Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) said Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 following protective isolation with other members of Congress during the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol last week.
He is the third member of the House to announce that he has tested positive, joining Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, of New Jersey, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, of Washington – both Democrats.
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"Several Republican lawmakers in the room adamantly refused to wear a mask... even when politely asked by their colleagues," Schneider said, pointing to a video posted online by Punchbowl News that shows several House Republicans refusing to wear masks while sheltering in an undisclosed location.
A press release from Coleman's office on Monday also noted that “a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear masks.”
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and their staffs were told Sunday to get tested for COVID-19 because of potential exposure Wednesday while they hid from rioters who surged into the Capitol.
Some members of Congress huddled for hours in the large room, while others were there for a shorter period.
Maryland reported its first two cases of the U.K. variant of COVID-19, Gov. Hogan announced at a press conference Tuesday. The two individuals are a married couple who reside in Anne Arundel County. One of the patients had recently returned from traveling abroad, he said.
The couple also has two children and the entire family is quarantining together, Gov. Hogan said.
The Maryland's public health laboratory and the Centers for Disease Control both confirmed the individuals tested positive for the U.K. strain on Tuesday.
Second and third-graders in Prince William County public schools will return to the classroom to begin in-person learning starting Tuesday.
The students will be joining pre-K through first graders, who resumed in-person learning in the fall.
The move is part of the superintendent's plan to slowly return students to the classroom in phases. The county school board will discuss the plan during a meeting later Tuesday.
The Montgomery County Board of Education voted Tuesday to delay its reopening plan, pushing back the Feb. 1 start date until at least March 15 — more than a year after buildings closed at the start of the pandemic.
The Charles County School Board will also meet today to finalize their plans to return students to the classroom.
After a slow start to the vaccine roll-out, Northern Virginia is now vaccinating Group 1b. That includes people over the age of 75, teachers, police and firefighters, postal workers, transit workers, and grocery employees.
In Phase 1C, another 2.5 million Virginians who are considered frontline essential workers would be eligible for vaccinations. Workers in those categories include housing construction, food service and transportation and logistics workers.
Although there is no exact timeline in place, Gov. Ralph Northam is setting a goal of reaching 50,000 vaccinations per day and believes all Virginians could be vaccinated by this summer.
Meanwhile in the District, seniors are eligible to receive their shots. To be eligible, you need to live in D.C., and be at least 65 years old.
All of the available vaccination appointments (6,700) for this week have already been filled, according to D.C.'s sign up portal. You can sign up at the link to receive an alert via text message or email when more appointments become available.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has proposed an economic relief package including direct payments of as much as $750 for low-income to moderate-income families and individuals, he announced at a press conference Monday.
"Families who file for the Earned Income Tax Credit will receive an additional $750. Individuals will receive $450," Hogan said.
About 400,000 Marylanders in need would qualify and no applications would be necessary to receive the funding.
The relief act proposal would provide more than $1 billion in immediate and targeted financial relief and tax cuts for Maryland working families, unemployed Marylanders and small businesses that are suffering financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposal first needs to be passed by the legislature on Wednesday before it can be implemented.
Vaccination Portals by County
As vaccinations in our region ramp up, here's a look at local portals residents can use to sign up for vaccination appointments or sign up to receive alerts.
- Washington, D.C. signups– vaccinate.dc.gov
- Maryland signups – www.marylandvax.org/
- Virginia information – www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/
- Montgomery County – www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/
- Prince George's County – www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3730/COVID-19-Vaccination
- Howard County – www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Health/MM-Alerts-and-Recalls/COVID-19-Vaccine
- Anne Arundel County – aahealth.org/covid-19-vaccine-faq/
- Fairfax County – www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/vaccine
- City of Alexandria – www.alexandriava.gov/health/info/default.aspx?id=119270
- Loudoun County – www.loudoun.gov/covid19vaccine
- Prince William County – coronavirus.pwcgov.org/vaccine-information/ & VDH
To get a better idea of when you'll be eligible to receive a vaccine, use our tool below.
What the Data Shows
D.C. announced on Tuesday 430 new cases of COVID-19, setting a new record for the District. The previous record was set on Dec. 5, when a total of 392 cases were reported in D.C.
An additional four lives were also lost in D.C.
In Maryland, 2,665 new cases and 67 deaths were reported. In Virginia, 3,473 new COVID-19 cases and 75 deaths were counted.
The region set a new record for deaths reported in one day – 146 due to COVID-19 in D.C., Maryland and Virginia Tuesday.
Four more people died in D.C. Maryland had an additional 3,012 cases and 29 deaths. Virginia reported a further 3,545 cases and nine more lives lost.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases was up across the board. D.C. (322), Maryland (3,228) and Virginia (3,730) once again set new records for the third consecutive day.
As of Monday, 3,185 patients confirmed positive for COVID-19 are hospitalized in Virginia. In Maryland, 1,952 patients are hospitalized. D.C. reported 283 hospitalizations.
Local Coronavirus Headlines
- Maryland reported its first two confirmed cases of the U.K. variant of COVID-19.
- D.C. residents age 65 and older, teachers and several categories of essential workers will be able to make appointments this month to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, officials say.
- More than 1,400 long-term care facilities in Virginia are expected to receive doses of the coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks.
- Two D.C. friends got a lucky break while in Giant Food in Washington, D.C.,: When someone didn't show up for their vaccination appointment, the pharmacist asked him and his friend if they wanted to get the Moderna shot.
- Virginia reported another record day for new coronavirus infections, and that surge is putting even more pressure on hospitals in the commonwealth already pushed to the brink.
- Among the industries hit hardest by the pandemic has been performance venues like theaters and nightclubs, but help is on the way after President Donald Trump signed the new relief bill.
- New figures from the Virginia Department of Corrections show that two inmates and one staff member who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in recent days.
- The high level of coronavirus cases is putting stress on Northern Virginia hospitals — and the health care professionals who work there.
- The stress of the pandemic is a grind. A data analysis from the American Dental Association shows a surge in cases of teeth grinding, clenching and cracking during the COVID-19 crisis. The increases are striking and potentially costly and painful for sufferers.
- A professor is using the trust Black Americans have in barbers to make them more comfortable with taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
- A rapid antigen test might seem like a great idea when you're in a hurry and don't have time to wait a few days for results, but those tests are really designed for people with COVID-19 symptoms and in asymptomatic patients can deliver false positive results.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced measures to boost the number of available health care workers and plan for more hospital beds.
- COVID-19 numbers continue to paint a dire picture for Black Americans, and there is an ongoing effort in the Black community to increase testing.
Reopening Tracker
- A judge upheld Montgomery County, Maryland's ban on indoor dining.
- D.C. has suspended indoor dining until 5 a.m. on Jan. 15, Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press release.
- Virginia instituted a curfew and a stricter mask mandate.
- Maryland tightened restrictions on businesses, bars and restaurants.
- All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed because of rising COVID-19 cases.
- Hours before some Fairfax County students were set to return to in-person learning, the school district said that they needed to delay the plan.
- Courts throughout Maryland remain partially shut down due to the pandemic.
- Prince George's County tightened restrictions and required masks to be worn outdoors.
How to Stay Safe
Anyone can get COVID-19. Here are three simple ways the CDC says you can lower your risk:
- Wear a snug-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Avoid being indoors with people who are not members of your household. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19. If you are indoors with people you don’t live with, stay at least six feet apart and keep your mask on.
- Wash your hands often, especially after you have been in a public place.
