Will add some highlights in this thread. Tune in below.
https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1460645077303402499
Jumping into data trends w/ Dr. Nesbitt. There have been three waves. Current wave began in mid-June 2021. Impacted largely young adults, adolescents and children.
Wave 3 was not more severe as there were not increased rates of pediatric hospitalization.
W3 peaked in mid-September. Case rates have recently plateaued. There was a peak in breakthrough cases but it's also going down.
W3 peaked in mid-September. Case rates have recently plateaued. There was a peak in breakthrough cases but it's also going down.
Have not seen increase in # or proportion of fully vaxxed people hospitalized for COVID-19. Fully vaxxed people have much lower risk of being hospitalized. Death in this population is a rare event and usually is tied to complex health history.
Key point: If you're fully vaxxed, your risk of COVID is low. Let's keep getting vaccinated, DC!
541,218 DC residents have received at least 1 dose
98.5% of residents 65+ have received at least 1 dose.
61% of 12-15 have received at least 1
6.7% of 5-11 have received at least 1
541,218 DC residents have received at least 1 dose
98.5% of residents 65+ have received at least 1 dose.
61% of 12-15 have received at least 1
6.7% of 5-11 have received at least 1
Guidance going forward:
Starting 11/22 DC will LIFT the current indoor mask mandate. Layering strategies is best way to protect oneself.
Masks will be required:
If private businesses wish so
Transportation
Schools, child care facilities
Starting 11/22 DC will LIFT the current indoor mask mandate. Layering strategies is best way to protect oneself.
Masks will be required:
If private businesses wish so
Transportation
Schools, child care facilities
Nursing homes/shelters/dorms/corr. facilities
DC Gov buildings
Eligible for a booster? Get your booster!!!!
DC Gov buildings
Eligible for a booster? Get your booster!!!!
There will be walk-up vax sites as well as pediatric sites at coronavirus.dc.com
There are over 50 sites offering pediatric vaccines.
Important to visit or call ahead to make sure they can vax kids.
If you've ever had a vax shy kid who's afraid of needles but not afraid of screaming, you know this is important.
Important to visit or call ahead to make sure they can vax kids.
If you've ever had a vax shy kid who's afraid of needles but not afraid of screaming, you know this is important.
Vaccine requirements in DC:
Mandated for healthcare workers, school workers or workers in a school building and student athletes over 12
Mandated for healthcare workers, school workers or workers in a school building and student athletes over 12
W/in DC Gov, DC Fire and EMS has a rate of 85.2% vaccination rate. 84% of DCPS staff are at least partially vaccinated. Full-time teachers are at 93% (!!!)
Dr. Nesbitt re: current metrics. We are still in a global pandemic and DCH wants to make sure people have enough info to make decisions.
Want to help understand COVID as it moves to being an endemic disease.
Shifting metrics
Pathway to monitoring and surveillance in similar way to influenza.
Will continue to report daily case rate. (Also used for flu)
Shifting metrics
Pathway to monitoring and surveillance in similar way to influenza.
Will continue to report daily case rate. (Also used for flu)
There will no longer be a re-opening tab as we move to an endemic situation. Color shift to blue.
Will focus on a 7-day rolling avg and also weekly case rate as well, which will provide a better idea of what is happening.
Will focus on a 7-day rolling avg and also weekly case rate as well, which will provide a better idea of what is happening.
Both sets of data (daily and weekly) will provide a better idea of global risk.
Prioritizing contact tracing for high-risk cases and settings (schools, corr. facilities, nursing homes)
Focus on FULLY vaxxed population.
Prioritizing contact tracing for high-risk cases and settings (schools, corr. facilities, nursing homes)
Focus on FULLY vaxxed population.
Re: Testing
Not letting up on supporting testing in the District. testyourself.dc.gov
Not letting up on supporting testing in the District. testyourself.dc.gov
Thanksgiving guidance forthcoming. DC gov will be closed on Thu AND Fri.
63.1% fully vaccinated in DC is lower than neighboring communities-- why lift mask mandate now? Montg. Co MD is reinstating mask mandate.
Answer: Need to get vaccinated and focus on vax. Businesses have also ability to set their mask-wearing rules.
Answer: Need to get vaccinated and focus on vax. Businesses have also ability to set their mask-wearing rules.
Mask rules for gyms, studios, houses of worship?
These establishments would not be required unless the proprietor/leader requires it.
These establishments would not be required unless the proprietor/leader requires it.
Will there be a vax passport?
District supports vax card, but there are challenges in sharing data. Do not have a robust dataset to create a vax card bc people may have been vaxxed elsewhere. Contact provider for proof of vax status. Many providers have digital certificates.
District supports vax card, but there are challenges in sharing data. Do not have a robust dataset to create a vax card bc people may have been vaxxed elsewhere. Contact provider for proof of vax status. Many providers have digital certificates.
From an equity perspective, hard to recommend producing a record if it's hard for DCH to produce a record for everyone.
Metric that would push DC gov to reinstate mask mandate?
