We also don’t get paid if we don’t work and basically no salons in the DC area provide paid time off or sick leave. This puts us in a difficult position. My salon decided to close on Monday until next Tuesday and I got word today that he is planning on opening back up then. He has given us all the choice whether we want to come back in or not, however we will have to provide our own masks and hand sanitizer. If we opt out of working and the government hasn’t shut us down we will not be able to receive unemployment benefits.
I am reaching out to ask you to promote this petition I have created to ask the mayor to enact a shelter in place order for the next 2 weeks. Much like the one San Francisco and Nevada just implemented.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Shamila Chaudhary
From Congresswoman Norton’s office:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management urging them to extend paid leave for teleworking federal employees to allow them to care for family members during the coronavirus pandemic. The letter asks for teleworking employees to have up to 15 hours per week to care for family members, such as children whose schools are closed.
“As federal employees care for children who must be kept home from school during this unprecedented pandemic, it is important that these teleworking employees are given time to care for their family members,” Norton said. “Allowing these employees an extra 15 hours of leave per week will help ensure that these federal employees are able to continue their vital work while caring for their families.”
The letter follows: (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
How are you celebrating your wedding despite the crisis? Our dream wedding was scheduled for May 2 and will now not be able to take place the way we planned.
Looking for creative solutions or nice ways to celebrate. We’re likely going to go to City Hall and get married on our scheduled wedding day and plan a party for later.”
via Change.org
Ed. Note: Earlier we learned that Howard University had also canceled their commencement.
Emily shares: “Petition · Reschedule GWU Class of 2020’s Graduation on the Mall”
The petition says:
“Hello! GW’s graduating class of 2020 just found out that graduation will most likely be virtual. While this isn’t unreasonable with the spread of the coronavirus, the national mall ceremony is something that all of us have been working towards for 4 years. Sign this petition to send GWU the message that we want them to commit to rescheduling a proper ceremony for the graduating class of 2020! While we most definitely need to be practicing social distancing at this time, we have worked too hard to miss out on getting to walk on the national mall! Let’s offer a reasonable alternative: we push the ceremony to late summer or fall. We deserve an in-person ceremony once it is safe to do so!”
There are currently over 5200 signatories.
I always forget this but not anymore!! Check out the goods here.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Katie Yaeger Rotramel
Thanks to a reader for passing on, wishing a very speedy recovery to President Garvey:
“Dear Members of the University Community,
I want to thank everyone for your continued messages of prayer and concern as I awaited the results of my COVID-19 test. Today I received word that my test result is positive. Jeanne will be tested today.
According to CDC protocol, I am to continue my quarantine that began on March 13. I am in close contact with our family doctor and the D.C. Department of Health, who are advising me on next steps. I no longer have any symptoms, but I could still be carrying the virus. They will advise me on when I may end my self-isolation in accord with the latest CDC guidelines.
I have notified people with whom I was in contact recently, and will do so again. The general guidelines are that if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, then you are to self-quarantine for 14 days since your last contact. (more…)
Thanks to Sarah and Dennis for sending. Dennis reports: “Union Market’s rules: they divided the stores between grocery and takeout.”
Sarah reports: “Union market requiring everyone to order through an app and then have things brought to them. it looks like most will take caviar, door dash, postmates, grub hub, and Uber eats. Peregrine espresso uses an app called Joe Coffee.”
Based on all the joggers I've seen and based on all the booze photos I've seen – half of us are gonna come out of this in the best shape of our lives while the other half will have lived their best life.
After careful consideration I've committed to the latter.
— PoPville (@PoPville) March 17, 2020
Thanks to Natalie for sending: “In the vein of creative entrepreneurial responses to COVID19 disruptions to local businesses”
From Cycled:
“We are excited to announce the CYCLED! Home Bike Rental Program! We have heard the community loud and clear, and we are thrilled to offer a weekly rental program to help you continue to enjoy the classes you know and love ♥︎ We have 45 bikes available for weekly rentals at the rate of $39 per 7 days. Checkout the details below, including the specifications of the bike, to determine if this is a good fit for you. (more…)
Ed. Note: NBC Washington reported: “2nd DC Firefighter Positive for Coronavirus, As Many as 100 Quarantined: Sources”.
Regarding the police – “Metropolitan Police Department Operational Adjustments During COVID-19”.
“Dear PoPville,
My cousin is a dc firefighter (I know we’re not supposed to start stories with that rn but it’s true!). Last few days have been hearing horror stories about all the non-emergency calls they’re still getting. Thankfully at the end of last week DCFEMS received protective gear + new protocols.
But… been spinning my wheels for how to help get out the message that we need to protect our first responders by not sending them into homes with potential CoVid19. We need to do this by not allowing non-emergency calls (ones with mild symptoms and not life threatening) to be answered by DCFEMS, possibly exposing entire firehouses and extra families to this virus. Can the city/mayor find a way to direct people’s 911 calls with flu-like symptoms elsewhere? Believe Uber is offering vouchers + there’s a nurse line to call for advice. How can we administer some sort of penalty for arriving at the home of someone who is not in fact experiencing life-threatening symptoms? (more…)