from Ward 5 CM McDuffie: March 18 Coronavirus Response Update - Small Biz Support, Rules on 'To-Go' Alcohol, Metro Scales Back Service, Volunteer Opportunities, & more!

From: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 

Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 5:39 PM
Subject: March 18 Coronavirus Response Update - Small Biz Support, Rules on 'To-Go' Alcohol, Metro Scales Back Service, Volunteer Opportunities, & more!

View this email in your browser Below are today's updates on the District's response to the coronavirus pandemic. For the latest and most comprehensive information always visit http://coronavirus.dc.gov. Disaster Loans are Available from the U.S. Small Business Administration Regulations Issued to Allow DC Bars and Restaurants to Offer Alcohol with Carryout/Delivery Council Passes Emergency Legislation in Response to Coronavirus Wheatley Education Campus in Trinidad Added as an Additional Student Meal Site Information for Senior Meals DC Public Schools Distance Learning Update DC Circulator Suspends Fares and Service to the National Mall WMATA MetroRail and MetroBus Service Further Reduced to Support Essential Trips Only Information on Volunteering Brookland Bridge: What Businesses are Open? Disaster Loans are Available from the U.S. Small Business Administration The United States Small Business Administration opened applications today for their Disaster Loans. Link to apply. Information on the application process. Regulations Issued to Allow DC Bars and Restaurants to Offer Alcohol with Carryout/Delivery DC permits restaurants to sell sealed beer, wine, and spirits through carryout and delivery if ordered with food. Click here to register to sell beer, wine, and spirits through carryout/delivery. Council Passes Emergency Legislation in Response to Coronavirus In case you missed it, the DC Council passed emergency legislation yesterday to provide relief for District workers, families, and employers. Click here to read the legislation. Wheatley Education Campus in Trinidad Added as an Additional Student Meal Site Today, Wheatley Education Campus, located at 1299 Neal Street NE, was added as a site for student meal distribution. This adds to the previously-announced DCPS sites of Brookland Middle School and McKinley Education Campus. The sites hosted at charter schools in Ward 5 are Friendship Armstrong PCS, Freindship Woodridge International PCS, KIPP DC College Prep, and Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS. For a full list of meal sites, check here.  Information for Senior Meals Information on how seniors can access meals is available here. If you have questions, you can call the Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL) hotline at (202) 724-5626. This is where seniors should call about meals. Right now DACL is focusing on our most vulnerable folks and the folks who normally rely on them for a meal; however, the call center will do a quick assessment with the caller and connect them to either the meal program or other programs. DC Public Schools Distance Learning Update Distance learning will start next week on Tuesday, March 24 after Spring Break (March 17 to March 23.) DCPS prepared printed packets of materials for every grade level from Pre-K through 8th grade and each graduation requirement course for 9-12th grade. Some students may have already received these materials last week from their teachers prior to closing for Spring Break, but we will have official times to receive printed packets this week. DCPS families can pick up hardcopies of distance learning materials at their school on the following days between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.: Thursday, March 19 Friday, March 20 Monday, March 23 More information will be shared directly by your school principal and teachers. Distance learning materials will also be available online starting Friday, March 20. For the latest information and complete details, visit: https://dcps.dc.gov/coronavirus  DC Circulator Suspends Fares and Service to the National Mall Effective immediately, the DC Circulator is suspending fares on all routes during the public health emergency. Suspension of fares will allow passengers to board the bus from all doors in support of social distancing practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Passengers who require wheelchair access may still use the front door to board. Effective Thursday, March 18, the DC Circulator will suspend service on the National Mall Route. WMATA MetroRail and MetroBus Service Further Reduced to Support Essential Trips Only Effective Wednesday, March 18, the following service reductions are in effect. Metrorail: Rail system hours and service levels are further reduced to support ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY. DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY and follow guidance from your state and local authorities. New hours: Weekdays 5 am - 11 pm, Sat/Sun 8 am - 11pm. Trains will run every 15 minutes on each line at all times, including the Red Line. All trains will operate with 8 cars, the maximum possible length, to help maintain social distancing between customers. Metro’s Rail Operations Control Centers (two) will actively monitor trains and station platforms for any possible crowding, something that has not been an issue at any point during the pandemic emergency response. Metro is reducing/canceling track work, except emergency maintenance and inspections, to avoid unexpected delays and maintain 15-minute intervals between trains. Metrobus: Bus hours and service levels are further reduced to support ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY. DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY and follow guidance from your state and local authorities. Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule, with supplemental service on selected routes to prevent crowding and ensure areas are not cut off. Visit wmata.com for information about “supplemental” routes that will operate, in addition to Sunday routes. IMPORTANT: Bus operators are granted the authority to bypass bus stops to maintain safe social distancing aboard the vehicle. These actions reduce the number of Metro employees and buses required to maintain service by more than 60 percent. MetroAccess: All subscription trips are canceled until further notice. Customers with a critical need to travel should make a separate reservation calling 301-562-5360 (TTY 301-588-7535) or via the online reservation system. Customers are strongly encouraged to travel ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL OR HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS, YOU MUST AVOID TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THIS INCLUDES METROACCESS CUSTOMERS. Instead, do the following: CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE LEAVING YOUR HOME. Do NOT show up without calling first. Your healthcare provider may want to send you to an alternate location. FOLLOW YOUR PROVIDER’S INSTRUCTIONS. DON’T USE PUBLIC TRANSIT. Let your doctor’s office know if you have transportation needs. They will provide instructions for you to get help. Again, to protect the health and safety of our employees, their families, and your fellow passengers, do not use Metro if you are not feeling well. Due to the emergency service adjustments, Metro’s online trip planner, electronic bus information displays and third-party app-based services may not immediately reflect the schedule changes taken by the Pandemic Task Force. Metro is not adjusting fares, despite service reductions. Information on Volunteering Serve DC is coordinating people who may like to volunteer. Ward 5-based Food & Friends is looking for eligible volunteers to help feed their clients.  DC Health has asked potential volunteers to consider the District of Columbia Medical Reserve Corps. Brookland Bridge: What Businesses are Open? The Brookland Bridge blog helpfully posted today a "rundown of Brookland area business statuses, ways you can help, and ways to stay connected." Check it out!