FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Unlike other areas of the country that are itching to lift coronavirus restrictions, wealthy suburbs of Virginia and Maryland outside the nation's capital are insisting on staying shut down.
The decision follows a longstanding pattern in which the affluent areas bordering Washington, D.C., have acted more in concert with each other and the nation’s capital than with their own states.
Like leaders in those communities, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday extended the city’s stay-at-home order, citing a continuing increase in COVID-19 cases.
The governors of Virginia and Maryland, meanwhile, are allowing other parts of their states to partially reopen.
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COVID-19 Precautions
Most patients with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. However, in a small proportion of patients, COVID-19 can lead to more severe illness, including death, particularly among those who are older or those who have chronic medical conditions.
COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms appear within 14 days of being exposed to an infectious person.
Virginia health officials urged the following precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid contact with sick people.Avoid non-essential travel.