Health & Fitness

DC Coronavirus: 1,778 Confirmed Cases, 47 Deaths

Nine deaths have been reported in the past day from the new coronavirus, according to D.C. health officials.

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WASHINGTON, DC — As of Saturday, 47 residents of the District of Columbia have died from the new coronavirus, according to officials. That is nine more than the previous day.

Officials say 118 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in the District in the past 24 hours.

Overall 1,778 have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus; and 447 have recovered from the illness, according to D.C. health officials.

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Here is information about the deaths reported Saturday, provided by District authorities:

  • 57-year-old woman
  • 59-year-old woman
  • 67-year-old woman
  • 72-year-old woman
  • 73-year-old woman
  • 76-year-old man
  • 77-year-old man
  • 80-year-old man
  • 95-year-old man

Find out what's happening in Washington DCfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Among the 47 people who have lost their lives to the disease in the District is George Valentine, who worked 20 years in the Office of the Attorney General and was deputy director of the Mayor's Office of Legal Council for the District of Columbia. The celebrated lawyer, described by Mayor Muriel Bowser as someone who "epitomized what it is to be a dedicated public servant," was 66. He died March 27.

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Officials said 10,039 people in the District have been tested for COVID-19 as of Saturday.

To stop the spread of the virus, the District has been under a stay-at-home order since April 1.

"Many people want to know how they can help right now," Bowser said in a statement. "For most people, this is how: by staying home."

People who violate Bowser's stay-at-home order may be guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, may be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned for up to 90 days, or both.

Reasons that merit leaving home are working at an essential job and shopping for groceries, among other vital errands.

To protect people from the contagious disease when they are in public, the District added more safety protocols. By April 20, all District food retailers serving more than 50 people a day must install plexiglass or plastic dividers to separate customers from employees at cash registers.

On Friday vendors at the Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf were allowed to reopen provided they wear protective gear and ensure people are not congregating.

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For more information, visit the D.C. coronavirus page.

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