January 27, 2021

Coronavirus Update: Seniors, Teachers, & Childcare Staff

Dear Neighbors,

In just a week's time, many changes have been made to the District's
vaccine distribution plan. While I was told that there would be a one-time,
special vaccination opportunity for residents in select Wards, DC Health
has determined that the most equitable path forward—one that targets our
vulnerable senior neighbors in zip codes with the greatest risk of
infection and death—is to release two batches of vaccine appointments each
week: one batch at 9:00 am on Thursdays for residents in high priority zip
codes and one batch at 9:00 am on Fridays for all seniors and the remaining
healthcare workers yet to be vaccinated.

In addition to [1]vaccinate.dc.gov and the COVID-19 hotline (855-363-0333),
there are now opportunities to sign up for a vaccine through the District's
hospital system. Please visit the hospital website where you are a patient,
i.e. seen by the hospital in an outpatient clinic within the past two
years, for instructions on how to register for an available appointment
(please note that these appointments are also limited, but senior residents
may find this registration method to be a better experience):
* [2]Howard University Hospital
* [3]MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
* [4]MedStar Washington Hospital Center
* [5]The George Washington University Hospital
* [6]Sibley Memorial Hospital
* [7]United Medical Center
* Kaiser Permanente members should visit [8]kp.org/DCvaccine

DC Health has also prioritized vaccinating DC Public and Charter School
teachers and staff. This will be especially important as DC Public Schools
is aiming to significantly expand in-person learning options in Term 3 and
expects about 4,900 prek-5 students, 2,000 students in grades 6-12, and
4,200 staff (including 2,200 teachers) to return for in-person learning. I
have joined school readiness tours of Deal Middle School and Wilson High
School (as I did with our Ward 3 elementary schools in the fall) and
believe that our school leaders have taken the necessary steps and
implemented strong protocols to [9]reopen as safely as possible. And
vaccinating our educators and school staff as soon as possible is a
critical component to building-wide safety. It should also be noted that
teachers are using a separate appointment scheduling process, so seniors
will not be competing against educators in signing up for available
appointments through the website or hotline.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is also now in
the process of alerting all licensed early childcare providers that
vaccination opportunities will become available for in-person staff in
February. Including childcare providers in this early stage of vaccinations
is especially important as many have already returned to providing
in-person care. To help narrow down the the vaccine allocation needs, OSSE
has asked that facilities send a list of eligible staff to
[10][email protected] by Thursday, Jan 28th, at noon.

Changes to the distribution plan are developing very quickly, and DC Health
seems to have adopted the approach that spreading vaccinations across
multiple demographics and priority groups is the best public health
strategy moving forward (as opposed to finishing priority groups in
succession). I hope to gain further clarity on the agency's strategy and
will push for greater transparency and better communication from them on
the Council's weekly conference call with the Executive this afternoon.

Regards,

Mary

Please see [11]coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates &
resources on COVID-19

The Public Health Emergency has been extended through March 31st, 2021

If you know someone who would like to receive these updates directly, he or
she may sign up through [12]marycheh.com

Public Oversight Roundtable: DC's Vaccine Distribution Progress

Upcoming Council Roundtable - The Committee on Health, on which
Councilmember Cheh is a member, is holding a two-day Public Oversight
Roundtable to discuss challenges with the current vaccine distribution plan
and the feasibility of suggested improvements to the program.

An all-virtual event, residents will have the opportunity to testify this
Friday, January 29th. Government officials will testify before the Council
on Monday, February 1st.

Residents will have until 6:00 pm this Thursday, January 28th, to sign up
to testify. For instructions on how to sign up to testify as a public
witness, please see:

[13]Health Oversight Roundtable

Mayor Bowser Shares Her Vaccination Experience

[14]

First dose of Pfizer - On Monday, Mayor Bowser received her first dose of
the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a public vaccination event following her
[15]Situational Update.

These highly visible vaccination events help spread confidence, bust
vaccine myths, and allay fears that some residents may have about getting
the vaccine.

For more on the Mayor's experience, please see yesterday's story in
[16]WTOP.

Selection Priorities for the Next DDOT Director

What is Needed in the Next DDOT Director- Jeff Marootian, the most recent
Director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), has accepted
a position within the Biden Administration. As Mayor Bowser begins the
selection process for Director Marootian's replacement, many local transit
advocacy organizations and Councilmember Cheh have submitted letters
discussing what metrics and qualities they hope are considered in the
selection process.

