D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced that the stay-at-home order that is currently in place in the city will continue through June 8.
The mayor’s announcement came at a news conference on Wednesday, after figures relating to coronavirus cases have not shown signs of slowing down.
“Rushing to reopen can have tragic results. We are eager to turn our economy on… but we know a second outbreak could be even worse,” Bowser said, noting that the stay-at-home order can be revised at any time based on the data “to reflect a phased reopening.”
The order also requires the use of masks or face coverings for everyone in D.C. who engage in essential business or minimum basic operations for nonessential businesses when other persons are present, as well as essential travel if social distance cannot be maintained.
Wearing a mask is not mandatory for those participating in permitted recreational activities or traveling as long as maintaining social distance is possible.
(THREAD) Today, I issued Mayor’s Order 2020-066 to extend the District’s public emergency and public health emergency and continue to require individuals to stay home through June 8, 2020. pic.twitter.com/gLXTDUHANR
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) May 13, 2020
The city’s stay-at-home order was originally set to end on Friday, May 15. According to Bowser, more time is needed to slow the spread of the outbreak.
A total of 358 people died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the District as of Thursday, May 14.
From Wednesday to Thursday, the District of Columbia recorded an increase of eight additional COVID-19 related deaths. Seven of those who lost their lives were male and one was female, while all of them were over 45 years of age.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, D.C. has reported nearly 7,000 positive coronavirus cases.