How DC Residents Can Help Reduce Spread Of New Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC — As D.C. health officials continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, they've evolved their recommendations of how District residents can help reduce the number of cases citywide.

When out in public, residents should continue to wear masks properly — being sure to cover their mouth and nose — and to limit the number of unnecessary trips they make when they are not feeling well.

"We've transitioned away from having people think about, 'Do I have fever? Do I have cough? Do I have shortness of breath?' Those kinds of symptoms of COVID that we introduced very early in the pandemic," said Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of D.C. Health, during a Monday morning press briefing.

Health officials now know that some people with COVID-19 may not be exhibiting those symptoms. Instead, they may only be experiencing body aches and headaches, or for small children and seniors, a loss of appetite, as early signs of the disease.

"If you have those signs or symptoms, do not go to work," Nesbitt said. "Do not go to social events, even if they're small things at your sister's home or your parents' home. Those are the things that are going to help us disrupt these chains of infection."

Although D.C. government has lifted restrictions on some businesses and certain activities, Nesbitt recommended residents choose their activities wisely to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

D.C. Health confirmed 30 additional positive cases of COVID-19, the virus associated with the new coronavirus, on Monday. That's down from the 40 new cases reported on Sunday. This brings the District's total number of positive cases to 14,622.

D.C. Health reported no new deaths due to COVID-19 on Monday. The total number of deaths in the District due to COVID-19 stands at 616.

According to D.C. Health, 332,148 coronavirus tests have been administered in the District, 195,691 residents have been tested, and 11,592 have been cleared from isolation.

The District currently has 56 intensive care unit beds available out of 345 total intensive care unit beds. There are currently 180 in-use ventilators out of a total of 440 available ventilators. Also, there are 22 COVID-19-positive ICU patients.

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Globally, more than 29 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and over 924,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday morning. In the United States, more than 6.5 million people have been infected and over 194,000 people have died from COVID-19.

District residents should take the following actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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