DC recommends canceling gatherings of over 1,000 people to fight coronavirus

The public health department in Washington, D.C., is recommending that all “non-essential” mass gatherings of over 1,000 people be canceled as a way to fight the coronavirus. 

“DC Health recommends that non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions, be postponed or cancelled,” Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote on Twitter. “Mass gatherings are defined as events where 1,000 or more people congregate in a specific location.”

“We also recommend that any social, cultural, or entertainment events where large crowds are anticipated be reconsidered by the organizer,” she added. “This recommendation is in effect through March 31.”

The move is the latest effort by communities to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, as the situation enters a “mitigation” phase in many locations that are already seeing the virus spread and are now trying to slow it down. 

Experts have recommended the cancellation of large gatherings as an important step. Washington s tate is also expected to announce restrictions on large gatherings later on Wednesday. 

Washington, D.C., has also recommended that people who attended Christ Church in Georgetown, where people were possibly exposed to the virus, self-quarantine for 14 days since their visit. 

The canceling of large gatherings is one of several “social distancing” measures intended to slow down the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming the health care system’s capacity.