DC Health To Open Walk-Up Coronavirus Testing Facilities

WASHINGTON, DC — The D.C. Department of Health will be opening a coronavirus testing site for the city's public safety personnel, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced at a Monday morning press briefing. The site would test members of the Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the D.C. Department of Corrections.

As of Sunday, 14 members of D.C. Fire and EMS have tested positive for the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and 177 members are in quarantine. For MPD, the numbers are five confirmed cases and 161 in quarantine.

At the DoC, the numbers are broken into two groups, staff members and residents. As of Sunday, one staff member has tested positive and 71 are in quarantine. Also, four residents have tested positive and 83 are in quarantine.

In addition, Bowser confirmed Monday that a walk-up testing facility would open later this week at the United Medical Center for District residents whose doctors have ordered a test.

Bowser reiterated that people who suspect that they have COVID-19 should be evaluated by a physician before being tested.

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"We want you to stay home, " she said. "Residents should not be trying to decide for themselves whether they need to get tested. Seek medical attention by calling your provider. Call your healthcare provider and seek advice from them."

The mayor encouraged anyone who believes they have COVID-19 to seek evaluation, whatever their immigration status. Individuals without a physician can call 844-726-2797. Registration information for the testing facility would be released later this week.

"Your care and well-being is a top priority," she said. "And as always, if you call us for help, our first responders will not be asking you about your immigration status."

On Friday, Bowser contacted the White House to request additional federal funds to help with the city's COVID-19 response. President Donald Trump on Sunday approved Bowser's request to declare a major disaster in the District of Columbia. Trump's disaster declaration will free up some federal resources to fight the District's growing coronavirus outbreak.

"This declaration authorizes the federal government to provide support to us in the COVID-19 response, specifically on immediate threats to public health and safety, medical care and sheltering, the movement of supplies and logistics, and the operations of our Emergency Operations Center (EOC)," said Chris Rodriguez, director of the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), during the Monday press briefing. "The major disaster declaration for the District is a critical part of our continuing response and recovery efforts from COVID-19."

The disaster declaration will provide relief for emergency response services in the District and to residents and businesses that have been "severely impacted by COVID-19," according to a statement from Bowser. Funding will also be available to certain nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures.

In response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, District operations have been adjusted through April 27, according Rodriguez

"Most District services and programs have been impacted by this operational adjustment, including parking enforcement," Rodriguez said. "With an increased number of residents working from home, residential street sweeping and ticket enforcement associated with it has been suspended."

In addition, the District has suspended rush hour parking restrictions, which means that Department of Public Works (DPW) personnel will not ticket vehicles either 7-9 a.m. or 4-6 p.m. Tickets also will not be issued for expired district licenses or inspection stickers. In relation to parking enforcement, booting and towing of vehicles has also been suspended.

The D.C. Department of Transportation will set up pickup and drop-off zones in front of restaurants that are still open for carryout business, so that residents can quickly grab their food during the mayor's declared health emergency. DDOT has already placed signage at 20 locations in the District designating temporary restaurant pickup/drop-off zones.

"Those zones are identified by emergency no-parking signs listed and registered with DPW," Rodriguez said. "Parking enforcement is in effect for pickup/drop-off zones."

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