We had a great Summer Spritz! We exceed our financial goal overall, but more importantly, we came together to celebrate our community in such an inspiring way. Many thanks to those that participated in some with this virtual gala. You made a difference and I can’t thank you enough.
In less uplifting news, the transmission rate of COVID-19 in many places, including DC, is on the rise again. In response to the updated guidance for fully vaccinated people regarding mask wearing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director of DC Health, released the following statement:
“DC Health is reviewing the updated CDC guidance related to mask wearing. Similar to trends across the nation, the District of Columbia has experienced a four-fold increase in its daily case rate since the beginning of July. DC’s transmission increase is driven primarily by unvaccinated individuals. We know that COVID-19 vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community. COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective in preventing COVID-19 disease, hospitalizations, and death. We continue to learn about new variants, and these insights may require us to revisit other protective measures. Wearing a mask in indoor public settings provides an additional layer of protection for those who are fully vaccinated—and continues to be one of the key ways to protect those who cannot be vaccinated, namely young children. If you are eligible to be vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to do so immediately to minimize the risk of disease, hospitalization, or death.”
Out of an abundance of caution because of the population of older adults that we serve, we will require masks to be worn indoors at any Village event. We will also temporarily pause any indoor activities, such as our Lunch Bunch, where the activity would prevent the wearing of masks. All volunteers and members are asked to continue wearing masks both inside and outside at Village-sponsored events.
Thank you for your understanding of this change in policy. Know that we will continue to monitor this situation and will keep you informed about new developments as we learn them. Please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/ for more information on COVID-19 in DC. Check back soon ...
Frank.