COVID-19 STATUS, VACCINE & TESTING INFORMATION FOR WASHINGTON DC
Beginning March 1, masks are no longer required at: Restaurants and bars; Sports and entertainment venues, Gyms, recreation centers, and indoor athletic facilities; Houses of worship; Businesses; Grocery stores and pharmacies; Retail establishments; and, DC Government offices/areas with no public interaction. They will still be required at: Any private business that wants to require use of masks by its employees or customers; Schools, childcare facilities, and libraries; Congregate facilities: nursing homes/assisted living facilities, shelters, dorms, and correctional facilities; Healthcare/medical facilities; Public transit, taxis, and rideshare vehicles; and, DC Government facilities with direct interaction between employees and the public (e.g., DMV service centers, DHS service centers). And beginning Feb. 15th indoor venues are longer required to verify that patrons are vaccinated although businesses may choose to keep vaccination requirements in place.
Official DC vaccination information is available at: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/get-vaccinated Also, residents who are unable to leave home to get vaccinated should call 1-855-363-0333 to make an appointment for an at-home vaccination. DC's most up-to-date official Covid-19 test result information can be found on the Covid-19 website. Neighborhood data visualizations can be found at: https://dccovid.com/
Pediatric Vaccines - The Safeway Pharmacy located at 5545 Conn. Ave. has received pediatric doses. Parents who are unable to bring their child will have the option to print and sign a form allowing a trusted family member to accompany their child to the pop-up vaccine clinics; those forms will be made available on coronavirus.dc.gov. See full list of pop-up sites.
Beginning Monday, Dec. 6, families can make an appointment for an at-home vaccination for children 5-11 years old. All people at the home 5 and older will be able to get vaccinated during that appointment including boosters. Call 1-855-363-0333 to make an at-home vaccination appointment.
Testing - With the new Covid-19 variant Delta becoming more pervasive and indoor mask mandates being reinstituted more people are likely to want to be tested. DC is fortunate to have a city-wide program Test Yourself DC which is a free home PCR testing kit that allows you to take a test without having to wait in line at a testing site. The Kit is designed for individuals 18 years of age and older or by children ages 3 and older with assistance from a parent or legal guardian. Test Yourself DC kits are available for pick-up at 16 libraries throughout DC of which the Chevy Chase Library is one of them. These free kits may be picked up 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday. They can be placed in the drop box by 8pm, 7 days a week. Your results will be delivered via email or via text message (if you opted-in to receive a text message). Results are typically returned within 72 hours although many people get them sooner. All testing information can be found here.
The Ward 3 COVID Center opened on Friday February 4th, at the Chevy Chase Pavilion in the space formerly occupied by H&M (5335 Wisconsin Ave NW) in Friendship Heights. This site will serve as a one-stop shop for residents to access vaccinations, boosters, take-home rapid antigen tests, PCR tests, and KN95 masks (two per day). Bring proof of identification). Hours of operation are : Monday: 10am-8pm, Tuesday: CLOSED, Wednesday: 10am-8pm, Thursday: 11am-9pm, Friday: 9am-7pm, Saturday: 10am-8pm, Sunday: 9am-7pm.
For the remainder of the 2021-22 school year, DC is distributing rapid antigen tests to all DCPS and public charter schools to be used before returning from any break that is at least a full school week (e.g., February Break and Spring Break). All adults who are regularly in schools and child care centers facilities must be vaccinated against COVID-19. This applies to: DC Public Schools, DC Public Charter schools, Private schools, Parochial schools, Child care facilities regulated by OSSE. There is NO TEST OUT OPTION. More information can be found here (pages 4-7).
Record Keeping - DC Health announced that Digital Vaccine Record (DVR), a web-based portal that gives District residents secure, easy, and free access to their official COVID-19 vaccination records. DVR is an official electronic vaccination record drawn from the DC's immunization information system (DOCIIS). DVR is accessible on smart phones, tablets and laptops and includes a QR code that (when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader) will display the same information as your paper CDC vaccine card: your name, date of birth, vaccination dates and vaccine type.
DC GOVERNMENT
The latest Covid-19 information for DC is available at: https://coronavirus.dc.gov . A full listing of agencies and their status can be found at: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/stay-home#agencies
OTHER COVID-19 RESOURCES
Allergy, Cold, Flu, or Coronavirus? - A chart describing general differences between these four conditions.
Bilingual Health Call Center - A bilingual call center, 1-844-796-2797, is available in DC at Mary’s Center, a community clinic, for residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and without a primary care doctor.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Has many resources available for the general population and different population groups and healthcare professionals. It includes a full symptoms page.
Covid-19 Newsletter: Dr. Lucy McBride - Subscribe to her newsletter here.
Covid-19 Vaccination Questions and Answers - NY Times Resource, updated October 18, 2021
DC Coronavirus Resources - DC has put together resources by specific categories.
File of Life - File of Life has prepared a free version of their card for people to use during the current health crisis. Montgomery County has a slightly different version.
How to Coronavirus Proof Your Home - A tip sheet so you don’t bring the virus back home with you.
Johns Hopkins University - Many resources available including basics, protection techniques, and an interactive worldwide map.
Project 95 - National Clearinghouse for personal protective equipment and COVID-19 tests.
Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2022 - NY Times Wirecutter.
World Health Organization (WHO) - Many resources available including extensive Q&A section, guidance, mythbusters, and a worldwide dashboard.
Email: chevychasenews@gmail.com
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