DC Mayor Announces Reopen Advisory Group Leadership, Timeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced the leaders of the group tasked with overseeing the reopening of the District after it was shutdown due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

Bowser introduced Former Homeland Security Secretary Michale Chertoff and Former U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice as the chairs of the Reopen D.C. Advisory Group at a media briefing Monday morning. The group will also be led by six co-chairs, which include a couple of former D.C. mayors.

On Wednesday, April 29, the group will hold a virtual town hall where they will discuss updates and provide an opportunity for community feedback, Bowser said. The mayor expects an initial report with high-level guidance on reopening from the group by May 11.

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Last Thursday, Bowser discussed further details about the Reopen D.C. Advisory Group, which will have 12 committees tasked with guiding when and how the District will reopen.

Focus areas will include:

• Equity, disparity reduction and vulnerable populations
• Public health innovation and workforce
• Transportation, infrastructure
• Open spaces and recreation
• Education and child care
• Government operations, public safety and criminal justice
• Faith, arts, culture, hotels and entertainment
• Restaurants and food retailers
• Retail and small business
• Human services, social services and health
• Real estate and construction.

According to the mayor, any reopening would require the District to increase its contact tracing ability in order to control and contain the virus. As of last week, the District has 65 people performing contact tracing and Bowser confirmed the Department of Health will be hiring new personnel to raise that number above 200.

On March 25, Bowser ordered all businesses in the District to close, except for those providing essential services. Less than a week later, she followed that up with a stay-at-home order directing all District residents to remain in their homes and only go out for essential reasons, such as obtaining food and medicine or visiting the doctor. She later extended the public health emergency in D.C. to May 15.

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