June 15, 2020

Coronavirus Update: Phase II, Licensing, & Summer Meals

Dear Neighbors,

At the start of the month, it was [1]reported that the District could enter
Phase II of the reopening plan as early as this Friday, June 19th. And
today Mayor Bowser confirmed that later this week she will provide an
update on the District's readiness to advance into Phase II. Of course, any
transition will be determined in consultation with DC Health as to whether
the District's [2]Phase II metrics have been met. These metrics include the
sustained decrease in community spread, a low positivity rate in testing,
adequate healthcare system capacity, and contact tracing capacity. The new
online dashboard, dubbed the '[3]ReOpening Tracker,' provides a more
in-depth look at that data. Today we can celebrate the good news that the
District has not experienced any additional deaths in the past two days,
but it is important to remember that the District has already lost 515
lives to this virus and there are currently 9,799 known positive cases in
our community. To help advise those attending the protests on how to do so
as safely as possible, DC Health has issued [4]Mass Gathering Guidance as
well as expanded the free, walk-up testing sites at local firehouses (more
information below).

And on the topic of the protests and calls for police reform and budgetary
change, I would like to encourage residents to [5]submit public testimony
on the Metropolitan Police Department's budget to the Committee on the
Judiciary and Public Safety. If you missed today's public hearing on the
matter, I will link that footage: [6]here. The Committee's deadline to
submit public testimony is 5:30 pm tomorrow, June 16th—so now is the time
to share your thoughts, expertise, and perspective on the Judiciary budget
ahead of the committee mark up next week.

Regards,

Mary

Please see [7]coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates &
resources on COVID-19

If you know someone who would like to receive these updates directly, he or
she may sign up through [8]marycheh.com or by
emailing [9][email protected]

The District's Free Summer Meal Sites are Open!

Free Student Meals - The District's free summer meals program for children
begins today! These free and nutritious meals are distributed at various
schools and recreation centers across the District in an effort to combat
childhood hunger during the summer months when students do not have access
to free/reduced school meals. While this is separate effort from the
community grocery distribution sites, some locations will provide both free
groceries for families and healthy meals for District children ages 18 and
under.

Ward 3's Free Summer Meals site is open Monday through Friday from 10 am -
2 pm at Wilson High School (3950 Chesapeake Street NW)

For a comprehensive list of all free summer meal sites, including hours of
operation, please see: [10]Summer Meal Sites of 2020.

Driver Licenses & REAL ID during COVID-19

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has provided the following updates
on the status of expired licenses and REAL ID requirements during the
coronavirus emergency:

Expired Licenses - It is still legal to drive in the District, drive
anywhere in the country, and board a plane for domestic travel with an
expired license. The Mayor has extended all expiring licenses issued in the
District throughout the entire health emergency and for 45 days after the
emergency. If a resident is stopped for driving with an expired license,
he/she should cite the Mayor's Order and emergency legislation passed by
the Council that provides residents with the lawful license extension. The
DMV has specifically coordinated with Maryland and Virginia as it relates
to these extensions, and, as coronavirus is a national issue, most states
have completed or issued a very similar extension for their residents.

REAL ID Extension & Domestic Flights - The state license expiration
extensions are so expansive that the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) has issued the following guidance for expired licenses and ID Cards:
TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses or state-issued ID a year after
expiration. If your driver's license or state-issued ID expired on or after
March 1, 2020, and you are unable to renew at your state driver’s license
agency, you may still use it as acceptable identification at a TSA
checkpoint.
* The Department of Homeland Security recently extended the deadline to
obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to October 1st, 2021

Additional Firehouses Now Open For Free, Walk-Up Testing

New Firehouse Testing Resources - Since the launch of the free walk-up
firehouse COVID-19 testing sites, testing in the District has increased
from 1,534 tests per week to over 5,000. Of course, many residents have
also noticed that this expansion in testing access has also resulted in
long wait times at the firehouses. To respond to this high demand, the
District has expanded the number of firehouse testing sites and will now
open four firehouses per day, Monday through Saturday. These are free
walk-up testing sites and do not require an appointment.
* Beginning Tuesday, June 16th, firehouse testing criteria will be
expanded to include free testing for children ages 6 and up
* [11]Children's National will continue to provide drive-through and
walk-up testing for pediatric patients with a physician's referral

Firehouse Testing: Commonly Asked Questions

What is the process for COVID-19 testing?
* You will receive a nasal swab. During this test you may feel some
discomfort, including nose irritation or minor bleeding. All are normal.

When will my results be ready?
* After testing, an individual will learn results within 3-5 days. After
the test, the individual will receive a letter with the information on how
to receive your results.

Who will be processing this information?
* The DC Public Health Laboratory is processing the tests taken at this
site. DC Health will have access to your test results. For patient privacy,
results are NOT be available via phone.

Public Antibody Testing - DC Health is providing free COVID-19 antibody
testing for residents at the Navy Yard testing site. At this time, antibody
testing requires an appointment. To schedule an appointment, please call
1-855-363-0333.

