COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 11, 2020

Posted: April 11, 2020

Coronavirus, Daily COVID-19 Briefings

The Washington County, Maryland Joint Information Center (JIC) provides the following update regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Emergency Operations Center

As we are several weeks into the fight against the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Washington County, MD continues to encourage the community to do their part to flatten the curve by staying home, washing hands, and social distancing. The County continues to take strides to prepare for a continued fight. Health Officer Earl Stoner shares how the County is working together to combat this virus.

COVID-19 Update for Washington County, MD - April 10, 2020

With the Easter holiday coming on Sunday, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is reminding the community to continue following social distancing guidelines. To view the latest i nterpretive guidance regarding religious gatherings from Governor Larry Hogan click here.

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Governor Hogan issued Executive Order #20-04-02 Delegating Authority to Local Health Officials to Control and Close Unsafe Facilities. The purpose of this order is to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring that a business, organization, facility, or construction site complies with the Social Distancing Guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Maryland Department of Health. Individuals can call (240) 313-3210 to report concerns regarding compliance with this Executive Order.

MERITUS HEALTH

Thousands of blood drives have been cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the need for blood is constant and the current need is great. If your organization can offer a location for the American Red Cross to use for a blood drive in our area, please reach out to Carey Nycum-Foor, blood drive coordinator, at [email protected] or 1-814-244-9715. The American Red Cross website –https://redcrossblood.org – includes information on the safety protocols the organization is taking during this public health emergency.

Meritus Health continues to offer telehealth visits. These visits will allow patients to speak directly with a primary care provider to discuss health concerns.

Telehealth visits are available from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. To request a telehealth visit please complete the form below.

BOOK YOUR TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT HERE

COVID-19 TESTING SITES

Click on the map to right to access the closest testing site.

Once you have spoken with someone on the COVID-19 care line – 301-790-9170 – or to your physician about your symptoms, you may be directed to Meritus Health’s drive-thru or walk-thru screening center.

Drive-thru Center: COVID-19 screening is available behind Meritus Medical Plaza, at 13620 Crayton Blvd. Hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weekends from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Walk-thru Center: COVID-19 screening is available at 24 N. Walnut St, Hagerstown, MD. The walk-thru screening center is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To view testing guidelines for COVID-19 at Meritus testing locations, please click here.

For the most up-to-date information on Meritus Medical Group e-visits, visitor restrictions at Meritus Health facilities including the hospital and other COVID-19 resources, please visit https://www.meritushealth.com/patients-visitors/public-notice/.

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Please stay tuned to www.hagerstown.org for the latest information on COVID-19 relief resources, local restaurants that remain open for business, and more! Also, please feel free to contact your Chamber staff throughout this challenging time. Find our contact information HERE.

Chamber Webinar Recording Available: Navigating the Coronavirus Business Resources

To access the slide deck used throughout this presentation, click HERE.

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS

*NEW* – MARYLAND BUSINESS RELIEF WIZARD – Howard County Chamber of Commerce has worked with MD Commerce to engineer an online tool to help businesses identify what programs might help them the most during the COVID-19 crisis. Please feel free to share this with people in your network.

PPP opens up today, April 10, 2020, for independent contractors and self-employed individuals.

The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. All loan terms will be the same for everyone.

The loan amounts will be forgiven as long as:

The loan proceeds are used to cover payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs over the 8-week period after the loan is made; and
Employee and compensation levels are maintained.
Payroll costs are capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.
Due to high volumes of applications, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs.
Loan payments will be deferred for 6 months.

When can I apply?

You must apply through your local bank that is an approved SBA lender
April 3, 2020, small businesses and sole proprietorships began applying through existing SBA lenders to cover their payroll and other certain expenses
Starting April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.
Other regulated lenders may be available to make these loans as soon as they are approved and enrolled in the program.

Additional PPP Information:

PPP Borrower Information Fact Sheet (.pdf)

Additional information, qualifying factors, and to apply

FAQ for Lenders and Borrowers

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Third Marking Period Report Card Grades

Middle and high school grades will be posted to ParentVUE/StudentVUE on Friday, April 10.

