COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 27, 2020

Posted: April 27, 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

As we continue to take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting close contact, people are facing new challenges and questions about how to meet basic household needs, such as buying groceries and medicine, and completing banking activities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains ways to protect yourself and others when running essential errands. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/34ucuqJ

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

COVID-19 TESTING EXPANDS FOR COMMUNITY

Click on the map to right to access the closest COVID-19 testing site.

COVID-19 testing is now available to anyone showing symptoms as designated by the CDC – Fever greater than 100.5 degrees and/or a dry cough, shortness of breath or sore throat. No appointments or referrals are needed to be tested. Testing is now available for all ages. Mertius Health’s screening centers include:

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 6:00 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.

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.

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

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

Tuesday, April 28, 11:30 a.m. – Noon

Emotional Well-Being and Your Workforce in the Time of COVID-19: Taking Care of Your Employees – Hosted by the MD Chamber of Commerce

Representatives from Kaiser Permanente will discuss how to maintain emotional well-being in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include understanding stress and anxiety and how they impact your workforce, as well as tools and resources to care for your employees.

Wednesday, April 29, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Paycheck Protection Program Q&A Session – Hosted by CNB Bank

This webinar panel will consist of President & CEO Mark Harrell, Josh Householder, and Kevin Starliper. Registration is free and we will be able to share the presentation and recording afterward for anyone that is unable to attend!

Thursday, April 30, 11:00 a.m.

FREE Webinar hosted by The Fort Detrick Alliance: “New Challenges & Hurdles for Contractors in the COVID-19 Era”

Learn how to best navigate government contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Hear from Jeremy Scholtes, Attorney at Miles and Stockbridge; Jerome Maultsby, Assistant Director of the Office of Small Business Programs at Fort Detrick; and Sara Langdon, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, HQ.

This webinar will be moderated and there will be time for participants to ask questions of the panelists.

This event is open to members and non-members of the Alliance. Please pass along to anyone who might be interested or benefit from this opportunity. The webinar link will be provided to registrants the day before the event. Attendees will be able to video conference or call in depending on preference.

Friday, May 1, 11:00 a.m. – Noon

COVID-19: Economic Outlook and Prospects for Recovery – Hosted by the MD Chamber of Commerce

Join us for a conversation with Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Mr. Barkin will discuss the Federal Reserve’s recent and unprecedented actions and share his thoughts on the U.S. economy, including what the Richmond Fed is learning through business outreach, and the key components to a successful recovery.

Attention Employers:

Additional Funding Notice: The SBA resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders today, Monday, April 27, 2020. For more information on PPP Loans CLICK HERE.

With the additional funding provided by the new COVID-19 relief package, SBA will resume processing EIDL Loan and Advance applications that are already in the queue on a first come, first-served basis. We will provide further information on the availability of the EIDL portal to receive new applications (including those from agricultural enterprises) as soon as possible.

To learn more about the relief options available for your business, click here.

On Friday, Governor Hogan announced framework for his “Road to Recovery Plan”:

Watch press conference.
Read the roadmap at governor.maryland.gov/recovery.
Read the slides from press conference.
Visit governor.maryland.gov/recovery for more information and to sign up for updates about Maryland’s recovery plan.

Data Trends. To determine when a recovery can begin, Maryland officials will focus on the rate of hospitalizations and the number of patients admitted to ICU. If these numbers continue to plateau, Maryland could be ready to begin the recovery in early May. Marylanders can access this data daily at coronavirus.maryland.gov.

The ‘Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery’ is divided into three stages:

STAGE ONE calls for lifting the stay-at-home order, and involves business, community, religious, and quality of life improvements. Examples of changes that could be implemented in this stage include:

Reopening of small shops and certain small businesses
Curbside pickup and drop-off for businesses
Elective medical and dental procedures at ambulatory, outpatient, and medical offices
Limited attendance outdoor religious gatherings
Recreational boating, fishing, golf, tennis, hiking, and hunting
Reopening of car washes
Limited outdoor gym and fitness classes
Outdoor work with appropriate distancing measures
Some personal services

STAGE TWO will likely be a longer stage of the initial recovery, but will also be the stage when a large number of businesses and activities come back online. Any businesses that reopen during this period would need to comply with strict physical distancing and appropriate safety protocols. Examples of changes that could be implemented in this stage include:

