D.C.’s hospitals are already close to capacity as the pandemic worsens — and that’s a large reason why many health professionals are asking people to stay home over the Thanksgiving holiday.
We’re already seeing a spike in hospitalizations following weeks of climbing case numbers. Large, indoor gatherings could exacerbate the rising case numbers.
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“Our actions now dictate what happens in the hospital two and four weeks from now,” said Dr. Glenn Wortmann, Director of Infectious Diseases at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The upcoming holidays could be a “perfect storm” that pushes hospitals to their limit, Wortmann said.
“Really, it’s in the control of the people of D.C. If people stay separated, wear their masks, we can keep the numbers down,” he said. On Saturday, D.C. hospitals said that were at 86.7%, a few points below the “red zone” threshold — 90% — that would indicate insufficient capacity.
With the number of people in the D.C. region who are sick or hospitalized with coronavirus growing, it’s welcome news that vaccine development is moving forward.
“The vaccine news has just been phenomenal … This has been hard, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Wortmann said.
Pfizer and BioNTech announced Friday they planned to file for emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine. That process is expected to take a few weeks.
The White House coronavirus task force has repeatedly said once the drug has approval, it can be mobilized for distribution within 24 hours, CNBC reported.
Operation Warp speed will separately send out ancillary kits containing syringes, needles and alcohol wipes — supplies localities will need to carry out a large vaccination program.
The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -93 degrees Fahrenheit. Some counties in our area are asking states for help to secure freezers for storage.
Loudoun County is looking to create drive-up vaccination sites.
In general, the vaccine will first become available for certain groups until production can meet demand.
In Montgomery County, it will be health care workers, people over age 65 and those with complicated medical conditions.
D.C.’s “phase one priority population” will focus on health care workers and first responders, DC Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt said.
In one encouraging data point, Maryland smashed its own record for coronavirus testing on Friday. A total of 51,510 tests were administered on Friday.
Gov. Larry Hogan said tests are available to whoever needs one. He encouraged testing for college students heading home for the holidays, anyone who will visit an older relative or anyone who traveled out of state.
Compared to two weeks ago, a higher proportion of tests are coming back positive — which indicates the surge in cases is not solely due to more testing.
What the Data Shows
Seven-day rolling averages of new cases are up across the board, reaching 164 in D.C., 2,269 in Maryland and 1,610 in Virginia.
D.C. reported 153 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.
Two of D.C.’s metrics measuring the level of community spread are in the red zone. The daily case rate has risen to 23.2 coronavirus cases per 100,000 diagnosed each day. The rate of transmission is 1.22.
A total of 122 coronavirus patients are hospitalized in D.C.
Maryland reported 2,885 new cases on Saturday.
Maryland’s hospitalizations continue the upward trend that began Sept. 20, when hospitalizations were at 281.
On Saturday, 1,229 people in Maryland were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 278 of those patients were in intensive care units.
Although several key metrics have been headed in the wrong direction for weeks, representing thousands of sickened Marylanders, testing is increasing.
A total of 51,510 coronavirus tests were administered in Maryland on Friday, the highest-ever on a single day.
Virginia reported 1,783 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.
The state has also reported a rush of more people being admitted to hospitals. Since Wednesday, the number of hospitalized people has increased by at least 90 each day.
The average number is 55.
Local Coronavirus Headlines
- A program that provided extended unemployment benefits to out-of-work Virginians will end Saturday.
- 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.
- The Metro board voted Thursday to close a budget gap by changing how often trains run.
- The University of Maryland’s football game against Michigan State University scheduled for Saturday has been canceled as a result of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the Terrapins’ locker room.
- Officials have reversed a decision to cancel the annual Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery. The event, held in December, will happen after all.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday how the state will allocate about $70 million in federal aid as the state braces for months of rising coronavirus cases.
- Eight players on the University of Maryland football team tested positive for COVID-19. The game against Ohio State has been canceled.
- Maryland released a new contact tracing app, and has reduced indoor operations for bars and restaurants from 75% to 50% in response to rising coronavirus cases and increased hospitalizations.
- A review by the News4 I-Team has found concerns that Prince George’s County, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, has received what some are calling an underwhelming share of the more than $165 million in aid thus far.
- D.C. now requires travelers from all but four states get tested for COVID-19, once before travel and again if they plan to stay in the District for more than three days. Maryland, Virginia, Hawaii and Vermont are the exceptions.
- Most new COVID-19 cases in D.C. come from social events, according to data presented by the District's health department.
Reopening Tracker
- Maryland will tighten restrictions on businesses, bars and restaurants starting Friday at 5 p.m.
- All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will close because of rising COVID-19 cases, officials announced Thursday.
- Hours before some Fairfax County students were set to return to in-person learning on Tuesday, the school district said that they needed to delay the plan.
- Courts throughout Maryland partially shut down Monday due to the pandemic.
- Virginia announced new measures to fight COVID-19 as cases of the virus have spiked across the country.
- Prince George's County has tightened restrictions and requires masks to be worn outdoors.
- Montgomery County reduced capacity limits at many businesses, including for indoor dining, to 25%. The county previously stopped giving waivers for alcohol sales after 10 p.m.
- D.C.'s mayor extended the city's coronavirus state of emergency to last through the end of the year.
How to Stay Safe
There are ways to lower your risk of catching coronavirus. Here are guidelines from the CDC:
- 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.
