Even as President Donald Trump presses to have large chunks of the United States open for business by the end of this month, with White House social distancing guidelines set to expire on April 30, the city which hosts the seat of the federal government is extending its stay-at-home order through the middle of May to fight the Coronavirus.
"We have a lot more work to do to flatten our curve," said District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, as the city announced five more deaths from the virus outbreak.
"I don't know that means that we are going to be open on May 16," Bowser told reporters. "I look at that as a check-in point."
The decision means schools in the nation's capital will stay closed for another month as well.
Bowser made her announcement in offices which are just a short walk from the White House, where President Trump has made clear he's ready to give the green light to as many as 29 states to fully re-open for business - while others may take longer because of the virus outbreak.
The mayor's decision also extended ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, which could obviously present some difficulties for re-starting work at various federal government office buildings in the city.
The city of Washington, D.C. - with a population of 700,000 people - has not seen any outbreak like New York City - as a total of 72 residents have died from the virus.
Like other places though, the cases of Coronavirus are hitting in areas which are more likely to be the home of African-American residents, and in lower income areas of the city.
Across the Potomac River, the state of Virginia on Wednesday extended its own shutdown order through May 8.
In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has ordered schools closed through April 24. It's not clear if he will extend that date.
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