COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 16, 2021

COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER BRIEFING

April 16, 2021

COVID-19 Joint Information Daily Briefings will be released ONLY on Tuesdays and Fridays.

 

**The dashboard is updated Monday-Friday**

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

The Emergency Operations Center reminds Washington County residents COVID-19 IS STILL IN OUR COMMUNITY. There are currently 34 hospitalized, 3 new deaths, and local hospitals are being pushed to the max. PLEASE continue to follow CDC guidelines: wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands frequently. If you have not yet received your vaccination, please register and get vaccinated. If you are choosing to gather with people outside of your immediate household, please mask up and try to hold activities and gatherings outside. It is still encouraged to not attend large gatherings, as the chance of contracting or spreading COVID-19 significantly increases.

All Marylanders 16 and older are now eligible to get vaccinated at mass vaccination sites and are eligible to schedule appointments and get vaccinated through all providers. Eligibility does not guarantee an immediate vaccination appointment; it will take several weeks to vaccinate every resident who wants a vaccine.

 

The Hagerstown, Salisbury, and M&T Bank Stadium mass vaccination sites are offering walk-up, no-appointment vaccinations. A limited number of approximately 200 slots will be available each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

COVID-19 vaccination clinics are being held at nearly 500 retail and independent pharmacies statewide. To find the closest pharmacy provider in your area, visit covidvax.maryland.gov.

WHERE CAN YOU GET VACCINATED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY?

For all vaccination locations in Washington County, Maryland, search the map by your zip code at covidvax.maryland.gov

WESTERN MD MASS VACCINATION SITE

Pre-Registration Strongly Encouraged

 

Walk-ins Now Accepted

The Western Maryland Mass Vaccination site is open at the Hagerstown Premium Outlets. Please pre-register to schedule an appointment at covidvax.maryland.gov or by phone at 1-855-MD-GOVAX.

 

There is now a no-appointment walk-up line. Please be aware that the process for no-appointment lines will take longer, and there is no guarantee of receiving a vaccine.

MERITUS HEALTH

Residents age 18 and older – Go to your MyChart patient portal account to schedule your appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at Robinwood Professional Center. Meritus Health has received a new allocation of vaccines from the state, so appointments are available.

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The Health Department will be operating a drive-thru vaccination clinic beginning Monday, April 19th at 13 West Lee Street in Hagerstown, MD.

 

The drive-thru clinic will be held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Appointments are required.

 

To register for an appointment please click on the logo to the left or call the Health Department’s vaccine appointment call center at 240-313-3456 to be contacted when appointments are available.

FAMILY HEALTHCARE OF HAGERSTOWN

Any Maryland resident 18 and older can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Family Healthcare of Hagerstown’s main location. Visit the covidlink.maryland.gov website for a full list. Otherwise, request a time by clicking on the graphic to the left.

It is important to continue to follow all of the recommended guidelines to keep yourself safe. Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose while out in public or when you are around others outside of your household, wash your hands often, social distance, and avoid gatherings with people outside of your household.

 

If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been around others that have tested positive, PLEASE STAY HOME. Monitor your health closely and get tested.

 

Please continue to follow the guidelines put forth by the CDC and Maryland Department of Health:

 

***Timelines are subject to change depending on multiple factors, including vaccine availability***

 

COUNTY STATUS: PHASE 3

Based on the state’s accelerating vaccination rate and an anticipated increase in supply from the federal government, all Marylanders 16 and older are eligible for vaccination at Maryland’s mass vaccination sites: pre-register for an appointment. All Marylanders 16 and older are also now eligible for vaccination through all providers.

Pause on Administration of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

 

This morning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement regarding recent reports of adverse reactions to the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine and its recommendation to pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

 

Based on the federal government’s recommendation and out of an abundance of caution, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has directed all Maryland COVID-19 vaccine providers to pause the administration of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines until further federal guidance is issued. Both Meritus Health and Washington County Health Department have paused administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at this time.

 

Read full release from MDH here.

 

At this time, these adverse events to the J&J vaccine appear to be extremely rare. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government and take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously. People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Health care providers are asked to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html.

