Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that more people in DC are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and some safety rules are restricted.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday more people in DC are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and some restrictions will be relaxed soon.
Some of the changes regarding vaccinations:
- People in Phase 1b Level 3 and Phase 1c Level 1, including postal workers, frontline transport workers and court workers, as well as people aged 16 to 64 with high-risk conditions, are eligible this week.
- From 29 March, those in Phase 1c, Level 2, which includes public transport workers, including drivers, logistics workers and media workers, will be eligible.
- From 12 April, people in phase 1c, level 3, which includes essential workers at colleges and universities, construction and information technology workers, will be eligible.
- Bowser said by May 1 that everyone 16 years and older and who had not been in a previous phase would be eligible.
“Since we still have a limited amount of vaccines,” said Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of health care, said. Eligible people may start making appointments during the week they are eligible, ‘but that depends on our vaccination.’
She said: “we understand” that by the end of May there will be enough vaccine in the US for every adult to receive their dose.
You can see all the levels, and who’s in them, on the DC vaccine.
Some restrictions need to be relaxed
DC on Monday began considering forgiveness of professional sports teams for playing in front of fans.
The Nationals will have fans for the opening day on April 1 after Bowser’s office confirmed the approval of their application on Monday night. According to the acceptance letter, Nationals Park may have a maximum of 5,000 fans, which is 10% of capacity.
DC United was the first DC professional sports team to approve its application for fans to return to Audi Field on Monday afternoon. Over 2,000 fans will be able to attend home matches once the Major League Soccer season. United’s home opener against New York City FC is scheduled for April 17.
Both teams were asked to focus on four key components as part of their reopening plans: to lead fans to their seats and out of the stadium; reducing the gathering around toilets and other gathering places; prioritize contactless food service and seating service; and maintaining COVID-19 protocols drawn up by the CDC and DC Heath, “especially mask wear and social distance.”
Other non-restrictive changes include:
- Outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people are now allowed, and high and middle school sports with low to moderate contact can resume next week.
- Indoor fitness classes can be resumed with up to 10 people and outdoor up to 50. Gymnasiums have up to 25% capacity or up to 250 people, depending on which one is the lowest.
- Alcohol can now be sold at restaurants until midnight, and movies can open up to 25 people or 25%, depending on which one is the lowest.
- From 22 March, restaurants can eat at 25% of capacity or up to 250 people for indoors.
- Institutions may apply for waivers for live entertainment; some live entertainment will begin next week, Bowser said.
Nesbitt said in schools that co-ordination is strongly encouraged to keep the number of students and staff who spend the day together to a minimum. Other outdoor activities are no longer prohibited, but it is recommended that they be moderated to provide at least 10 feet of distance between participants.
You can see all the new rules on DC’s website.
“We did not crush this virus,” Bowser said. “People are still dying.”
However, she added: ‘There are more and more things we can do today, and there will be even more things we can do … as we come later in the calendar, assuming our numbers continue to decline. There is hope; there is reason to be optimistic. ”
Vaccination numbers
Bowser said more than 24,000 doses would be delivered to DC this week.
On Friday, DC sent 14,833 invitations for 13,360 appointments, and 10,879 people booked appointments. Another 3,115 invitations went out Monday to fill the available slots.
Sunday 23:59 114,815 people pre-registered and are waiting for appointments.
Bowser added that the new vaccination invitations will break out on Thursdays at 10:00 and Sunday at 10:00. More invitations will go out on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. if there are any left.
You can register at vaccinate.dc.gov or call 855-363-0333.
Bowser said the public health emergency was extended to May 20.
More Coronavirus News
Looking for more information? DC, Maryland and Virginia release more data every day. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | DC
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