The Washington Post - USA (2020-11-22)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 , 2020. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ RE C5

BY ERIN COX, ANTONIO OLIVO AND JULIE ZAUZMER

With Thanksgiving and winter
holidays fast approaching, the
virus is roaring back to devastat-
ing new heights in the D.C.
region and in the country. The
rise in cases has led many offi-
cials to impose tighter restric-
tions on eating in restaurants
and other activities that can lead
to an increase in infections. Be-
low, we strive to answer some
queries about what is allowed —
and what is safe — in this
unusual fall and winter in the
region.

D.C.

What are the current restric-
tions in D.C.?
D.C. residents can eat inside or
outside at restaurants, shop in
retail establishments, get hair-
cuts and manicures, and go to
the gym, as long as they wear
masks when possible and the
businesses follow various restric-
tions on crowd size and cleaning
procedures. Churches can host
services for up to 100 worshipers,
as long as the venue is no more
than half-full. Those who wish to
host their own gatherings, like
dinner parties or holiday cele-
brations, must limit the crowd to
fewer than 50 people.
Why is the number of virus
cases in D.C. going up?
While there is much that we
do not know about how D.C.
residents are contracting the vi-
rus, health director LaQuandra
Nesbitt has pointed to small
social gatherings as one cause for
concern, saying that people have
let their guard down and have
started hanging out in non-so-
cially distanced groups with a
few friends outside their house-
hold. Among people who con-
tracted the virus in the first half
of October — when the rise in
cases in the District was begin-
ning — nearly one in four had
attended a social gathering of at
least five people, and one in five
had eaten in a restaurant.
How can I get tested for the
virus?
Many of the tests conducted in
D.C. each day happen at private
doctor’s offices, so if you have a
primary care provider, calling
your doctor is the best first step.
If you are looking for a free
public testing location, D.C. of-
fers tests every weekday and
some Saturdays at firehouses
and other walk-up and drive-
through sites throughout the
city. Check coronavirus.dc.gov/
testing to find out which testing
sites are open on the day you are
interested in visiting.
Are D.C. schools holding
classes in person?
The D.C. public school system
had hoped to resume in-person
schooling for 7,000 elementary
students this month, but those
plans fell through when the
school district and the teacher’s
union could not agree on how to
safely reopen. The city has since
brought a much smaller number
of students, about 600, back to
schools where they are partici-
pating in virtual instruction, but
in a school building.
Do I have to wear a mask in
public in D.C.?
Yes. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser
(D) strengthened the mask re-
quirement in July, requiring ev-
eryone over the age of 2 to wear a
mask in all businesses, in offices
where any other people are
working, in taxis or public tran-
sit vehicles, in common spaces in
apartment buildings and in
crowded outdoor settings. “Per-
sons leaving their residences
shall wear a mask when they are

likely to come into contact with another person, such as being within six feet of another person for more than a fleeting time,” the order says. Will the city impose more restrictions if the virus gets worse? D.C. leaders are reluctant to reimpose restrictions that they loosened months ago. However, if the city’s virus metrics fall below set thresholds, leaders have said they will at least consider tightening restrictions. One metric — the daily rate of new cases — spiked into that red-flag zone for the first time on Nov. 12, but the mayor and health director said that day that they were not planning to bring back restrictions right away. What are the city’s plans for distributing a vaccine? The first to get the vaccine in the District, according to its vaccine distribution plans, will be those disproportionately im- pacted by the virus, including senior citizens, people with chronic health conditions and certain racial minority groups. The city plans to distribute the vaccine by work setting, not by profession — so anyone who works in a hospital will be on the early list to get a dose, not just nurses and doctors.

Maryland What are the current restrictions in Maryland? Maryland restaurants and bars are forbidden to serve pa- trons indoors after 10 p.m., and before then may only serve seated guests in groups of six or fewer. Indoor capacity at restaurants, other businesses, gyms and religious organizations will be capped at 50 percent. Statewide, officials recommend no indoor social gatherings exceed 25 people. Some of the states most populous juris- dictions, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, have taken that restriction further and imposed formal caps. In most big counties, social gatherings are limited to 25 people outdoors or 10 people inside. Also, in-person visits to nurs- ing homes have been limited to “compassion care” visits only, and visitors will not be permitted without proof of a negative coronavirus test taken less than 72 hours prior. Hospital visitors are prohibited, save for a few excep- tions that include end-of-life care, parents or guardians of children undergoing treatment, caregivers for people with dis- abilities and obstetrics. Fans are also prohibited at professional and collegiate sporting events. Why is the number of virus cases in Maryland going up? Infectious-disease experts and public health doctors attribute the rise to several factors, including the weather, a nationwide spike and “covid fatigue.” With cooler temperatures, people are more frequently gathering indoors, where poor ventilation makes it easier for the virus to spread. Small social gatherings are a key source of infection. Some experts suspect lower humidity also hastens transmission of the virus. Coronavirus infections have surged more dramatically in other parts across the country, and people are still traveling and potentially bringing it home. Experts also say the months- long pandemic created a weari- ness and potentially desensitized people to the serious of the threat, a psychological state often called “covid fatigue.” It can lead people to forgo masks, disre-

