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THE NEWS:

 Remote learning will continue for the rest of the academic year, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Friday during her daily press conference. DC Public Schools will close early on May 29. Charter schools are deciding their own schedules.

DCPS was supposed to end this academic year on June 19, and leadership wants to make up lost time, likely at the start of the next school year. More information on how the executive is planning for schools will be released on May 15.Questions about what summer school will look like and how the start of the next academic year would be executed will be answered then. 

“We want to communicate to our seniors, we have not forgotten about you,” said DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebeeduring the press conference. Graduations will happen at the “appropriate time.” 

Bowser says there are kids with whom schools have not made any contact, even though DCPS remote learning started March 24. The exact number of students who have not been in contact with their schools is unknown at this time. What might partly explain this is there are a number of families with kids who decided to relocate during this time, and there also some students whose family members have become ill, said Ferebee. DCPS continues to call families and classmates of students who they have not reached yet.

The continued closure of public schools shows that D.C. is not ready to gradually reopen until infections are down for two straight weeks and the city has the capacity to handle COVID-19 patients. 

The good news is Bowser says infections are lower than projected. But her team is still preparing for a surge in infections. In fact, by the first week of May, the convention center is expected to be set up with 500 beds for non-ICU patients who do not require a ventilator. The hope, however, is D.C. never has to use it. —Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez:

  • The District announced five more deaths related to the pandemic. As of April 16, 86 residents have died due to COVID-19. With 126 new cases, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases is 2,476, while 12,643 have been tested. [EOM]  

  • With four deaths and dozens of COVID-19 cases at D.C.’s only public psychiatric hospital, patient advocates—including nurses—fear it was not prepared for the pandemic. They worry it’ll only get worse with confusion around the quarantine policy and staff having to reuse N95 masks. [WCP]

  • Patients are suing St. Elizabeths hospital, alleging the facility isn’t protecting them from the coronavirus disease. [WAMU] 

  • It remains unclear where returning citizens will go now that Hope Village is closing at the end of April. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says a solicitation for another organization is open. [Post]

  • This downtown clinic provides COVID-19 and antibody tests using its doctor’s discretion. This includes select asymptomatic patients. But for a price. [WAMU] 

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Jack Evans has a new campaign website and a new ethics platform. [WCP]

  • Here is your D.C. voter guide. [BOE]

  • Protests at Virginia capitol over shutdown. [WAMU]

  • Protests in Maryland over shutdown planned for Saturday. [WTOP]

  • At-Large Councilmember David Grosso is doing push-ups during the pandemic. [Twitter]

  • Statehood advocate Bo Shuff decries mistreatment by Congress. [DC Line]

  • At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman was on Kojo’s Politics Hour today at noon. [Kojo]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Part One: Restaurant owners have seen little to no aid since the city shut down on-premise consumption one month ago. [WCP]

  • Part Two: Some hospitality industry workers are seeing unemployment benefits trickle in. Others continue to play a painful waiting game. [WCP]

  • A D.C. bartender will tell you what cocktail to make based on your liquor cabinet for $10. [Washingtonian] 

  • José Andrés’ latest plan to reopen restaurants across the country to feed those in need. [Post]

  • The White House’s economic council for restaurants is made up of chain owners and four Michelin-star chefs. [Eater]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall(tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • DJ Curley Sue serves up delightful Sunday brunch streams featuring her mom. [WCP]

  • The Arts Club looks at life on replay in “The Entire History of You.” [WCP]

  • Comet Ping Pong is hosting a free music festival featuring 14 local artists on Instagram Live this Sunday. [DCist]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Less than two years after the death of his friend, Jordan McNair, Maryland football’s Ellis McKennie III had to deal with the emotional toll of seeing his father hospitalized with COVID-19. McKennie calls his father’s recent recovery “a miracle.” [WCP]

  • The WNBA Draft will be held virtually tonight starting at 7 p.m. The Mystics, who traded for former league MVP Tina Charles, won’t be selecting until the 24th pick. [FiveThirtyEight]

  • Ron Rivera seems to be warming up to the idea of having Kyle Smith as the Washington NFL team’s next general manager. Next week’s NFL Draft will be a tryout of sorts. [Post]

  • The highly-anticipated 10-episode Michael Jordan documentary, The Last Dance, will premiere Sunday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. [CNET]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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