Director Marootian, for example, maintained a very strong focus on public
outreach during his tenure and, with so many large capitol infrastructure
projects in motion, it will be imperative that his replacement maintain
that same level of communication and engagement with District residents.
Not only will the next Director need to determine the best counter measures
to declining public transit ridership, but also that individual will need
to prioritize transportation equity, new technologies, and the acceleration
of the District's Vision Zero goals (this includes maintaining and
increasing the number of miles of sidewalk, engineering more
pedestrian-friendly intersections, and substantially enhancing the
District's network of protected bike lanes).

To read Councilmember Cheh's letter to Mayor Bowser detailing what
qualities she hopes are prioritized during in the new Director search and
nomination process, please see: [17]Priorities for the next Director.

Mark Your Calendar: DPR's Ward 3 Virtual Meeting

Ready 2 Play Ward 3 Meeting - The Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) is
hosting meetings across the District to discuss the future of parks and
recreation. These meetings provide an opportunity for residents to inform
DPR's planning process and to voice the unique park needs and requests for
each ward. The culmination of these meetings and resident feedback will be
the Ready2Play strategic master plan.

Ward 3's virtual Ready2Play community meeting will be held on Tuesday,
February 2nd from 6:30 - 8:00 pm

For more information and meeting registration details, please visit:
[18]Ready 2 Play.

Transportation Support is Available

Avoid Public Transit if Possible - Senior residents enrolled in any of the
District’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are eligible for free
transportation to and from all medically necessary services and
appointments. This includes COVID-19 vaccination appointments. To request
transportation to your appointment, please call your MCO to schedule a ride
service:

AmeriHealth | Call 1-800-315-3485

CareFirst | Call 1-855-824-5693.

Health Services for Children with Special Needs | Call 1-866-991-5433

MedStar | Call 1-866-201-9974

Support Local Restaurants During Winter Restaurant Week

Winter Restaurant Week - Winter Restaurant Week offers residents with
specially priced meals and specialty dishes from some of the best
restaurants in the District (with plenty of wonderful Ward 3 restaurants
participating). For more information on Restaurant Week, please see:
[19]Eat Local.

For Ward 3 restaurant guides and other special promotions, please see our
network of Main Streets: [20]Cleveland Park Main Street, [21]Woodley Park
Main Street, [22]Van Ness Main Street, [23]Tenleytown Main Street, &
[24]Glover Park Main Street.

In the wake of January 6th Riot:

38 Capitol Police Officers, 150 National Guard Troops, & 8 Members of
Congress Test Positive for Coronavirus

From DCist - At Least 38 Capitol Police Officers Have Tested Positive For
COVID-19 Since Jan. 6 Riots, Union Says

"A total of 38 U.S. Capitol Police officers have tested positive as of
Friday night, according to a union leader for the force. Approximately 150
National Guard troops have also tested positive since the attack...

The Metropolitan Police Department, which at one point [25]led the effort
to clear the angry mob from the Capitol, has also seen an uptick in
COVID-19 cases.

As of January 6, a total of 498 MPD personnel had tested positive over the
course of the pandemic. By Jan. 21, that number had jumped by 82, reaching
580 total cases. It appears to be one of the biggest jumps in positive
cases in the [26]recent data."

[27]Read the Full Story

National Cathedral Mourns the 400,000 Lost

Mourning Toll - On January 19th, the Washington National Cathedral tolled
the cathedral's funeral bell 400 times in mourning of the 400,000 lives
lost due to coronavirus.

Each ring represented 1,000 deaths. To date, the District of Columbia has
lost 895 people to this virus. Ward 3 has lost 45 of our neighbors to
coronavirus in the past year.

The Cathedral recorded the tolling as a somber reminder for those we have
lost.

To listen to the full program, please see: [28]National Cathedral.

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Watch the Giant Panda Cub Livestream!

[29]

Meet Xiao Qi Ji - The National Zoo's panda team has put together a 15
minute, behind the scenes tour of what panda care entails at the
Smithsonian’s National Zoo. This video, that was livestreamed earlier
today, provides residents with an an up-close look at the Zoo's panda cub
Xiao Qi Ji as he explores his indoor habitat.

Residents will also learn how the Panda Cams are operated, take a virtual
tour of the panda house, and receive answers to some of your most-asked
questions.

Watch the video here:[30] Xiao Qi Ji's Panda Story.

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 reach us via phone through our main line at (202)
724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services
requests.

[31]Facebook [32]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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