DC reports record 19 COVID-19 deaths

Washington, D.C., experienced its deadliest day during the coronavirus pandemic to date on Thursday, as Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) reported 19 new deaths, bringing the district’s death toll to 224.

In addition to the new deaths, Bowser said that the nation’s capital had 217 new cases of the virus, raising its total number to 4,323.

Half of D.C.’s confirmed cases and almost 80 percent of its fatalities have been black residents.

1/ The District’s reported data for Wednesday, April 29, 2020 includes 217 new positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, bringing the District’s overall positive case total to 4,323.

Learn more: https://t.co/OptCmVsykG pic.twitter.com/zc9np6vmp0

— Mayor Muriel Bowser #StayHomeDC (@MayorBowser) April 30, 2020

Bowser implored D.C. residents to continue to follow social distancing guidelines and her stay-at-home order, which is in effect until at least May 15.

In Maryland, 893 new cases and 62 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, in addition to 885 new cases and 30 deaths in Virginia.

Overall, the Washington-Virginia-Maryland area has over 41,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.