January 14, 2022
Dear Washingtonians,
Remember that beginning tomorrow, Saturday, January 15, people 12 and up will need to show proof of vaccination to enter certain indoor venues.
As we approach two years of responding to this pandemic, I want to once again underscore how incredible our community's response has been. At every stage of our collective response, Washingtonians and local businesses have gone above and beyond to follow the latest public heath guidance. This vaccine requirement is the next step for ensuring we have a long-term plan for keeping each other healthy, our city open, and our health care system protected. So, please do your part.
It is not too late to go and get your first shot. Beginning tomorrow, the requirement for entry will be one shot. You can make an appointment to get your first shot at 5 p.m. and then go to dinner at 6 p.m. (For your own health and safety and for the health and safety of the people around you, you should get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.)
And, remember: be gracious to the many people working together to implement the requirement. Be patient and kind with workers. To minimize any frustrations, if you are going out with friends and family, make sure everyone in your group knows about the requirements in advance. People who are 18 and older will need two things: proof of vaccination (either the actual CDC card, a photo/digital copy of the card, or a COVID-19 vaccine verification app) AND a matching ID. People 12-17 will only need proof of vaccination.
You can find more information about the requirements at VaxDC.dc.gov.
I've said it many times before, but it is still true and still an important reminder: we're in this together, and we'll get through it together.
Sincerely,
 This week, Mayor Bowser announced expansions to COVID-19 testing at public schools in DC. Based on those updates, going forward, DC Public Schools (DCPS) will utilize four surveillance testing plans for students:
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Safe Return Testing: Following the February and April breaks, families will be required to test their child and upload their test results to the Safe Return portal before they can return to the classroom. Test kits will be provided to students to take home with them prior to the break. Families will hear more about this before the February break begins on Monday, February 21.
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Targeted Early Childhood Weekly Testing: With many of our youngest learners ineligible to access the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine, we are dedicating resources to weekly testing of all Pre-K students. Students in PK3 and PK4 will be provided with a rapid test each week and will be required to upload their results each Sunday before returning to the classroom. Kindergarten students will also receive weekly test kits and are highly encouraged to test each week. Tests will be distributed every Friday beginning this week (January 14). Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, families should test on Monday, January 17 and upload their results by 4:00 p.m. that day. Pre-K and kindergarten families will receive the link with where to upload their test results.
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Mail-Home Testing for Close Contacts: Students who are identified as close contacts can request test kits be mailed directly to their home after exposure to a positive individual within our schools. Beginning the week of January 18, if a student is identified as a close contact, families will be provided with a link to request the at-home testing kit.
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Routine Asymptomatic Testing: Each week, all DCPS schools conduct asymptomatic testing, working to test at least 20 percent of the student population.
Additionally, DCPS is working with District partners to launch a "Test to Stay" program for close contacts of reported cases at schools and will share more details in the coming weeks.
Learn more HERE.
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 Mayor Bowser and DC Health announced that District residents ages 65 and older are now able to pick up rapid antigen tests at six senior wellness centers. Seniors are able pick up two rapid tests per person, per day. A list of the participating senior wellness centers, and the days when they give out tests, is below. On days that centers have rapid tests, free tests are available from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
- Model Cities Senior Wellness Center (1901 Evarts St NE) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Hayes Senior Wellness Center (500 K St NE) | Tuesday and Thursday
- Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center (324 Kennedy St NW) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Washington Senior Wellness Center (3001 Alabama Ave SE) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center (3531 Georgia Ave NW) | Tuesday and Thursday
- Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center (3500 MLK Jr Ave SE) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Learn more HERE.
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 This week, Mayor Bowser announced a new $1.5 million direct cash transfer pilot program, Strong Families, Strong Future DC, to support maternal health and advance economic mobility. The nonprofit organization Martha’s Table will implement the program, which will provide $900 per month for one year to 132 new and expectant mothers in Wards 5, 7, and 8.
Strong Families, Strong Future DC aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes in disproportionately affected areas in DC. Martha’s Table intends to utilize qualitative and quantitative methods to track the pilot and evaluate how direct cash assistance impacts the participating mothers and their children’s physical, mental, and health outcomes.
The Strong Families, Strong Future DC program will launch in February 2022. Learn more HERE.
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 This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made a booster update:
- The timeline for when people can receive a booster shot shortened from 6 months to 5 months for people who receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This means that people can now receive an mRNA booster shot 5 months after completing their Moderna primary series.
Remember: people 12 and older are now eligible for a booster.
According to recent CDC data:
- Fully vaccinated people with boosters are 10 times less likely than unvaccinated people to get infected with COVID-19.
- Fully vaccinated people with boosters are 2.5 times less likely to get infected with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people without boosters, and 4 times less likely to die from COVID-19.
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Fully vaccinated people with boosters are 20 times less likely than unvaccinated people to die from COVID-19.
Additionally, anyone 65 and older can move to the front of the line at all District-operated walk-up sites listed on vaccinate.dc.gov.
Find more places to get vaccinated or boosted at vaccines.gov.
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