DC Health shares the District’s current monkeypox data (as of Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022). (Courtesy DC Health via Twitter) D.C. Council members pushed the District’s health department to publish a dashboard tracking monkeypox cases. On Wednesday, that data was made public, with the agency reporting 350 cases in the District. The health department’s latest data showed D.C. monkeypox cases were primarily confirmed in men and people in their early 30s. The tracker currently breaks down cases based on gender identity, race, ward and age. As of Wednesday, 167 cases were reported in those identified as white and 128 cases among Black-identifying people. Wards 1 and 2 reported the most cases. The publication comes after eight council members penned a letter Monday to Dr. Sharon Lewis, the current director of the District’s health department. Council member Elissa Silverman led the push to make the data public and commended the agency’s work. “This is government working together for a shared goal: Keeping DC residents healthy & protected against monkeypox,” Silverman said in a tweet. In the council members’ letter, they emphasized “broader communication to lower-risk residents” on the monkeypox virus, using dashboards and other materials. “Many residents who are not considered at high risk for monkeypox are scared for themselves and for their children who will return to school later this month,” the members said. “They do not feel they have sufficient information to know what their own risk is or how to protect themselves and their family members.”
Along with increased communication, Council members Silverman, Charles Allen, Anita Bonds, Mary Cheh, Brianne Nadeau, Brooke Pinto, Robert White and Trayon White called for equitable distribution of monkeypox vaccines. “We are interested in learning more about how DC Health is applying lessons learned during COVID about communicating and distributing vaccines to the monkeypox situation,” the letter continued. In addition, the members asked that DC Health provide “data on vaccine distribution by ward and other relevant characteristics; an overview of current and planned outreach efforts, especially to those who are not on social media or have consistent/any access to the internet; and an explanation of the appointment scheduling process, especially how people with limited or no internet access are able to schedule appointments.”
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For the first time in its 12-year history, Chuck Brown Day in D.C. will go on without the support of the family of the "Godfather of Go-Go."
The Brown family announced it has withdrawn its support for Saturday's celebration at Fort Dupont Park, saying it no longer believes the event reflects the collaboration and respect Chuck Brown's legacy deserves.
Chuck Brown's son, Nekos Brown Sr., told WTOP the issues are primarily with the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.
"It's been three years of issues we've been having with them as far as staying on par with proper communication, just overall professionalism and the ability to take our stance seriously," Brown said.
