COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: January 10, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

                                                          

CONTACT:

Danielle Weaver, Lead PIO

Joint Information Center

Phone: 240-313-2384

Email: [email protected]

 

                                                          

 

 

Brittany Arizmendi, JIC Manager

Joint Information Center

Phone: 240-313-2389

Email: [email protected]

COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER BRIEFING

January 10, 2022

The Joint Information Briefing will be distributed on Mondays for the duration of the current State of Emergency.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

Washington County is currently experiencing an extremely high level of community transmission of COVID-19. To put things into perspective, when we put out the last brief on June 10, 2021, Washington County’s COVID-19 positivity rate was 1.29%. Today’s positivity rate is looming at 31.9%, and since December 4, 2021, Washington County has experienced 57 people who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

 

On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, Governor Hogan declared a 30-day state of emergency to take urgent short-term actions to combat the current COVID-19 surge across the entire state. Meritus Health is experiencing a significant surge of COVID-19 patients and although equipped to handle the surge, our healthcare workers need your help. There are several steps YOU can take to help them over the next several weeks to keep yourself, your family, and your friends safe:

 

 

Businesses and employers can play a key role in preventing and slowing the spread within the workplace. Employers’ COVID-19 preparedness, response, and control plans should take into account workplace factors such as the feasibility of social distancing in the workplace, ability to stagger employee shifts, the degree to which employees interact with the public in person, the feasibility of accomplishing work by telework, the geographical isolation of the workplace, whether employees live in congregate housing, the proportion of employees at increased risk for severe illness, policies regarding sick leave for staff, and priority for continuity of operations. Employers should also consider the level of COVID-19 disease transmission in their communities.

The Emergency Operations Center continues to encourage residents that if you have not yet been vaccinated to strongly consider the benefits of getting the vaccination. If you click on the photo above, it will take you to the COVID-19 Vaccine Community Calendar.

QUARANTINE VS ISOLATION

 

Below is an explanation from the CDC of the difference between quarantine and isolation.

COVID-19 TESTING SITES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU SCREENING CENTER

 

 

 

COVID-19 VACCINE & BOOSTERS

COVID-19 boosters are available for eligible patients, 12 and older, at the Meritus Health vaccine clinic at Robinwood Professional Center’s atrium. Walk-in between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

 

EVUSHELD INJECTIONS

Evusheld injections for the prevention of COVID-19 will be offered at the Meritus Health vaccine clinic beginning Tuesday, Jan. 11.

 

 

 

In some cases, this option may be recommended to a patient who is severely

immunocompromised who has already been vaccinated.

 

Patients should talk with their health care provider to determine whether Evusheld is an appropriate pre-exposure prevention option for them. Patient and community providers can find all the resources needed on our website: COVID-19 Prevention Injections.

Help Us Continue on Our Path to Keep Washington County Open – Please ensure your business and customers continue to follow the recommended CDC guidelines as businesses remain open and other activities continue across Washington County. Wearing masks inside, social distancing, regular hand washing, and expanded cleaning is still a critical part of keeping infection rates low. By continuing these precautionary measures, we can prevent a spike in infections. The coronavirus has not gone away and we must stay vigilant and encourage citizens to get vaccinated. We all have a responsibility to do our part to help our economy remain open so that our many local businesses can survive and provide jobs for our citizens.

The purpose of this page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis. Do your part to stop the spread of disinformation by doing 3 easy things; don’t believe the rumors, don’t pass them along, and go to trusted sources of information to get the facts about the state of Maryland’s (COVID-19) response.