As of 03/18/2020. Will update as new information becomes available
COVID-19 General Guidance to Employers
As of 03/18/2020. Will update as new information becomes available
COVID-19 General Guidance to Employers
The DC City Council unanimously passed a consensus emergency bill in response to the COVID epidemic currently impacting the District and the nation.
In an extraordinarily rapid and thorough manner, the Council solicited and received input from the public, individual Council offices and committees, as well as the executive branch and the Chief Financial Officer. An initial draft bill was assembled Thursday, and was passed just five days later. As emergency legislation, the bill will immediately become law as soon as it is signed by the Mayor. It will remain in effect for 90 days, though a Temporary bill, which will require a second Council vote, will ensure it remains in effect for 270 days.
Moving forward, the Council will pass additional COVID response measures as needed to respond to the crisis. The measure passed at the most recent meeting was comprehensive, but is not intended as the final word on the topic.
The bill passed at the most recent meeting has, among its primary measures, the following:
A full listing of all votes taken at the most recent meeting can be seen here.
The Council’s next scheduled Legislative Meeting will occur on April 7. It will most likely be held virtually, with Councilmembers and the public attending electronically.
NUCA has just released two public Toolbox Talks for utility construction crews on COVID-19 prevention at the jobsite:
Identifying & Protecting Against the Coronavirus (COVID-19): Coronavirus
Caja de Herramientas: Corona Virus (Spanish): Caja de Herramientas_Corona Virus
Please use these to educate and inform your work crews on the steps they can take to minimize transmission of this virus.
Stay safe! Stay Healthy!
(Washington, DC) While the District of Columbia Government will begin to modify its operations starting Monday, March 16, in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the District government wants residents to know that it will continue to deliver essential services and keep the majority of its systems and services operating.
District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
DDOT remains open, with most DDOT staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will maintain normal operations are:
Department of Public Works (DPW)
DPW remains open, with a limited number of DPW staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will maintain normal operations are:
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)
DCRA remains open, with most DCRA staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will maintain normal operations are:
Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE)
DOEE remains operational, with most DOEE staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will have modified operations are:
Residents should note that major utilities have indicated they will not disconnect services during this emergency period.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
DMV remains open, with most DMV staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will have modified operations are:
DMV will extend the expiration date for driver licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations, inspections, ticket payments and ticket adjudication responses until April 17, 2020. All driver licenses, vehicle registrations, and vehicle inspections scheduled to expire between March 16 and March 31 will be granted a waiver without penalty until DC DMV reopens at full operating capacity. All tickets will remain in their current status between March 16 and March 31 and no additional penalties will be accessed during this period. In the interim, the public is encouraged to request adjudication and pay citations online. Additionally, all driver license suspensions and revocations will be paused until DC DMV returns to full operating capacity after March 31.
Department of For Hire Vehicles
DFHV remains operational, with most DFHV staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will maintain normal operations are:
Taxi-to-Rail will continue to operate and will remove the current geographic restrictions, meaning residents can be picked up from anywhere East of the River and taken to approved locations (Metro stations and grocery stores). Residents will continue to have access to four trips per month.
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB)
DISB remains operational, with most DISB staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will have modified operations are:
Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL)
DACL remains operational, with most staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. DACL will continue to provide critical services to District seniors, such as meals.
Senior Wellness Centers and community dining sites will be temporarily closed for activities effective Monday, March 16 – 31. However, meals will be available for pick-up at each site between 10 am and 2 pm for current participants.
Department of Human Services (DHS)
DHS remains open and will continue to support residents in need of assistance across the District during the period of modified operation. Modifications to DHS’s Primary services are as follows:
Access to Emergency Shelter – All low-barrier shelters, family shelters, and shelters serving youth will remain open.
Drop-In Centers:
Transportation: Transportation to emergency shelter is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in the District. To request transportation, contact the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by calling 311.
Homeless Service Outreach: Outreach Workers are continuing to provide services to people experiencing homeless with a focus on welfare checks, connection to medical support, and providing life-saving supplies such as hand sanitizer, blankets, etc.