gard advice about limiting their social interactions, be less vigi- lant about washing their hands or otherwise set aside best prac- tices that curb the spread of the virus. How can I get tested for the virus? Maryland has a list of available test sites at tinyurl.com/ y5ogoeen. Are schools in Maryland holding classes in person? Many are not, especially in the largest and most populous juris- dictions in central Maryland. Some public school districts in less populated areas and private schools throughout the state are teaching at least some in-person classes. But universities and some school districts are scaling back or canceling in-person instruction as coronavirus rates increase. Do I have to wear a mask in public in Maryland? Residents older than 5 must wear masks while indoors in public spaces and outdoors when social distancing is not possible, as well as on public transporta- tion. Failing to wear a mask is a misdemeanor subject to a fine of up to $500. Will Maryland impose more restrictions if the virus gets worse? Yes. State and local leaders have warned that additional steps may be necessary to curb the spread of the virus. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) sets statewide policies that are the baseline for all of Maryland, but local leaders have authority to be more strict if necessary. The governor has relied on contact tracing data and other information to guide which restrictions to impose. He limited restaurant hours after reports of spotty adherence to mask-wearing late into the evening and data showing people contracting the virus after visiting bars and restaurants. What are Maryland’s plans for distributing a vaccine? Front-line health care workers and residents at highest risk for developing serious complica- tions to a coronavirus infection will be first in line to be vaccinat- ed, according to the state’s draft vaccination distribution plan. Public safety and education workers will also be in the first wave, which altogether accounts for about 14 percent of the state’s population. People who live in congregate settings such as nurs- ing homes or prisons will also get priority. Residents can preregister online at MarylandVax.org. The state has invested $10 million so far into planning how to quickly acquire and distribute the vaccine once it becomes available.

Virginia What are the current restrictions in Virginia? Under Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D) recently amended executive order governing the state’s pandemic plan, the following restrictions are in effect: Restaurants and other establishments can offer indoor dining, but must stop selling alcohol at 10 p.m. and close by midnight. For private events, crowd sizes are limited to 25 people, indoors and outside. Entertainment venues can have as many as 250 people or 30 percent capacity, whichever is less. Retail stores can operate. but must observe physical distancing require- ments and enforce the state’s mask mandate for employees and customers. Fitness centers and sports facilities can operate at 75 percent capacity, with a

25-person limit. Beauty salons, barbershops and spas can operate, but everyone must wear a mask. Recreational sports are allowed with a limit of 25 specta- tors per field. For marathons and other races, the crowd limit is 250 people. Why is the number of virus cases in Virginia going up? Epidemiologists say “pandemic fatigue” over mask-wearing and keeping distant from people in other households has settled into large swaths of the country, including Virginia. In Northern Virginia, more people are attend- ing social gatherings while not wearing masks. They are also getting infected by other members of their household, a trend that is more acute among Latino immigrants who live in crowded conditions or who work in the service industry, which puts them at greater risk for infection. In the once-untouched rural Southwest, health officials say, a lax attitude about mask-wearing has contributed to the state’s sharpest spikes in coronavirus cases. How can I get tested for the virus? Testing locations change often, while local health depart- ments and some private groups have been hosting pop-up testing sites for limited periods. The most up-to-date information on where to get a coronavirus test can be found at tinyurl.com/ yxe7crdf. Can I travel out of state? Yes, but be mindful that some states have quarantine mandates for out-of-state travelers. For ex- ample, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut include Vir- ginia on their lists of states whose infection rates are high enough to require a 14-day quarantine period. If you’re traveling to other states, check with the state and local health depart- ments to see if Virginia is on their list. Are schools in Virginia holding classes in person? Virginia’s Phase 3 guidelines allow all students to receive “in-person instruction... with social distancing measures in place.” Some smaller school districts have allowed students back into the classroom, while some have chosen to go all virtual. Others have implemented hybrid learning curriculums that allow students inside a classroom on certain days of the week. The situation is fluid, so it’d be good to keep in touch with your local school district for its latest pol- icy. In Northern Virginia, teach- ers’ unions have urged Northam to switch to online-only learning. Parents are fiercely divided on the issue. Some applaud school officials’ caution and say they would like to keep their children home for the foresee- able future. Others are demand- ing in-person instruction. Fair- fax County’s school system, the largest in the state, recently decided against sending 6,800 pre-K, kindergarten and special-education students back to classrooms until at least Nov.