A Senior-Driven Effort to Support Front Line Medical Workers

A Gift from Seniors - Ward 3 resident Diana Richards has launched a new
donation effort entitled "Seniors Matter" to coordinate meal donations for
front line medical staff at Sibley Memorial Hospital and Georgetown
University Hospital. Financial donations by participating seniors go
towards the purchase of meals from local restaurants while sending a strong
message of support from the Ward 3 senior community. Participating
restaurants include Al Dente Ristorante, Chef Geoff’s, Shemali’s Team
Catering, and Wagshal’s.

Seniors wishing to participate in this community-driven effort, please make
a meaningful (tax exempt) donation to either or both participating
hospitals:

Georgetown University Hospital
* Donation Link:
[12][link removed]

Sibley Hospital Memorial Foundation
* Donation Link: [13][link removed]

Volunteer with Hand in Hand DC

Protest Pack - Hand in Hand DC describes itself as "three black women
trying to do their part." This has materialized into coordinating a
donation and volunteer effort to create emergency/safety 'Protest Packs.'
These packs include masks, alcohol pads, Band-Aids, emergency contact
cards, information on who to call in the event of an arrest, food and drink
goods, etc. for protesters.

Volunteer - If you would like to volunteer in assembling a Protest Pack,
contact Hand in Hand DC on Instagram (@handinhandDC) or go
to [14][link removed] to sign up for a volunteer shift.

Donate Items - Protest Pack item donations may be dropped off this Tuesday,
June 16th and Thursday, June 18th from 11 am to 3 pm at New Bethel Baptist
Church (1739 9th St NW). Parking is available in the back, please use the
gate marked 'volunteers and donations.' Donation items include:
* Food/Drink: Water bottles, Gatorade, fruit snacks, granola bars, &
squeezable apple sauce
* Hygiene Goods: Masks, hand sanitizer, wash clothes/small towels,
bandages, alcohol pads/wipes, saline rinse, tissue packs, & first aid kits
* To help with pack assembly: Gallon sized ziplock bags & scissors

DC Public School Calendar for 2020-2021

School Schedule - Today, DC Public Schools (DCPS) released the [15]DCPS’
academic calendar for School Year 2020-2021. While the calendar does not
indicate the degree of remote/home learning verses classroom instruction,
DCPS has added five instructional days (by reducing three staff
professional development days) to accommodate as much in-person instruction
as health conditions allow. The first day of school for students is Monday,
August 31, 2020, and the last day for students is Thursday, June 24, 2021.
* The full SY20-21 calendar is available online:
[16]dcps.dc.gov/page/dcps-calendars

Summer Bridge Program - DCPS is hosting a Summer Bridge program for
students entering grades 3, 6, and 9. Should health conditions allow,
Summer Bridge will take place in-person for two weeks in August (the 10th
through 13th and 17th through 20th). This is an optional program that will
require advanced registration, so please look for an additional
announcement by DCPS next week.

Online Q&A with the Board of Elections

Zoom Call with the DC Board of Elections - The Board of Elections is
inviting registered voters to participate in a virtual question and answer
session with Board leadership to be held online by Zoom on Wednesday, June
17th from 11:30 am - 1 pm.
* To participate, register at: [17]BOE Q&A

Please Note: This event is independent of the Judiciary's upcoming June
19th [18]public hearing on the agency's mismanagement of the June 2nd
primary election.

Celebrate Pride with the Humane Rescue Alliance

[19]video

Humane Rescue Alliance Pride - June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate and
empower the LGBTQIA+ community. As part of that celebration, [20]Humane
Rescue Alliance (HRA) will spotlight members of their team in the LGBTQIA+
community, from vet techs to adoption counselors. The video above features
this month's first HRA spotlight, Anthony Waddell, who serves as the
organization's Learning and Talent Development Manager.

Common Questions on the Stimulus PrePaid Debit Card

From the Washington Post - Stimulus prepaid debit card is causing a lot of
confusion

"The good news is that many people have the right amount of skepticism
about receiving unsolicited mail. The bad news is that some folks may have
trashed a mailing that contained their stimulus payment thinking it was
just a scam or junk mail. But what they received was a prepaid debit card
loaded with the economic impact payments to individuals made available
under the $2 trillion Cares Act...

Here are answers to some common questions about the economic impact payment
(EIP) card."

[21]Read the Full Story

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

In Case You Missed It: Ambassador Rice Calls for DC Statehood

From The Washington Post -

Opinion by Ambassador Susan E. Rice

Washington, D.C., Deserves Statehood

Trump transformed my hometown into a war zone, underscoring the imperative
that the capital should be the 51st state.

[22]Read Ambassador Rice's Full Piece

For additional coverage of Ambassador Rice's call for Statehood, see
[23]MSNBC & [24]The Hill

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is
closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are
teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to [25]email the office directly or reach us via phone
through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget
requests, and constituent services requests.

[26]Facebook [27]Twitter

FOLLOW MARY

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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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