Eligibility for Public Benefits:
Child Care:
Administrative Hearings and Investigative Interviews: DHS will continue to hold administrative hearings and investigative interviews but will conduct these via telephone/video calls. Any court hearings will continue if court remains open.
Case Management: Case management services will continue to be provided across DHS programs by phone or video whenever possible.
EBT Cards: New cards will continue to be distributed through the existing locations at 1649 Good Hope Road, SE and 645 H Street, NE.
Department on Behavioral Health (DBH)
DBH remains open and will continue service to residents, including the following services and programs:
Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA)
CFSA remains operational, with most staff teleworking and offices closed to the general public through March 31. CFSA will continue to provide essential services and duties to ensure the safety of children in the District, including the following services:
Department of Disability Services (DDS)
DDS will remain open, with most staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. DDS is open to receive documentation necessary to process any pending applications.
Some DDS service operations will be modified as follows:
DC Health
DC Health is open and actively working to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the District of Columbia.
DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (DCHBX)
The DC Health Link is operational and will continue to provide quality services to DC residents and all of its customers. DC Health Link will operate virtually from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31.
Public Schools and Meal Access
DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools have a modified schedule through March 31.
Department of Parks and Recreation
DPR will continue to provide residents with outdoor recreation opportunities. All outdoor fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, and basketball courts will remain open.
DPR indoor facilities are closed, and all programs, services, events and permits are cancelled through March 31.
DC Public Library
DCPL will continue to serve residents through its online digital library available at GoDigital.
DC Public Library locations will close on Monday, March 16 and reopen on Wednesday, April 1. All book drops will be locked so residents should keep borrowed items until libraries reopen.
Department of Employment Services (DOES)
DOES remains operational with most staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Programs that will continue under modified operations are:
DOES notable Closures or Suspended Operations:
Residents can visit the DOES website, does.dc.gov, or call the DOES Navigation Call Center at (202) 724-7000, for information on DOES services and to file unemployment insurance claims.
First Responders
The Metropolitan Police Department, the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, and the Office of Unified Communication will continue to deliver services as normal.
Department of Corrections (DOC)
DOC is continuing to accept persons who are being transferred to the custody of the department. However, in order to protect residents, staff, and their families, the DC Department of Corrections is suspending all in-person visits, programming, and volunteer activities at its facilities for the entirety of the public health emergency. The Department will provide video visitation for inmates while in-person visitation is suspended. Lawyers representing inmates are allowed.
Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE)
The ONSE will continue to support residents during the period of modified District operations.
Office of Human Rights
OHR remains operational, with most staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31st. OHR will not accept in-person complaint filings or receive individuals for in-person intake interviews during this time period.
Office of the Attorney General
The Office of the Attorney General remains operational, with most staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. OAG will continue to provide valuable legal services to the District during the period of modified operations.
Child Support Services:
Consumer and other complaints:
Department of Housing and Community Development
DHCD will remain open and continue to assist residents in need of support during the period of modified District operations.
The Housing Resource Center will not be open for walk-in consultations during the District’s adjusted operating hours.
Office of the Tenant Advocate
The Office of the Tenant Advocate remains operational, with most staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Tenants seeking legal, education or outreach services should contact the Office of Tenant Advocate either electronically, through the web-based “Ask the Chief Tenant Advocate” link or by calling (202) 719-6560.
Residents should continue to check coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest information and guidance.
Please click on this link to see the entire document released by OSHA
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency, effective immediately. The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) will activate the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Joint Information Center (JIC) to provide additional coordination for the District’s COVID-19 response.
Earlier today, DC Health recommended that non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions, be postponed or cancelled through March 31. As a result, the District is pulling permits for two events in March – the Rock and Roll DC Marathon and Half Marathon and 5K and the Scope It Out 5K.
Additionally, DC Public Schools announced that they have moved their teacher Professional Development day from Friday, March 20 to Monday, March 16 to prepare for the possibility of distance learning.
(Washington, DC) – DC Health recommends that non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions, be postponed or cancelled. Mass gatherings are defined as events where 1,000 or more people congregate in a specific location. We also recommend that any social, cultural, or entertainment events where large crowds are anticipated be reconsidered by the organizer. This recommendation is in effect through March 31.