July 30, 2021
Dear Washingtonians,
This week, I provided a public safety update as well as a COVID-19 situational update. If you were unable to watch, you can find both updates below. During the public safety update, we highlighted the importance of our entire community and criminal justice system working together to prevent violence before it happens and to hold people accountable when it does.
Watch the public safety update HERE, and read the public safety update HERE.
During the COVID-19 update, Dr. Nesbitt shared our community's latest experience with the virus and I announced an update to our mask policy and new incentives for youth who get vaccinated.
Watch the situational update on COVID-19 HERE, and read the update HERE.
 I continue to be grateful for everything Washingtonians have done to help our community get through the last 17 months. Let's stay in this together. Let's work together to get all our friends and neighbors vaccinated. And, remember: DC is open, so let's continue to enjoy all our city has to offer.
Sincerely,
 Read the latest mask guidance HERE.
 This week, Mayor Bowser announced new incentives that will be available to DC youth who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The incentive program will kick off on Saturday, August 7.
On-Site Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Prizes
Beginning Saturday, August 7, on-site prizes will be available to youth and their parents at three DC Public Schools: Brookland Middle School, Sousa Middle School, and Johnson Middle School. All DC youth can claim their free COVID-19 vaccine at these sites regardless of which school they attend. At these three schools, youth who receive their first dose can receive a $51 VISA gift card. Additionally, the first 400 youth to get vaccinated at each site will have the option to forgo their gift card and instead receive a pair of AirPods. The AirPods will be available to District youth ages 12 to 17 as well as students ages 18 to 21 and currently enrolled in a DC school seeking a high school diploma.
Parents or guardians who bring their children to one of these three sites are also eligible to receive one $51 VISA gift card per child who gets vaccinated. These sites will operate four days a week from August 7 to September 30.
The $51 VISA gift cards will continue to be available to all DC residents 12 and older who get vaccinated at Anacostia High School or the Dorothy Height/Benning Library.
Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Raffle
All students in DC who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will also be eligible to win an iPad or a $25,000 college scholarship. Each week, for four weeks, 10 names will be drawn from a database of students between the ages of 12 and 17. Eight names will be drawn to win an iPad and two names will be drawn for a $25,000 college scholarship that can be used at any college. Once student names are drawn, a District representative will reach out to the family to confirm the student’s vaccination status. If the student is already vaccinated, they will be able to claim their prize. More information about the rules and eligibility will be announced shortly.
Microgrants for Schools
In addition to the on-site prizes and raffle, all 135 public schools that serve students between the ages of 12 and 17 will also receive microgrants to fund their own events and prizes for students who get vaccinated. The microgrants will be distributed based on how many vaccine-eligible students are enrolled at the school – $750 for schools with 1-99 eligible students; $1,500 for schools with 100-250 eligible students; and $3,000 for schools with 250+ eligible students. Schools will be able to use the funding to create their own incentive events or programs.
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 Help is available if you’re behind on rent and utility payments. Visit stay.dc.gov/events to sign up for a STAY DC workshop near you or call 1-833-478-2932 to schedule an appointment.
Upcoming STAY DC In-Person Workshops
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Monday, August 2 | Department of Housing and Community Development (1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Corner of MLK and Good Hope Rd SE), 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, August 3 | King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N St SW), 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
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Thursday, August 5 | MOLA Partnership @ Reeves Center (2000 14th St NW), 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
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Saturday, August 7 | Dorothy Height/Benning Library (3935 Benning Rd NE), DC Health Vaccination Giveaway Event, 12:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Learn more about the program at stay.dc.gov
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 Residents, workers, and visitors are reminded that free COVID-19 testing is available daily across DC.
In addition to testing at fire stations, recreation centers, and other sites, individuals can pickup free COVID-19 At Home Testing Kits at 16 libraries located across the city.
Learn more at coronavirus.dc.gov/testing
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