Other students have re-
turned for in-person instruc-
tion, mostly younger students
and those enrolled in special-ed
classes or career and technical
classes.
Do I have to wear a mask in
public in Virginia?
Under Northam’s recently up-
dated mask mandate, anyone
older than 5 is required to wear a
mask if they are visiting the
following places: Personal care
and grooming businesses, retail
stores, restaurants and taverns,

entertainment venues, amuse- ment parks, airports, train and bus stations and public transit. Exemptions include: eating or drinking in restaurants or taverns, exercising, a person seek- ing to communicate with a hear- ing-impaired person, and anyone with a health condition that keeps them from wearing a face covering. Children older than 2 are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when possible. Employees inside essential business, such as a pharmacy or a restaurant, are also required to wear face coverings. Violations of the mask order are considered a class 1 misdemeanor and are subject to jail time and fines of as much as $2,500. The state has begun to penalize local businesses that violate the requirement by sus- pending food permits and other business licenses. Will Virginia impose more restrictions if the virus gets worse? Northam has said that more stringent restrictions could go back into effect if it the pandemic grows worse in Virginia. The state health department is moni- toring several metrics to deter- mine next steps. Among them: the seven-day average for new cases, the positivity rate on coronavirus tests and the burden placed on hospitals as more people become sick enough to be hospitalized. Northam’s administration has balanced those metrics against concerns that any further restrictions will hamper the state’s economic recovery after thou- sands of people have lost their jobs while businesses have shut down because of the pandemic. Epidemiologists have called for more localized restrictions if the virus flares up more in certain areas, versus a broader set of rules that affect everyone. What are Virginia’s plans for distributing a vaccine? Virginia plans to use $22 million in federal Cares Act funds to create a statewide vaccine distribution program for vaccines when they become available for public use, including for the purchase of syringes, vaccine freezers and refrigerators and equipment needed to transport the vaccines to different locations. The state’s health department plans to work with licensed vaccine providers to distribute vaccines, including pharmacy chains such as Walgreens or grocery store outlets like Food City. A draft of the state’s vaccination plan says local health districts will set up mass vaccination clinics. Nearly $40 million in funds will go toward helping people who are uninsured or underin- sured receive vaccines. Local health officials will be tasked with getting the vaccine to any non-federally recognized tribal communities.

Safe activities Can I safely celebrate the holidays with my family and friends? Yes, if you take preventive steps against infection. Health experts recommend celebrating with immediate members of your household and holding virtual holiday celebrations with people who live elsewhere. If you gather in person, wear a mask and keep at least 10 feet apart, instead of the six-foot distance recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health experts say. Why? People are generally more jovial during holiday gatherings,

talking loudly and laughing. If someone is infected, that activity increases the risk of aerosolizing the virus and infecting others — especially in cases where that person is asymptomatic and likely to be less cautious around others. Is it safe for my kids to come home from college for the holidays? Yes, but they should be mindful about the potential of infecting others and take the necessary steps to prevent infection. Younger adults and teenagers tend to socialize with friends more often, especially while away at college. They are also more likely to be asymptomatic while infected. If possible, it would be good for everyone who travels from one household to another to get a coronavirus test before sharing the same space with others, and to stay apart until the results come in. If there is someone in the household who is more vul- nerable to infection, because they are elderly or have an underlying health condition, your kids may want to keep a mask on in that person’s pres- ence until they know for sure that they are not carrying the virus. Is it safe to travel by airplane, train or bus? Traveling is undoubtedly riski- er than staying home. Take it from CDC epidemiologist Allison Walker: “There’s really no such thing as safe travel.” Experts debate about the pre- cise risk of air travel. While only 44 cases have been definitively linked to flights during a time in which 1.2 billion people flew, that low number is much more attrib- utable to the lack of contact tracing to prove whether someone caught the virus on a plane or somewhere else, rather than the effectiveness of the ventilation systems on airplanes, according to the researcher who compiled the data. The CDC estimated that as of September, nearly 11,000 people had been exposed to the virus while on a plane. That said, trains and buses do not have the same high-tech ventilation systems as planes. If you can drive in your personal car, rather than take a bus with others, consider that option instead. Is it safe to eat in a restaurant, go shopping, hit the gym or attend a religious service? Public health experts say any indoor spaces have higher transmission risks than being outdoors. Masking, social distancing and limited capacity can reduce the risk of transmission indoors but cannot eliminate it. The CDC recommends not visiting any of these places if you are feeling ill and to check in advance about mask policies. In Maryland, everyone over 5 is required to wear a mask indoors. Is it safe to eat in a tent outdoors at a restaurant this winter? The risk of transmission de- pends on who else is in the tent with you. If it’s a pod limited to only the diners in your household, your transmission risk is less than if multiple tables are seated inside the same sealed tent. Although outdoors, the tent, if closed off to the elements, could create poor ventilation akin to dining indoors. Experts recommend wearing your mask whenever not actively eating and drinking. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