Elementary school grades will be posted to ParentVUE/StudentVUE on Monday, April 13.

Report cards will be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service on Friday, April 17.

Make-up Days in April

April 9, 10, 13 and 28 are student make-up days for the 2019-2020 academic year. This means students will continue to be engaged in online learning, which will allow the time to be counted towards the completion of the school year.

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) has not received direction from the State regarding how the COVID-19 school closures will affect the length of the school year. At this point, WCPS believes it is important that as many days count as possible.

April 9 and 13 were already identified in the academic calendar as potential make-up days. April 28 was primary election day, which has been delayed.

Feedback: Distance Learning @ WCPS Website

WCPS has compiled resources to support families and students who are learning from home. Visit Distance Learning @ WCPS to find tutorials, tips, an overview of the distance learning curriculum and weekly objectives, and more.

WCPS would like your feedback to see how we can improve your experience on the website. You can send us your thoughts by completing this short form.

If community members have general questions during the school closure period, email mailto:[email protected]. Inquiries will be handled and responded to by the appropriate staff.

CITY OF HAGERSTOWN

The Washington County Homeless Coalition is overseeing COVID-19 mitigation services for the homeless population, with Horizon Goodwill leading the efforts. The parking lot at Hagerstown Police Department headquarters on Burhans Blvd has portable restrooms, hand sanitizer, and water available to the homeless 24 hours and 7 days a week. The Homeless Outreach Team is there Monday-Thursday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. each day to provide additional assistance.

At the old armory building located at 328 North Potomac Street in Hagerstown, the Homeless Outreach Team is on site Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m.-Noon & from 4:00-8:00 p.m. to provide water and street guides for the homeless. Members of the homeless community are able to use the phone, a computer, shower, and do laundry. Fridays are by appointment only. The phone number is 301-733-6063, X8269.

The Washington County Homeless Coalition is also seeking landlords who are willing to talk permanent living arrangements for some of the people and families the continuum/coalition is helping. Please contact Brooke Grossman, Chief Mission Officer for Horizon Goodwill, at 301-988-0185 or [email protected].

HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT

The following Allegiant flights for next week are canceled:

Monday, April 13, 2020

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Friday, April 17, 2020

HGR currently remains open and operational but flights are subject to change. Passengers are encouraged to contact their airline via their app, social media or calling the airport direct, if you have questions regarding your travel itinerary.

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 the 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.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES & INFORMATION

HORIZON GOODWILL – CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH FABRIC MASKS

Multiple local agencies and organizations that provide direct or essential services have requested in obtaining fabric masks for their employees. Horizon Goodwill is partnering with these agencies and volunteers to provide materials and instructions for creation of these masks. We have the supplies and instructions; we need volunteers with sewing machines to help get them made!

Organizations Needing Masks

City of Hagerstown- 125

Washington County EOC- 200

Salvation Army Soup Kitchen – 40

Turning Point Homeless Outreach Team- 50

Horizon Goodwill – 400

Arc of Washington County – TBA

Additional Ask

Emergency Command-7000-8000 masks that need elastic replaced. These will be at the CAC for repair, need volunteers 10:00 a.m.-Noon or Noon-2:00 p.m. Monday-Friday to complete this project. We want to keep these in one place so that we can be sure all masks are returned to Sheriff. Would like to start Friday, April 10, if possible.

Contact Information

Call Brooke Grossman, Horizon Goodwill volunteer Point Of Contact, at 301-988-0185 if interested in assisting.

Interested volunteers/groups should pick one of the projects above and a quantity they feel is reasonable for them to produce. Pickup of packaged materials will be coordinated at Horizon Goodwill headquarters at 145151 Pennsylvania Ave (across from Nick’s Airport Inn). Once volunteers are identified for specific projects, they will be provided with the POC for the specific organization and they can deliver masks directly once complete.

Below is a special segment of Horizon Goodwill’s Good to Know series, where information is shared about a collaborative, volunteer effort in Washington County to make face masks for several agencies and organizations including the Washington County Emergency Operations Center and first responders.