D.C. says its COVID-19 numbers are wrong -- just as it announces reopening plans
Cities and states are hedging their reopening plans on rising COVID-19 vaccinations and decreasing positive cases.
The nation's capital, Washington, D.C., has touted falling COVID-19 cases in recent days and rolled out updated reopening plans based on the data. On Monday, the city said that its seven-day COVID-19 case rate was at 6.6 per 100,000 people, with a test positivity rate of just 3.2%.
But now, the city is reportedly walking back these numbers after what an "IT error," according to a Washington Post reporter.
The District announced that it would lift most capacity restrictions on public and commercial activities, including restaurants, large sports and entertainment venues and museums on May 21. All capacity restrictions at all locations will be lifted on June 11.
"Our health metrics continue to trend in the right direction," D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted on Monday.
Now, it's unclear how the District will handle reopening plans -- TPG reached out to the mayor's office and a rep for the D.C. health department and will update this post if we hear back. D.C. has reported nearly 50,000 positive COVID-19 cases and over 1,100 deaths. Over 160,000 District residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a city tracker.
