Some Montgomery County businesses close, Bethesda gym confirms member has coronavirus

UPDATE - 12:41 PM 3/15/20: Jaleo at Bethesda Row and all other Think Food Group restaurants have just announced they are closed "until further notice." Chef/ownership partner José Andrés says some of the restaurants will be used as community kitchens for those who need meals during this crisis. "We are in an unprecedented emergency...and as painful as it is, ALL restaurants, bars, etc. must be closed across America if we are to avoid what’s happening in other countries. This is the only way," he tweeted.

The first coronavirus-related business closures in Montgomery County have occurred. The Apple Stores at Bethesda Row and Westfield Montgomery Mall have closed until March 27, 2020. Apple is closing all of its stores outside of China until that date. Mynd Spa & Salon at Pike & Rose announced at the close of business last night that it would close indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While those businesses closed to avoid employees and customers contracting covid-19, upscale gym Equinox in Bethesda already had a member who did. WUSA-9 reported that the Bethesda Row fitness facility confirmed a member tested positive for coronavirus after last working out there on March 9. Some employees and members of the gym expressed anxiety over its decision not to temporarily close, and WUSA-9 cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that suggest a 24-hour closure is needed before an exposure site can be disinfected.

Mall operator Westfield released identical statements regarding its Montgomery Mall and Wheaton Plaza properties Saturday. Westfield stressed that both retail centers remain open, but that it will allow individual tenants to change hours or close as needed to protect their staff and patrons. The company added that the open status of the mall could change if the CDC or government authorities request such gathering places be closed.

President Trump announced he tested negative for coronavirus on Saturday. The United Kingdom announced citizens 70 and older would be asked to self-isolate in the near future, but Maryland Larry Hogan had long ago recommended Marylanders 60 and older do just that to avoid exposure to the virus.

Some of the business closures appear to be driven by the same magical thinking of local politicians that schools would somehow be able to reopen in only two weeks. That will almost certainly not be the case. Testing locally and nationally remains inadequate, and as a result, we have no true sense of how far and how rapidly covid-19 has spread in our county and region yet. But no credible medical professional believes this will blow over in two weeks. "I'm not an epidemiologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."