By Micha Green
AFRO D.C. Editor
mgreen@afro.com
It’s been a month since the first person tested positive for COVID-19 in Washington, D.C., on March 7, and as of April 7, there have been 1,211 confirmed cases, 318 recoveries and 22 deaths.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is suffering from COVID-19, recovering from COVD-19 and those families who have lost members of their families,” District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference on April 6.
With such large numbers of Washingtonians having been affected by the novel coronavirus, Bowser is warning residents of the further shifts necessary to the city staying afloat, offering relief for those in need and containing the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
Numbers of positive COVID-19 cases are steadily rising in the District, with a projection of 93,000 people being affected by the virus, with it peaking in late June or early July, causing Mayor Muriel Bowser to make more amendments to operations. (Courtesy Photo)
“Just as residents and businesses are making tough choices, the District will make tough choices too.”
In government, tough decisions often equal budget cuts.
“We already know that we will need to cut $607 million from our current fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30. And I am working with my entire cabinet, to make sure we are achieving every efficiency that we can in our current operations,” the mayor said.
One way Bowser is managing spending is by freezing operations in the government.
“Today I signed a mayor’s order that freezes hiring, salary increases and travel in D.C. government. Exceptions will be limited to the coronavirus response and public safety and human services and staffing for our schools,” Bowser told the crowd of reporters.
While the D.C. Mayor has closed all non-essential businesses and has a stay-at-home order in effect until April 24, statistics project that D.C. has yet to reach its peak.
Utilizing the CHIME (COVID-19 Hospital Impact Model for Epidemics) model, local officials estimate that 93,000 Washingtonians could become infected with COVID-19, peaking in late June or early July.
The CHIME model that the District uses is different from the impact model utilized by the White House (IHME), because it creates its estimates assuming people are not completely social distancing. Using CHIME is spot on since the Mayor was forced to temporarily close the Municipal Fish Market at the D.C. Wharf, after large crowds gathered there on Saturday, April 4.
As she’s done for the past three weeks, Mayor Bowser is emphasizing that residents should stay home as the best way to combat the virus.
“With community spread under way, we cannot express enough that staying at home is every individual’s responsibility to save lives. On Friday the CDC issued a recommendation for people to wear masks when they are in public,” Bowser said. “I want to be clear on something- wearing a mask does not replace social distancing. Everyone should continue to stay at home except for when they’re engaged in essential activities. However, when you do leave home, it is recommended that you do wear a mask.”
