Before we get to that, only Ward 3 is below the German rollback threshold of 50 new cases per 100,000 per week–which also is the threshold the CDC suggests schools for all grades can reopen (0.05% in the second column below; n/a is not available):

The entire city didn’t get below the German rollback threshold of 50 new cases per 100,000 per week, and had a 62% increase in new cases in the last week. Except for Ward 3, which had a decrease, every ward saw large increases this week–it was horrible in all of the other wards. We also lack percent positive rates for each ward, so there’s no context for these numbers. That said, city-wide, the percent positive rate is too high, and climbing.

While we haven’t had any deaths in the last week, hospitalizations for COVID-19 are up 75% in the last week; hopefully, there won’t be any deaths due to these hospitalizations, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Unfortunately, vaccination is still crawling, at about 0.1% of the entire population per day, which is far too slow. The good news is that Mayor Bowser announced that “all employees, contractors, interns, and grantees of the Government of the District of Columbia must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19” by Sept. 19. Unvaccinated employees will be required to undergo weekly testing. First, this should have been announced weeks ago (Democrats, gormless and cautious? Inconceivable!). Second, other than medical and religious exemptions, there shouldn’t be an opt-out clause. But it’s better than nothing, even though it’s not enough (here’s what a good vaccination requirement scheme would look like).

Kids, including the unvaccinated ones, haven’t even started to return to school yet, and COVID-19 is already surging.

None of this needed to happen.

Rage is the appropriate emotion.