 

The County will provide further insight when the Maryland Department of Health is provided with more information as it becomes available.

If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, or substance use, please dial 2-1-1. For a more in-depth look at resources available in Washington County, please visit www.washcohope.com.

To partner with the community for this outreach campaign, golden thread bracelets will be given to businesses and community organizations across Washington County who would like to be a Threads of Hope partner. All partners are asked to hand out bracelets to anyone who may need encouragement during this season. If you are a business or organization in Washington County that would like to get involved, please sign-up at www.washcohope.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page to complete the form.

The County recognizes that nothing about this year has been normal. As we enter into the winter months, staying connected may become more difficult. It is okay to reach out for help. Citizens are encouraged to check on your friends and family members. Find creative ways to connect virtually or send cards of encouragement in the mail. We will get through this is together.

COVID-19 TESTING SITES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD

 

COVID-19 TESTING SITES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE

 

Drive-Thru Vaccine Clinic

 

The Washington County Health Department is pleased to announce the opening of our Drive-Thru COVID-19 Vaccine on April 19, 2021. The drive-thru clinic is located at 13 West Lee Street and will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am-2pm. Appointments are required. To register for an appointment please call our vaccine appointment call center at 240-313-3456 or fill out our interest form at https://forms.gle/M7iUevAdfcs4cpDb9 to be contacted when appointments are available. Currently those who live or work in Washington County and are 18 or older are eligible to be vaccinated at WCHD’s clinics. The health department is receiving the Moderna vaccine, which is currently approved for those 18 or older.

 

To view the full press release and details regarding the drive-thru clinic click here.

 

WCHD Vaccine Registration Call Center

 

Those who live or work in Washington County, who are also 18 years or older are eligible to get vaccinated at WCHD’s clinic. The health department has stood up a call center to assist the community with registering for upcoming vaccine clinics.

COVID-19 TESTING

The WCHD COVID-19 Winter testing location on West Lee Street is now closed. The health department is now providing mobile testing sites throughout the county. The week of April 19^th we will be providing FREE testing at the following locations from 10am-2pm.

 

April 21: Hagerstown Fire Department, 25 Church Street

April 23: Shafer Park Pavilion #1, Shafer Park Dr., Boonsboro

PSA- Fraudulent Calls Claiming to be Contact Tracers:

We have seen an increased number of reports of people receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to be from the “health department”. These individuals are then asking Washington County residents for personal and financial information. Please be cautious and aware that contact tracers will NEVER ask for your:

 

 

You should never give out personal information without being sure of who you are talking to directly. Contact tracers will only ask you questions regarding:

 

For more information about contact tracing please visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/contact-tracing   

MD COVID Alert

Marylanders can use MD COVID Alert to receive COVID-19 exposure notifications on smartphones The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced the launch of MD COVID Alert, the official COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Express system of Maryland. MD COVID Alert uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to quickly notify users who might have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 with the goal of reducing infections in Maryland.

A special pop-up clinic for Hancock residents for first doses only of the COVID-19 vaccine will be held Wednesday and Thursday, April 21-22. Residents ages 18 and older may walk in between 9 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. either day to the Hancock Town Hall auditorium, 126 West High St. Residents should please bring a photo ID with them to the clinic.

 

COMMUNITY VACCINE TOWN HALL

If you missed the live version of Meritus Health’s virtual town hall for the community on COVID-19 vaccines, watch the recording here:

 

Many important concerns and questions on COVID-19 vaccines were addressed and answered during the town hall.

 

COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS

MyChart appointments are now available to residents 18 years and older.

 

REPORTING COVID-19 VACCINE SIDE EFFECTS

Anyone who has had side effects from one of the COVID-19 vaccines should report those to the CDC through its dedicated resource: https://vsafe.cdc.gov/en/. This information is vital to help CDC staff learn more about the virus. Live v-safe support is available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. at 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) or TTY 888-232-6348.

 

COVID-19 CARE LINE HOURS CHANGING

The COVID-19 care line staffed by Meritus Health nurses, which has been available since early in the pandemic for those with health care questions related to COVID-19, will now be available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. only, beginning Monday, April 12.

