Thread by @theHillisHome

Here it is! Highlights as we can swing them

https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1472969365133869059

Omicron first case on 12/1, but most cases are Delta (Omicron rn only ~3%, but <1% in DC area)

Compared to 1 mo. ago, we are fourfold higher. 65% fully vax. Case rates for unvax are 7x higher.

Btw, this appears to be the agenda for this briefing:

Declaring state of emergency today so can have/do all necessary things administratively that need to be done.

Mask order is reinstated
DC Gov. vax mandate will include boosters
Vax and testing centers launch
What can be done to keep everyone safe

Current rate 15k test/day
As spread increases, positivity rate will increase.

Do not have a full picture of positivity rate as many tests are over-the-counter

Test Yourself program will be expanded to 9 add'l sites in community.

Ordered over 1M rapid antigen tests and have 42k on hand. They are in transit and should arrive within 3-4 wks. Kits are made by Abbot and Ihealth

These tests provide quick answers, but there are diff times to take each kind of test. There will be 1k kits at libraries every day. You may have 2 tests/day

Make sure you have DC proof of residence-- since MD and VA have similar kits, hopefully there will be enough for everyone. Need to make sure to report test:

coronavirus.dc.gov/overthecounter

Here are locations by ward and once again, Capitol Hill area has to hike up all the way to Shaw for a test. These will be available starting 12/22

Mask mandate starts on 12/21/21 at 6 a.m. and will be in place through 1/31/22

Work for DC Gov? You're MANDATED to have a vaccine, no testing opt-out.

Will be opening fixed locations for testing and vax-- esp retail locations-- across all 8 wards. retailspace.dc.gov

School is the safest and best place for children-- will do everything as a gov. to stay connected. But building operation needs to be safe-- what does that look like?

.@DCPSChancellor says "school is safest space" for children. Schools to receive Test Yourself kits for every student, teacher and staff member. Winter break-- schools will be closed 1/3 and 1/4 for testing of students and staff. Can go to ANY DCPS school to pick up.

Approaching 3-layered review approach to school closures:

Assessments school by school
Continuity of instruction, esp. in the face of critical mass of positives

Operations: Anytime there is an impact that impairs services delivery

Will be in communication accordingly

District and @MayorBowser driving point of just how important it is to get vaccinated/boosted.

Get tested
Stay home if you feel sick
If positive, stay home and isolate
If doing an OTC test, log in so District can keep track of stats
Wear your mask even indoors
Consider activities wisely and stay home

HELP! Call for volunteers to assemble kits.
servedc.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?n…

Seems that people test most after work so you should opt as much as you can for Test Yourself option

Mayor "does not regret evolving with the virus"-- will change interventions, will change them again.

Any number/metric that guides to dropping mask mandate?

Rn there is time limit-- through 1/31
There are many metrics important to @_DCHealth but esp hospital capacity and vax

Schools mirrors community, but monitoring spread in schools-- it's a more detailed analysis bc suggests protocols breaking down. No specifics on any school.

Working on enhancement strategies for congregate settings (jail, nursing homes, etc.)

Q: Vaccine requirements for indoor venues?
A: Continue to research but nothing today

Q: Turnaround time?
A: ~1.5 days. No longer reporting this #, but there is higher test capacity bc investment in processing capacity

Q: Data reporting 7 d/wk?
A: Will look @ diff ways of report

Re: Students in or out of schools: CDC has been very clear that schools should continue to operate, but if there is a critical mass of students that needs to be out, impact on operations becomes clear.

Q: Protocol on workplaces closing (esp. restaurants)
A: Moving into surge protocol bc of numbers. Focus mostly on congregate settings over places with smaller numbers. Guidelines on coronavirus.dc.gov as to whether to close

Concerned about all operations but esp. frontline workers. e.g. @dcfireems are fully vaxxed and gov will seek to help with mandated booster compliance

Ransomware attack was global, there was no local hack of FEMS. Impact is there but not significant.

DCPS is in session through Wednesday 12/22. Three schools are completely virtual.

Testing kit pick-up will be available 1/3 and 1/4 and schools will communicate logistics. Update-- 4 schools are closed.

Turner ES
Barr
McKinley Tech
Whittier
(Some confusion on whether 4th school was Whittier or Watkins-- Whittier has been closed since last week)

MMB: We're tired, but we have to respond and continue to focus on critical parts of operations such as schools, as well as supporting vulnerable populations.

Q: re-- staff member at Watkins who exposed students to disturbing activities. Chancellor-- "moved quickly and deliberately" and staff is on leave, are "reviewing hiring protocols as related to screening."

Q: re-- attacks from possibly mentally ill people on population
A: working hard on keeping people connected to services. Both incidents are random, people have been apprehended. "We're gonna continue to have our personnel, MPD, patrolling." If you see someone who needs help, call

Re: Schools-- are students required a neg. test to return to school?

Students not required to produce a neg result to return to school, but encouraged to share status.

If religious exemption, still have to test out but majority of exemptions have not been for that reason.

How many ex. requests?
Across all DC gov 866 requests, 75 med ex
149 have been denied, one approved
75 req 8 app 13 denied

(may have missed some numbers here)

Concern for seniors & focus on staying in touch with people

17% not 10% of students are getting tested

There will be a specific chart on when to use which test and will soon be up on web.

Changing def of "fully vaccinated" to mean shot + booster- yes, bc of omicron, but not quite there yet.
Pfizer and Moderna work best in lab studies so far. Definition will follow when more data

Emphasis on schools open. No one-size-fits-all approach-- varies from school to school. Mask guidance upgraded up to mask mandate.
Dialing up testing: You don't have to stand in line-- get a Test Yourself kit and get results just as fast.
Beginning 12/22, rapid tests available

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