Coronavirus rates remain high in Washington region, as leaders take varied steps toward reopening

As the Washington region continues to record a high number of coronavirus cases and related deaths, officials in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., are taking varied approaches toward reopening.

The region, known as the DMV, now reports more than 50,000 confirmed cases of the virus and roughly 2,300 deaths – with the District of Columbia’s African-American and Latino populations among the hardest hit. 

"This virus has not left the District," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday. "We are where we thought we would be in having peak experiences during the month of May."

Bowser has projected that the District would experience more cases and deaths as numbers in New York and other major U.S. appear to be flatten. Weeks ago, she announced that the worst could come as late as July and has extended shelter-in-place orders at least through May. 

The District, which has a population of roughly 700,00, now has 5,461 confirmed cases and 277 deaths, according to figures released Wednesday.

African-Americans account for slightly less than half of the population of Washington but 80% of the virus deaths, according to a wire service report on Yahoo News.

Factors include underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes and a lack of insurance coverage.

Still, Bowser, a Democrat, reported Wednesday that the number of confirmed cases in the District for the prior week was 139, compared to 217 for the week ending April 29. 

Several states have already begun reopening despite failing to meet the federal guidelines of 14-day decline in the number of new virus cases.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, also a Democrat, has said he may partially ease restrictions from May 15, a move not yet embraced by Bowser or Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the wire service report also stated.

All three, as with leaders across the country and around the world, also face the issue of shelter-in-place fatigue, considering most plans have been in place now for about seven weeks.

Despite Hogan’s ongoing shelter-in-place order, the town of Ocean City, home to the state’s only municipal beach, roughly 10 miles long, will open its beaches and boardwalk this weekend.