Have been in a plateau for a bout a week and cases have gone up as they have in other parts of country. DCH will be following closely. Might come back if activity warrants it but focus now on vaccinations.
Have been in a plateau for a bout a week and cases have gone up as they have in other parts of country. DCH will be following closely. Might come back if activity warrants it but focus now on vaccinations.
Re: DC Fire EMS unvaxxed staff w/exemptions requests
251 have exemption-- might not get it. All roads lead to vaccination-- or a successfully approved exemption. Need to make sure process is protected from overturn and appeal.
251 have exemption-- might not get it. All roads lead to vaccination-- or a successfully approved exemption. Need to make sure process is protected from overturn and appeal.
If no vax and no exemption process, they will lose license. So far, only 7 people have been placed on suspension pending loss of license.
Re: Endemic status of COVID
It will exist among us. We are learning to live with COVID-- and the world is not necessarily set up for the unvaccinated anymore. Endemic: Moved away from a goal of zero cases in the community.
This may behave like other seasonal viruses already do
It will exist among us. We are learning to live with COVID-- and the world is not necessarily set up for the unvaccinated anymore. Endemic: Moved away from a goal of zero cases in the community.
This may behave like other seasonal viruses already do
How often do we need a vaccine/booster?
Still ongoing-- trials continue to help us understand whether/how immunity wanes and how long protection lasts. The answer is, it is feasible that it's an annual vaccine. Don't know yet.
Still ongoing-- trials continue to help us understand whether/how immunity wanes and how long protection lasts. The answer is, it is feasible that it's an annual vaccine. Don't know yet.
Any other action against DC gov employees other than EMS who have had licenses suspended?
Letters of non-compliance have gone out. Folks still submitting compliance info and info is moving forward/individuals are moving off non-comp list.
Letters of non-compliance have gone out. Folks still submitting compliance info and info is moving forward/individuals are moving off non-comp list.
How many non-compliance letters have gone out to healthcare workers?
Dr. Nesbitt estimates in the 1000s.
7 workers who have been suspended -- can they get vaccinated? Yes but only if they do so before they are officially terminated.
Dr. Nesbitt estimates in the 1000s.
7 workers who have been suspended -- can they get vaccinated? Yes but only if they do so before they are officially terminated.
Why getting rid of some daily data that may have been previously useful?
Test turnaround time has been ~2 days for months and is no longer useful. OTC tests will increase as well-- "why have people fixate on something that is a non-issue?"
Test turnaround time has been ~2 days for months and is no longer useful. OTC tests will increase as well-- "why have people fixate on something that is a non-issue?"
Pre-COVID hospital capacity oscillates around 80-85%, so there is no need to reiterate this point. Already focusing on this metric pre-COVID and is not really useful going forward.
Focus is now on individual risk and community risk and it's more useful to focus on metrics that support that. Shifting to endemic reporting.
Small proportion of population is under 4-5 yo. Important to use layer of mitigation strategies to protect young and immunocompromised people.
Hope to have protection for everyone 6mo+ soon,but most important to focus on layers of mitigation to protect individuals
Hope to have protection for everyone 6mo+ soon,but most important to focus on layers of mitigation to protect individuals
Shifting gears: Homicide rate is concerning
We don't just have 45 days left in the year and are obviously v concerned. Literally throwing every resource we have. Increased presence w/ Fall Crime Initiative is working
We don't just have 45 days left in the year and are obviously v concerned. Literally throwing every resource we have. Increased presence w/ Fall Crime Initiative is working
How can you tell is effective?
Are there fewer guns/shots? Arrests? That's what gov focuses on
Re: Building blocks.
There is acute uptick-- those are not long-term Building Blocks initiatives-- these take time. Police are there for acute issues (guns, violent acts)
Are there fewer guns/shots? Arrests? That's what gov focuses on
Re: Building blocks.
There is acute uptick-- those are not long-term Building Blocks initiatives-- these take time. Police are there for acute issues (guns, violent acts)
Back to DCH-- recent hire of Dr. Thomas Farley. See: inquirer.com/news/thomas-fa…
Dr. Nesbitt was aware of what happened, but excited to work with him moving forward
Dr. Nesbitt was aware of what happened, but excited to work with him moving forward
Re: How many people left DC Jail overall
About 100 +/- 12 left. Majority of prisoners are still in DC. Taking concerns at the jail v seriously. Pandemic has made operational concerns even harder. Some of the issues have to do with lockdown strain, not as much with older facility
About 100 +/- 12 left. Majority of prisoners are still in DC. Taking concerns at the jail v seriously. Pandemic has made operational concerns even harder. Some of the issues have to do with lockdown strain, not as much with older facility
What might bring mask mandate back? Also, will vax mandate expand w/in DC gov?
Test out policy is not optimal, might move to expanding vax requirement for ALL of DC gov. Re: mask mandate, hopefully monitoring will yield answers.
Test out policy is not optimal, might move to expanding vax requirement for ALL of DC gov. Re: mask mandate, hopefully monitoring will yield answers.
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