COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 17, 2020

Posted: April 17, 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

In the video below, Health Officer Earl Stoner briefly discusses how the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is planning to handle a surge in COVID-19 patients, should the need arise in Washington County.

Washington County Joint Information Center (JIC) Update 4/17/2020

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

On April 5, 2020, Governor Hogan issued Executive Order Number 20-04-05-02 Delegating Authority to Local Health Officials to Control and Close Unsafe Facilities. The purpose of the Executive Order is to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring that a business, organization, establishment, facility, or construction site complies with the Social Distancing Guidance published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

The Washington County Health Department will work in coordination with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police to address and investigate all complaints or inquiries regarding social distancing compliance at operating businesses, organizations, establishments, facilities, or construction sites.

Individuals can call 240-313-3210 to report concerns regarding compliance with this Executive Order.

MERITUS HEALTH

Meritus Health has a COVID-19 clinic for patients who have non-emergency health care needs and are either confirmed or suspected by a health care provider to have COVID-19. The new non-emergency care COVID-19 clinic is located at 13620 Crayton Blvd., inside Meritus Medical Plaza. Patients should enter through the main lobby of the building. Hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on weekends. COVID-19 screening will not take place at the new clinic. Patients should be referred to this clinic by a Meritus Medical Group provider through an e-visit or another health care professional through a telehealth visit or by calling the COVID-19 care line at 301-790-9170.

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

INCREASED TESTING CAPACITY AVAILABLE

Click on the map to right to access the closest COVID-19 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 updated testing guidelines for COVID-19 at Meritus testing locations, please click here.

Meritus Equipped for Life at 525 Dual Highway, has temporarily changed its store hours effective immediately to Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and the first Wednesday of each month from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the store will now be limited to three (3) customers inside at one time. If the store’s door is locked, customers should please wait for an employee to come to greet them and let them inside. The 24-hour on-call technicians continue to be available for emergencies by calling 301-714-0200.

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/.

**IMMEDIATE NEED AT MERITUS**

Please consider donating new or used rain gear – coats, pants and ponchos – to Meritus Medical Center to help in our need for more protective wear on campus. All donations may be placed in the blue bins located at the Orange entrance in the back of the building, near the new construction site. Thank you in advance for your support with this immediate need.

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!

Attention Employers:

Small Business Administration suspends taking Economic Impact Disaster Loans or Paycheck Protection Program Loan applications as appropriated funds are depleted

SBA announced that due to a lapse in new appropriations, the SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – COVID-19 related assistance program. Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Congress is in discussions about allocating more money to these programs and we are hopeful that will come soon. We recommend businesses that qualify for these programs consult with their accountants and banking institutions and be prepared to file quickly should new funding become available. Please check back regularly on the SBA website for Coronavirus Relief Options and look for updates on new funding and whether these programs will reopen.

The Chamber hosted a “Leadership in Times of Crisis” webinar hosted by certified John Maxwell coach Morgan Plummer. To access a recording of the Webinar: Meeting Recording Link: Click Here – Access Password: A9%o?9e#

Questions About What Relief Programs Are Available?

Business owners are encouraged to use the MARYLAND BUSINESS RELIEF WIZARD to find what relief programs are available.

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The state superintendent of schools, Dr. Karen Salmon, has announced all Maryland public schools will remain closed through May 15, 2020.

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) will continue distance learning. Families are encouraged to visit www.wcpsmd.com if they have questions about their child’s education through the school closure and distance learning.

We appreciate families working with their children and continuing to support them in education.

HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT

Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) was approved to receive funding from the CARES Act. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration allocated $1,126,907 to HGR, which will assist in paying operational expenses that have incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following Allegiant flights for next week are canceled:

Monday, April 20, 2020 – CANCELED

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 – CANCELED

Friday, April 24, 2020 – CANCELED

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 directly if you have questions regarding your travel itinerary.

CITY OF HAGERSTOWN

City Engineer Rodney Tissue shares a message regarding the implementation of new practices designed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community for the following City amenities, facilities, programs, services, and projects: parks, recreation, trash & recycling, and construction.

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

Antietam Broadband Creates “Local Shopping” Campaign

Antietam Broadband is continuing their ongoing efforts to support Washington County. Thousands of residents are using Local Eats, and they just launched Local Shopping, a resource to connect to area businesses! CLICK HERE to learn more.

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 Community Action Council 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. This initiative began on April 10th and will continue until completed.

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 Point of Contact for the specific organization and they can deliver masks directly once complete.