Press Release: Mayor Bowser Declares Public Health Emergency

News Release — Executive Office of the Mayor 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 11, 2020

CONTACT:

LaToya Foster (EOM)

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, 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 cancelled 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.

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