District Links

Happy Thursday. With Tuesday's primary drawing ever closer, it remains unclear how the pandemic will affect turnout. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot was Tuesday, but 20 voting centers are open daily throughout the city…

Happy Wednesday. Mayor Muriel Bowser is lifting DC's stay-at-home order as of Friday in favor of what she called "stay-at-home lite" — Phase One of reopening, which includes a limited increase in retail and restaurant operations.

Happy Tuesday. For the first time in nearly two months, the District reported no new deaths due to COVID-19 in today's data release although there were 109 new confirmed cases.

TGIF. While DC continues to plan for Phase 1 of reopening, White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said today the Washington region is among several areas of the country that continue to see a troublingly high rate…

Happy Thursday. Just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced tentative plans to begin reopening the District's economy at the end of next week — as long as DC officials continue to see reduced community…

Happy Wednesday. DC's budget process kicked off yesterday with DC Council members signaling where they're looking to tinker with the mayor's proposal for government spending at a time of falling revenues and economic crisis due to…

Happy Tuesday. The DC Council approved its latest coronavirus response legislation today, with a majority of its members insisting on a provision to extend payment-plan protections to residential tenants renting from small landlords.

Happy Monday. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a budget proposal this morning that relies heavily on the District's reserves to offset the massive revenue losses caused by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. By doing so, she…

TGIF. The District is inviting retailers selling art, office and music supplies as well as books and toys to apply for waivers to allow curbside or doorway pickup. It's part of a pilot program for independently owned and operated…

Happy Thursday. As DC extends its stay-at-home order through June 8, the city is not seeing a steady increase in COVID-19 testing volume, which is still far off from the 3,700 tests a day Health Department director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt…

Happy Wednesday. Mayor Muriel Bowser has extended the District's stay-at-home order once again, this time through June 8.

Happy Tuesday. It’s hard to find good news in the District’s report of an additional 96 confirmed COVID-19 cases yesterday, but there is a hopeful sign: four days of lower increases in the number of infections.

Happy Monday. As part of DC's preparations for a projected surge in COVID-19 infections later this month, Mayor Muriel Bowser today unveiled the 437-bed "alternative care site" in Hall A of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

TGIF. DC yesterday matched its highest daily number of deaths linked to COVID-19, equaling the 19 deaths reported on April 30. The spread of the coronavirus is not flatlining yet, as the city this morning reported 245 new confirmed cases,…

Happy Wednesday. Earlier this week, DC officials highlighted 16th Street Heights and Columbia Heights as two neighborhoods seeing particularly high levels of COVID-19 infections. Today, the District for the first time released data by…

Happy Tuesday. Much of today's debate on the DC Council's latest coronavirus response legislation focused on a provision that didn't end up making the cut: a requirement for insurers to pay out on business interruption policies held by…

Happy Monday. Computer problems have led to a late, somewhat abbreviated version of today's District Links newsletter.

TGIF and happy May Day. DC reported its highest daily increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with 335 positive test results. The daily rise in new cases has increased in each of the past five days.

Happy Thursday. The Bowser administration last night announced a deal to help build a new hospital for Howard University's medical school and said an agreement was finalized with George Washington University Hospital to replace United…

Happy Wednesday. The Bowser administration has found an extra $8.5 million or so for the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Program, enabling officials to provide at least some money to all of the eligible applicants.