Area officials on the COG Board of Directors met virtually on April 8 to receive​ updates on the regional COVID-19 response, and plan for the future impact of the virus.

As the entire nation braces for an expected surge in Coronavirus cases, the District, Maryland, and Virginia and localities are making preparations. 

To begin the meeting, officials voted to stand with District partners in calling for an adequate, appropriate level of federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for D.C. to combat COVID-19. In a letter sent to Congressional leaders, the COG Board noted that current legislation provides the District with less than half the minimum amount of aid guaranteed to other states, despite its sizeable population.

"For the safety of our region, where people cross boundaries all the time, we need to be sure that the District of Columbia, just like Maryland and Virginia have the resources they need," said Robert C. White Jr., COG Board Vice Chair and District of Columbia Councilmember.   

Maximum resources are critical because, according to Dr. Travis Gayles, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Chief, models predict a surge of confirmed cases in the area beginning in late April or early May; Maryland may be affected first, he reported, followed by the District, and Virginia. Gayles and his counterparts across the region have been regularly communicating prior to and during the COVID-19 outbreak through the COG Health Officials Committee.

Local health departments continue to focus on slowing community spread of the virus through public education and communication, including developing guidance for self-quarantine and self-care for those infected. Gayles urged local officials to continue to coordinate policies and messages where able. 

"We live in a very resilient area," said Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Fairfax County Director of Health. "[Area residents] can be strong partners, so health departments across the region are developing guidance that people with COVID-like illness can...monitor themselves and prevent further spread of the virus."

The board also received updates from the District of Columbia Department of Health, Maryland Department of Health, and Virginia Department of Health about their efforts to increase capacity to care for residents, each working alongside hospital systems to boost the number of available beds and deploying or making plans to stand up field hospitals. 

"Hospitals are doing a great job determining what can be done internally with a surge," said Virginia Department of Health Northern Region Emergency Coordinator Jeffrey Walker, who noted that public health messaging will continue to be critical. 

"Social distancing, and hygiene matter," he said.

One challenge reported by all states and localities: limited supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Officials are continuing to pursue a variety of approaches to acquire the critical resources needed for health professionals and first responders.

Officials also turned their attention to another challenge -- the economic toll of the virus. 

According to the Brookings Institution, nearly half of all small businesses in the region--or 70,000 businesses--are at "immediate or near-term risk" due to measures put in place to respond to COVID-19. These businesses largely rely on foot traffic to stay in business, but the impacts are being felt in other sectors as well. 

Joseph Parilla, Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program Fellow, noted that local governments could be key in helping to provide relief for these businesses through lending programs, encouraging negotiations on rent, utility, or other costs, or providing guidance on the benefits provided by the CAREs Act. Officials in several jurisdictions have already set up relief programs--including grants, loans, and other resources--to assist businesses. COG will be sharing a list of these resources in the coming days.

In addition, Connected DMV, a regional partnership focused on digital technology solutions led by the Greater Washington Board of Trade, announced it is launching a blue ribbon COVID-19 Economic Recovery & Renewal Task Force to integrate and accelerate economic recovery efforts and help restore the region's health. COG is a governing member of ConnectedDMV.

For more information and resources, visit the COG COVID-19 page.