 

MERITUS HEALTH DRIVE-THRU SCREENING CENTER

The drive-thru screening center for COVID-19 testing is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

The screening center is located behind Meritus Medical Plaza at 13620 Crayton Blvd., in Hagerstown. Testing is available for anyone, including those who do not currently have symptoms of the coronavirus, but suspect or are concerned that they have been exposed. No appointments or referrals are needed to be tested. Test results are made available typically within a day through a patient’s My Chart account or primary care provider.

TEDCO has a funding program that is an economic relief initiative to benefit socially and economically disadvantaged, and rural early-stage technology-based businesses hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is state-wide and is supported by $5M recently allocated from the Governor. 

 

TEDCO is in the midst of deploying these funds, up to $100,000 per company; and applications are being accepted online. Please share this information with companies in your area.

 

Information about the Rural and Underserved Business Recovery from Impact of COVID-19 (RUBRIC) program can be found by clicking here. There is also a recorded open forum about this program, click here to view.

 

Recent Law Clarifies and Expands CARES Act Employee Retention Credit

The Internal Revenue Service urges employers to take advantage of the newly-extended employee retention credit, designed to make it easier for businesses that, despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on the payroll.

 

The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, modified and extended the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), for six months through June 30, 2021. Several of the changes apply only to 2021, while others apply to both 2020 and 2021.

 

Effective January 1, 2021, employers are eligible if they operate a trade or business during January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021, and experience either:

 

As a result of the new legislation, eligible employers can now claim a refundable tax credit against the employer share of Social Security tax equal to 70% of the qualified wages they pay to employees after December 31, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Qualified wages are limited to $10,000 per employee per calendar quarter in 2021. Thus, the maximum ERC amount available is $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter, for a total of $14,000 in 2021.

 

For more information, see:

 

Minority Business Fund Founded by Four Community Banks:

Four banks have collectively committed up to $1 million in interest-free loans to aid both startup and existing minority-owned small businesses within the sponsoring community bank markets. The bank serving Washington County is the Bank of Charles Town. For details check out the link.  https://www.mybct.bank/banking-on-diversity/  

 

Please forward this email to any minority-owned business you may know that could be helped by this funding opportunity. If you or any other business needs help with the loan process please feel free to reach out to Herb Melrath, SBA at [email protected] 

 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FRAUD

If you need to report unemployment insurance fraud, please CLICK HERE.

PPP FAQ- The federal Paycheck Protection Program has changed several times. Here are answers to the biggest questions about the program. From the U.S. Chamber.

SBA has reopened the #PaycheckProtection Program loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications.

 

Early last week, SBA granted dedicated PPP access to Community Financial Institutions which include Community Development Financial Institutions, Minority Depository Institutions, Certified Development Companies, and Microloan Intermediaries as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to reach underserved and minority small businesses.

 

SBA will continue its emphasis on reaching smaller lenders and businesses by opening to approximately 5,000 more lenders, including community banks, credit unions, and farm credit institutions. Moreover, the agency also plans to have dedicated service hours for these smaller lenders after the portal fully re-opens next week.

 

First Draw PPP Loans are for those borrowers who have not received a PPP loan before August 8, 2020. The first round of the PPP, which ran from March to August 2020.

 

Second Draw PPP Loans are for eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less, that previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will use or have used the full amount only for authorized uses, and that can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.

 

Read the full press release here.

 

For updated PPP Lender forms, guidance, and resources go to https://www.sba.gov/ppp

FEEDBACK NEEDED FROM BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Over the last several weeks, the Chamber has been contacted by numerous members and other stakeholders regarding the role of the business community in Maryland’s mass vaccination efforts.

 

To support the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in their efforts moving forward, it is critically important that you submit your feedback to [email protected] if:

 

Please note that providing feedback does not entitle the entity to immediate vaccine deliveries. The next phases of vaccine distribution will depend on vaccines that are allocated to Maryland through the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed program. The intent of this effort is to gather feedback and information to better assist in Maryland’s mass vaccination planning for future phases.