THE REGION

What to know about your area’s coronavirus guidelines

those who are still planning to travel, more than 60 percent plan to drive, according to the survey, which was conducted Nov. 12-13. “Given the recent surge in covid-19 and the strong urging of public health officials for everyone to stay home for the holiday, the Thanksgiving travel land- scape continues to change,” said John B. Townsend II, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “I’m hoping people across the country are staying locally,” said Clifford Mitchell, director of the Environmental Health Bureau in the Maryland Department of Health. “It’s the best thing they can do. It’s the best thing we all can do.” Additionally, states and counties have enacted more restrictions that took effect this weekend. Prince George’s County imposed a weekend curfew at Na- tional Harbor, which began Fri- day at 5 p.m. for unaccompanied minors. It came after County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) said large groups of young people were gathering in the

area, including at hotels where parents have rented rooms for their children to host parties. The curfew will be in effect from 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 6 a.m. the next morning for people 17 and under who are without an adult. Minors accompanied by adults are ex- empt from the curfew. And across the entire state, an order from Gov. Larry Hogan (R) that went into effect Friday clamps down on the hours restaurants and bars can operate and how many people are allowed in stores and at religious facilities. The order requires bars and restaurants in Maryland to close at 10 p.m. for indoor service and reduces capacity in stores, religious facilities, fitness centers, personal service facilities and bowling alleys to 50 percent. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) also imposed more restrictions on dining, gatherings and mask-wearing that went into effect recently in a move to get a better handle on the virus. [email protected]

BY ALLISON KLEIN

The D.C. region continues to
be hit hard by the coronavirus,
prompting most residents to
abandon travel for Thanksgiving,
according to a survey by AAA.
The seven-day average of new
cases in the region hit a new high
for the 18th day in a row Satur-
day. There were a record-high
5,386 cases reported in Mary-
land, D.C. and Virginia, as well as
44 deaths.
The number of new cases on
Saturday was a 7 percent jump
from Friday.
The increase was led by Mary-
land, which recorded 2,885 new
cases Saturday, a 23 percent
jump from the prior day. D.C. had
153 new cases, a rise of 18
percent, while Virginia’s daily

case number dipped by about 8 percent to 2,348. With the coronavirus in mind, AAA surveyed people about their Thanksgiving travel plans and found that:

In D.C., 83 percent of people
said they would not be traveling
for the holiday, with 65 percent of
them saying it was because of the
pandemic.

In Virginia, 84 percent of
people said they will stay home,
with 41 percent citing the pan-
demic.

In Maryland, 89 percent of
residents said they won’t travel
Thursday, and 50 percent said it
was because of the virus.
“Conflicted by two competing
emotions at once — nostalgia
and familial love, which is natu-
ral and instinctual — fewer

THE REGION

Few residents plan to

travel for Thanksgiving

Washington, D.C. residents are opting to travel back home for traditional Thanksgiving Day family gatherings during the bur- geoning coronavirus pandemic this year,” reads a news release from AAA. D.C.-area residents are largely

heeding the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion, which has recommended against Thanksgiving travel. More than 85 percent of those surveyed in all three jurisdic- tions said they perceive traveling during the pandemic as a risk. Of

MATT MCCLAIN/THE WASHINGTON POST A driver wearing a mask passes a mural in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood Thursday. Eighty-four percent of Virginians surveyed by AAA say they plan to stay home for Thanksgiving.

The Washington Post - USA (2020-11-22)

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