DC area has highest positive COVID rate in US: official

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The national capital metro area has the US's highest positive COVID-19 rate, according to the doctor leading President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force Friday.

Dr. Deborah Birx told reporters at the White House "there is still significant virus circulating" in the Washington, D.C. region, which includes parts of Maryland, northern Virginia and the nation's capital.

The region is followed by Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Theses are the places where we have seen really a stalling, or an increase of cases as in Minneapolis," she said.

The governors of Maryland and Virginia have slowly begun the process of reopening amid the dire economic situation, but D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been reticent to do so. She has said the district's phased reopenings could begin as soon as next week if the situation continues to improve here.

Trump earlier called on all governors to open houses of worship in their states, describing them as "essential" parts of America.