177 DC firefighters, 161 DC cops quarantined after coronavirus confirmation among colleagues

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DC-based restaurant group hopes to ‘Food it Forward’

Restaurants are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with many forced to lay off scores of employees as they transition to carry-out only or close entirely. However, one D.C.-based restaurant group is hoping to buck the trend, with a creative idea to keep their employees working.

D.C. officials announced on Monday that 177 firefighters and 161 police officers are now quarantined after 14 firefighters and five cops were confirmed as having the novel coronavirus.

As of Sunday night, 401 D.C. residents had cases of coronavirus, and nine had died as a result of the virus.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in the District, Maryland and Virginia

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is asking people to only leave their home for grocery shopping, exercise, or medical treatment.

“Non-essential” businesses in the District are shut down, and schools are currently closed.

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The mayor noted that residents have made a lot of sacrifices to help combat COVID-19, “and these sacrifices will save lives.”

Officials also announced that FEMA has declared D.C. a Major Disaster Area.

They also cautioned that the District has not seen its peak of the disease spreading, nor has it peaked in terms of its death toll.

READ MORE: D.C.'s first confirmed coronavirus patient is out of the hospital