and today's Ward 5 CM McDuffie coronavirus response: DC Stay at Home order extended to Monday, 06-08-2020 and more

From: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie <kmcduffie@dccouncil.us>

Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2020 6:10 PM
Subject: May 13 Coronavirus Response -DC Stay at Home order extended to June 8 and more

View this email in your browser Below are updates on the District's response to the coronavirus pandemic. For the latest and most comprehensive information always visit http://coronavirus.dc.gov. Stay at Home Order Extended to June 8 Pilot Program for Local Stores Selling Educational and Academic Products SNAP Recipients can Now Buy Groceries Through Amazon in DC DC Water Announces Emergency Funding to Help Residents Pay Outstanding Water Bills Arts Grants Available - Deadline Friday Small Business Spotlight: Wired Cycling Fitness Studio Stay at Home Order Extended to June 8

Today, Mayor Bowser announced DC’s stay at home order has been extended to June 8, 2020. Mayor Bowser and DC Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt also shared some details about the criteria they are using to asses when and how to reopen DC. The decision is informed by our: Community spread Testing capacity Health care system capacity Public health system capacity Officials noted that while we have the capacity to test people in the following groups, they believe we are currently undertesting these populations and people who fall into these categories should seek testing: Symptomatic, At-risk healthcare workers, Essential workers, and Close contacts of all new positive cases Pilot Program for Local Stores Selling Educational and Academic Products Additionally, Mayor Bowser announced a new pilot program to allow some local shops that sell educational and academic products to open for curbside pickup. Applications open this Friday, May 15. SNAP Recipients can Now Buy Groceries Through Amazon in DC The District is assisting local retailers and farmers markets interested in participating in the SNAP Online Purchasing Program to submit applications for review and approval by the USDA. Beginning today, District residents participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy groceries through Amazon at http://www.Amazon.com/snap-ebt. DC Water Announces Emergency Funding to Help Residents Pay Outstanding Water Bills DC Water announced that funds have been authorized by the Mayor and the DC Council to provide emergency relief to District residents struggling with unpaid DC Water bills during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency and 105 days thereafter. DC Water residential customers can apply to the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) for assistance from the fund established for the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC) to help pay all or part of an outstanding water-bill balance and for ongoing monthly CRIAC discounts. DOEE will review and approve the assistance requests and DC Water will apply those credits to the customer’s bill. Arts Grants Available - Deadline Friday The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), is soliciting applications from qualified arts, humanities, arts education, service organizations, and individual artists and humanities practitioners for arts projects funded in the federal CARES Act. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 15, 2020, at 4:00 pm. These funds will be disbursed through one-time grants with the intention of helping save jobs in the arts sector and keeping the doors open of the many organizations that add value to America’s economy and to the creative life of the District of Columbia. Small Business Spotlight: Wired Cycling Fitness Studio While in-person classes are on hold, Wired Cycling is offering virtual sessions. Check them out and support our local Ward 5 small business! Wired Cycling Fitness Studio Web: http://wiredcycling.com Twitter: @WiredCyclingDC Facebook: /WiredCyclingDC Instagram: @WiredCyclingDC