Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.
From the Smithsonian:
“As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), all Smithsonian museums in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and in New York City, including the National Zoo, will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14. (more…)
Kristin reports at 8:44am: “I mean traffic is always a little lighter on Fridays but never like this. First picture is Court House platform at 8:30am.
Next the 3rd car of the DC bound train, which even on Friday should be standing room only.
Then, Metro Center at 8:40am, taken from the Glenmont side. It’s really eerie.
On the plus side it means there’s seats or places to lean so no one has to touch the bars.”
Meanwhile on the bus: (more…)
JP reports from Whole Foods P Street in Logan Circle at 8am: “Every isle is jammed. No one can actually shop. Send a PSA telling people that they should repent for sleeping in instead of going to the grocery store. Kind of the exact opposite of what you want to happen when a highly contagious virus is spreading.”
Britni reports from Trader Joe’s U Street at 8:43am: (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user DCbmyers
From a press advisory from the Mayor’s Office:
“Mayor Muriel Bowser will adjust the District of Columbia Government’s operating status beginning Monday, March 16, through Tuesday, March 31, to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Starting Monday, March 16, through Tuesday, March 31, the District of Columbia Government will operate under an agency-specific telework schedule, with the intent to continue to deliver essential services and to keep critical systems and services operating. Some government operations will be performed fully remotely, while other services will continue to be performed at public buildings, but under modified operations. Employees are invited to an Employee Telephone Townhall at 10 a.m. this morning to hear more about the District of Columbia’s operating status. The District of Columbia Government plans to resume normal operations on Wednesday, April 1.
Starting Monday, March 16, through Tuesday, March 31, DC Public Schools (DCPS) will implement distance learning. Students will not report to schools during that time. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.
“Dear PoPville,
I’d love to know how people feel about the possibility of quarantine (like they have in Italy: restaurants & bars closed, football games with no spectators (creepy), public transportation closed or severely limited). Are people freaking out or ok with it? What would it be like for people with kids? Are they looking forward to it or is it like “oh shit”? Are introverts kind of ok with it because now they have an excuse to bail on all those things they don’t actually want to go to? How long until everyone hits “cabin fever” stage and starts thinking about all the ways they could murder their loved ones?
Also, I don’t work from home normally so we have a dog walker. If I am ordered to WFH, should I still pay to have my dog walked? I mean…it’s not my dog walker’s fault coronavirus hit DC and I’m not sure she has any other income. Ed. Note: We spoke about childcare/nanny payments here. Do people (white collar cube monkeys with the privilege of working from home) feel an obligation to support services they no longer need since they are home during the day? What does the PoPville community think?”
Photo by Emma
From the Kennedy Center:
“The Kennedy Center’s highest priority is the health and well-being of all our patrons, artists, volunteers, and staff. In conformance with the specific public health recommendations issued by D.C. Health and Mayor Bowser, and due to the increasing threat of COVID-19, all public performances and events scheduled at the Kennedy Center through March 31 will be canceled effective Friday, March 13.
Until further notice, the Kennedy Center campus and its facilities will be closed to visitors, however, administrative staff will be on hand to continue basic business operations. The restaurant, café, and other food service will also be closed due to canceled performances. Kennedy Center programmers are exploring options for rescheduling artists and productions for a future date where possible.
The following events on Thursday, March 12, will continue as scheduled: (more…)
Update on Filmore Silver Spring many of their concerts have now been postponed too.
Thanks to Chaz for passing on about the Filmore above. And thanks to Meredith for passing on from Black Cat:
“This weekend’s shows are moving forward as scheduled. We’re assessing the situation and will keep you abreast.”
Thanks to Joyce for sending earlier this morning on metro. The sanitizer sticking up out of the pocket is the cherry.
Thanks to Chris for sending the shot above: “Down to one cup of noodles at the Riggs Road Walmart.”
And please be very kind to grocery store employees – they are working so hard these days!
Besides sanitizer, soaps, toilet paper and marinara sauces – what other items have you noticed are getting depleted?
Note: Pending test result numbers are no longer listed.
From the Mayor’s office:
“As of 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, the District’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) data includes six new positive cases, bringing the District’s overall positive case total to 10 individuals.
· 59-year-old male
Contact tracing underway – History of travel to level-3 country
· 58-year-old female
Contact tracing underway – Attended conference in the District where positive cases were identified
· 39-year-old male
Contact tracing underway – History of travel to level-3 country
· 24-year-old male
Contact tracing underway – No known exposure
· 59-year-old female
Contact tracing underway – Contact with a previously identified case in the District
· 69-year-old female
Contact tracing underway – No known exposure
Going forward, the District will disseminate the number of positive cases, as third-party labs outside of the DC Public Health Laboratory have no obligation to report negative results.”
From Alert DC:
“Mayor Muriel Bowser declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency, effective immediately. The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) will activate the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Joint Information Center (JIC) to provide additional coordination for the District’s COVID-19 response.
Earlier today, DC Health recommended that non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions, be postponed or canceled through March 31. As a result, the District is pulling permits for two events in March – the Rock and Roll DC Marathon and Half Marathon and 5K and the Scope It Out 5K.
Additionally, DC Public Schools announced that they have moved their teacher Professional Development day from Friday, March 20 to Monday, March 16 to prepare for the possibility of distance learning.”