Raising the cap on social gatherings
Indoor gyms and fitness classes
Childcare centers
Normal transit schedules
Indoor religious gatherings
Reopening of restaurants and bars with restrictions
Elective and outpatient procedures at hospitals

STAGE THREE will involve instituting higher-risk activities, but there is no realistic timeline yet for achieving this level. Examples of changes that could be implemented in this stage include:

Larger social gatherings
Reopening of high-capacity bars and restaurants
Lessened restrictions on visits to nursing homes and hospitals
Reopening of entertainment venues
Larger religious gatherings

Click here for full plan details.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. To view the agenda, please click here.

HAGERSTOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT

The Allegiant flight scheduled for Monday, April 27, 2020 is cancelled. 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.

HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Hagerstown Community College is offering two free summer classes to area 2020 high school graduates.

“We recognize all the sacrifices this year’s high school graduates have been forced to make, due to the pandemic,” said HCC President Jim Klauber. “This gift from the college is our way of helping to honor them and celebrate their accomplishments.”

The offer is open to 2020 high school/homeschool graduates from Washington County and HCC’s neighboring out-of-state counties (Franklin County, PA; Fulton County, PA; Berkeley County, WV; Jefferson County, WV; and Morgan County, WV).

Students may select one or two online summer courses beginning May 26, June 29, or July 13, and must be enrolled by May 26. Tuition is offered free-of-charge, but students are responsible for the cost of textbooks and college fees. The opportunity is open to the first 100 students who apply.

The application deadline is May 15. To learn more and apply, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/gradgift.

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

WASHINGTON COUNTY COVID-19 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND ANNOUNCES 2^nd CYCLE GRANT RECIPIENTS

The Washington County COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, a campaign organized by the Community Foundation and United Way of Washington County, Maryland, announces the second cycle of grant recipients. The second disbursement of grants was announced on Monday April 27 ^th .

Grants totaling $50,540 were funded to ten different agencies:

The first disbursement of grants was announced on April 20 ^th . Grants totaling $50,000 were funded to five different agencies:

The deadline for the third cycle of grants is Sunday, May 3rd at midnight. Applications will be reviewed, and recipients will be announced on Monday May 11 ^th . Applications should have a focus on ensuring basic needs and essential services throughout Washington County.

Together, the Community Foundation and United Way have challenged the community to raise an additional $50,000, bringing the total up to $250,000. The initial goal for the Emergency Assistance Fund was $200,000. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, so does the community’s need for essential services and basic needs. The Emergency Assistance Fund will continue until the COVID-19 crisis has diminished.

All funds raised will support Washington County community-based organizations and partners who directly help those adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In the weeks and months ahead, the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund will provide additional capacity to community-based organizations in Washington County. This fund will deliver economic assistance and access to vital food and basic need supplies to the many children, families and households who already have and will be impacted by the temporary loss of income. The COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund may also be deployed to strengthen our community’s ability to prepare for and respond to a variety of health and other emergencies, as well as to support programs and initiatives that are focused on fighting for the health, education, basic needs and financial stability of our community. Donations made to the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund will support efforts to provide relief to people impacted by coronavirus and its effect on our community.

The goal of the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund is to raise as much money as possible to deliver positive outcomes for severely affected individuals and families. The Community Foundation secured $100,000 in matching grants in less than two days. Matching donors include: Adna Fulton Family Fund. Pauline Anderson Foundation, William Dutton Family Fund, Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation, God’s Grace Fund, Community Foundation of Washington County, MD., John R. Hershey Jr. and Anna L. Hershey Family Foundation, Ed and Betsy Beachley, Dr. and Mrs. Mitesh and Erin Kothari, Kevin and Stacey Crawford, and Todd and Sue Baer.

United Way of Washington County has waived all administrative and processing fees to ensure all campaign funding will go to those most in need. To ensure maximum impact, the funding community is banding together to ensure that 100% of donations are distributed appropriately throughout the community.

Donations can be made online at https://bit.ly/2UR6fsy by texting COVIDWashCo to 313131, by calling 301.739.8200 x 104 or by mailing checks to United Way of Washington County, 83 West Washington Street, Suite 101, Hagerstown, MD.

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.