DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has extended the city’s ongoing state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic until the end of this year.
“The spread of COVID-19 remains an imminent threat to the health, safety and welfare of District residents that requires the continued need for declarations of a public emergency and public health emergency,” says the mayor’s order.
“Without continued extraordinary measures authorized under a state of emergency, as well as community compliance with preventative measures, the progress the District has made in protecting the health, safety and welfare would be threatened and likely reversed.”
The new order also paves the way for public indoor pools to reopen, which is an amendment to the District’s Phase 2 reopening.
I have extended the District's Public Health Emergency until December 31, 2020.
Full order below. pic.twitter.com/auEdRWoDgt
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) October 7, 2020
The state of emergency, which has been in place in the District since March 11, was scheduled to end on October 9.
Over 15,000 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, and the death toll from the infectious disease caused by it surpassed 600. The city moved to Phase Two of its reopening on June 22.
DC Public Schools (DCPS) recently announced that they would welcome back a limited number of DCPS students to classrooms for in-person education starting in November.
The District also permitted in late September six entertainment venues to restart hosting indoor performances, as part of a monthlong pilot program.
Six DC Venues Allowed to Restart Indoor Shows During Pandemic