COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 20, 2020

Posted: April 20, 2020

Coronavirus, Daily COVID-19 Briefings

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

Click here to receive Washington County daily briefings delivered to your inbox.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people who get sick can take care of themselves at home. Practice healthy habits if you’re sick:

• Stay home except to get medical care

• Monitor your symptoms

• Call ahead before visiting your doctor

• Separate yourself from other people in your home

If you need to see a doctor, take precautions to protect yourself and others around you. For more details visit https://bit.ly/34HLO5V

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

For those who may have complaints or inquiries regarding social distancing compliance at operating businesses, organizations, establishments, facilities, or construction sites, please contact the Washington County Health Department at 240-313-3210 or email [email protected].

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.

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). Individuals can call 240-313-3210 or email [email protected] 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!

Upcoming Webinars

Wednesday, April 22, 12:00 p.m.

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Webinar

Join Holly Wade, Director, Research & Policy Analysis, and Beth Milito, Senior Executive Counsel, for an update on Congressional action to add funding to Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program loan programs, a review of SBA rules on the PPP loan forgiveness formula, and hear the latest on the unemployment insurance system meltdown.

Chamber Webinar:

Tuesday, April 21, 9:00 a.m.

Learning Business Through Life Experiences

This popular Chamber event is now virtual and open to non-members. Perfect for this COVID-19 related shut down, it presents an opportunity to learn valuable tips through real life situations, including disasters. Ask questions and look for inspiration along the way! Build relationships within your business. Empower your employees to do the best job possible!

Attention Employers:

Economic Impact Disaster Loans(EIDL) or Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Application Process Suspended

Notice: SBA suspended taking EIDL or PPP 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.

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.

ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR MARYLAND BUSINESS

EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

The federal CARES Act expanded unemployment insurance benefits nationwide, giving access to sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed workers. Maryland will provide all three expanded unemployment programs: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.

Upon availability, benefits will be paid back to the earliest date of eligibility. Please use the following link to monitor progress as these programs come online and sign up to receive email updates when filing opens for PUA benefits: dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml.

SBA DAILY CALLS AND WEBINARS

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is conducting daily webinars and conference calls to help small business owners understand and apply for coronavirus relief programs. The SBA offers these programs: Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL Loan Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loan, SBA Debt Relief. Calls and webinars are scheduled as follows:

3 p.m. – Daily Conference Call. 202-765-1264; ID # 827-299-626

5:30 p.m. – Daily Conference Call. 202-765-1264; ID # 310-688-488

10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. – Zoom Webinar. Meeting # 6794772946. Have all your necessary documents ready

SMALL BUSINESS RESERVE (SBR) PROGRAM

Certified small businesses have access to over $400 million in prime contracting opportunities on state-funded contracts through the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program. SBR certifications can be completed through the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) platform by clicking emma.maryland.gov.

Once certified, firms must recertify annually. If a business is not in the program or needs to recertify, they should complete the SBR certification process immediately. Utilize this Quick Reference Guide for more information: procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2020/03/7-SBRCertification_Recertification.pdf.

MARBIDCO PANDEMIC ADJUSTMENT LOAN FUND

The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) established the Pandemic Adjustment Loan Fund Program to help Maryland’s food and fiber producers, harvesters, and primary processors adjust to business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers low-cost loans with flexible terms for working capital or equipment purchases. The maximum individual loan amount is $10,000, and no collateral security is required. Applications for the Pandemic Adjustment Loan Fund must be submitted by May 31. The application form is available at marbidco.org. For questions, please call (410) 267-6807.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The Board of County Commissioners meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2020 has been canceled.

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 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.