 

For more information and assistance on the Stakeholder COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Operations & Logistics Capabilities Support, please contact [email protected].

 

Please visit the covidlink.maryland.gov website for more updated information on the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination in the State of Maryland. For additional information and assistance on Mass Vaccination General Inquiries email [email protected]

 

For questions, please contact Ashley Duckman, Vice President of Government Affairs, at [email protected] or 410-269-0642, ext. 1112.

SDAT Reminds Businesses to Verify Good Standing Status, Prepares for 2021 Filing Season

 

The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) encourages business owners to look up their business’ status on Maryland Business Express to ensure they are in Good Standing with the state, and if not, to follow the steps in this Good Standing Checklist to avoid being forfeited. The Department also announced that its free 2021 Annual Report Extension System is live, which allows businesses to extend their filing deadline from April 15 to June 15, 2021.

Important information below from SBDC’s Financial Specialist Team if you or your business as received a PPP loan: 

 

As a PPP borrower – and with 2020 tax preparation season now in swing – the Maryland SBDC Financial Specialists Team wants to remind you about tax implications related to PPP forgiveness. Although the SBDC does NOT provide tax advice, they wanted to make you aware of a potentially KEY issue. Per IRS Notice 2020-32, expenses paid using FORGIVEN PPP funds are NOT tax-deductible expenses. This means that if your application for forgiveness is APPROVED in 2020, the expenses you paid with those “forgiven” PPP funds WILL NOT be deductible on your 2020 tax return. This could have significant “2020 income tax due” implications when you file the return. If you delay the “Forgiveness” request/get approval until 2021, that would allow time for tax planning related to the 2021 tax filing when those “forgiven” related expenses still cannot be deducted. STEPS TO TAKE: SBDC encourages you to connect ASAP with your tax preparer to consider strategies and options. Certainly, if you have any questions or want additional insights, please feel free to contact your Maryland SBDC Business Consultant, go to the www.marylandsbdc.org website to get connected with a Consultant and/or refer to our COVID19 Small Business Survival Guide.

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 we reopen businesses and other activities 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 taking on these minor inconveniences, we can prevent a spike in infections which could force officials to slow down or even reverse the reopening process. The coronavirus has not gone away and we must stay vigilant until a vaccine is created. We all have a responsibility to do our part to help our economy reopen 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 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. 

CITY OF HAGERSTOWN

 

Attention Main Street Businesses in downtown Hagerstown! A new COVID-19 business assistance grant application is LIVE!

 

 

 

Main Street Hagerstown has received special COVID-19 funding from the Governor’s Maryland Strong: Economic Recovery Initiative (MD-SERI). This funding has been made available for designated Main Street Maryland districts as part of the Governor’s initiative. These funds will be distributed on a rolling basis until allocated program funds have been dispersed into the designated district or until June 1, 2021. The grant can fund eligible expenses and purchases made from January 1, 2021 to June 1, 2021. The grant, with a maximum funding amount of $5,000/business, will be administered to businesses in order to assist in the ability to sustain, adjust, and bolster their day to day operations as well as operations that continue to be adjusted to address COVID-19 restrictions and prevention methods.

 

Guidelines and Application Form became available on Thursday, 1/28/21 on the City’s website.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFO & EVENTS

Having trouble affording your utility or heating bill? We’ve got you covered. Apply for energy assistance BEFORE you receive a turn-off notice so that funds can be applied to your account as soon as possible! Click the logo to learn more.

Now is an excellent time to remind friends, family, and neighbors about the Senior Call Check program. It is important that we check in on our older adults, especially those living alone, to make sure they are okay.

 

EMERGENCY SHELTER & EVICTION ASSISTANCE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

If you or someone you know is in sudden need of shelter and/or eviction assistance as the rental moratorium comes to an end, please contact the resources listed on the poster below.

 

During the day, all individuals/families are being directed to the Community Action Council (CAC) and/or Reach. It is very important that people be directed to these agencies for appropriate assessment of all needs and eligible services. For immediate shelter at night; adult individuals are directed to the Reach Shelter.