December 31, 2020
Dear Washingtonians,
As we get ready to welcome 2021 and the hope it brings with it, I want to invite you to join me tomorrow for a citywide, socially distanced 5K. Each year, the Fresh Start 5K is one of my favorite activities — an opportunity to start the year off right, have fun with neighbors from all eight wards, and remind yourself of the potential a new year brings. And while we can't run or walk together this year, that doesn't mean we can't accomplish the same goals separately.
In fact, 2020 taught us well how much we can accomplish together even when we are physically separated. All year, we have been rooting for each other from afar. We have cheered for health care workers from our homes. Protected vulnerable neighbors from our living rooms. And visited with family and friends through FaceTimes and Zooms.
We enter 2021 still carrying the uncertainty of 2020, but hopeful that a safe and effective vaccine is here. 2020 was about working together to stop the spread of the virus and protect our community. 2021 will be about finally ending this pandemic.
Please stay home and stay safe tonight. Continue to support local restaurants and businesses. And tomorrow, if you are able to, pick a spot in your neighborhood and kick off the New Year with a Fresh Start 5K.
Happy New Year, DC. I look forward to our comeback in 2021.
Sincerely,
 Holiday trees and greenery will be collected from homes that receive DPW curbside sanitation collection between January 11 and February 5, 2021.
Here is what residents should know:
-
Collection for DPW-serviced households. Residents who receive curbside collection service from DPW should leave items where and when they set out their trash. Households not serviced by DPW (for example, apartment buildings) should consult with their landlord/property owner for collection procedures.
-
No appointments required. This year, DPW will collect holiday trees from the normal point of collection on trash day.
-
Remove decorations. When setting these items out for collection, residents should remove all ornaments and lights. Do not put the trees and greenery in a bag.
-
Trees become free compost for residents. Trees and greenery collected through February 5 will be composted. District residents can collect up to five 32-gallon bags of the free compost year-round while supplies last at the Fort Totten Transfer Station. Residents must bring their own bags.
-
Composting not guaranteed after February 5. After that date, residents can still place holiday trees and greenery where their trash is collected; however, composting is not guaranteed. The items will be picked up with the trash as space in DPW trucks permits.
-
How to find out a neighborhood’s collection schedule. Residents can go to dpw.dc.gov and click on the holiday tree banner to see DPW’s trash schedule.
-
Steps if holiday tree and/or greenery was not collected. Call 311 to create a “Christmas Tree Removal - Seasonal” service request.
For more information on recycling this holiday season, visit zerowaste.dc.gov.
Back to Top
 This week, DC Health launched a portal for workers in health care settings in the District to make an appointment to get vaccinated. At this time, the portal, which can be accessed through coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccinatedc, is only for workers in health care settings that have direct or indirect exposure to infectious materials and cannot telework. When registering, workers will need to attest that they work in such a setting and then present verification at the time of their appointment.
The portal should only be used by workers who are in the Phase 1a population group.
Back to Top
 Residents who have traveled should follow the District's travel advisory and either:
- Limit your daily activities for 14 days and monitor yourself for symptoms
or
- Limit your daily activities, get tested 3 to 5 days after your return, and then limit your activities and self-monitor until you receive a negative test result
Residents who have symptoms or believe they were exposed to COVID-19 should stay home and contact their health care provider. Those who cannot get tested through their doctor should go to a public testing site. Individuals concerned about possible exposure should wait 3 to 5 days after exposure to get tested (getting tested too early increases the likelihood of receiving a "false negative" - meaning your results come back negative even though you are infected with the virus).
While public testing sites will be closed on Friday, January 1, the sites will reopen on Saturday, January 2 and four firehouse testing sites will be open on Sunday, January 3. Learn more about getting tested at coronavirus.dc.gov/testing
Back to Top
|
