COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 7, 2020

Posted: April 7, 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

The Emergency Operations Center is encouraging Washington County residents to wear cloth face coverings while in public to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are challenging to maintain (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies). According to the CDC, a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (asymptomatic) and can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity just by speaking, coughing or sneezing.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. The CDC recommends using homemade, cloth masks. A t-shirt, small towel, handkerchief or scarf can be folded and fastened with two rubber bands, according to the CDC.

Cloth face coverings should—

fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
be secured with ties or ear loops
include multiple layers of fabric
allow for breathing without restriction
be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

For more information on the use of cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19 click here.

Please continue to do your part to help flatten the curve.

MERITUS HEALTH

To provide Meritus Health employees and providers safe equipment and strategies to reduce potential for exposure to COVID-19 and based on new CDC guidelines found here, staff not in direct patient care settings are now being encouraged to wear masks. We are making cloth masks available to these staff members thanks in part to the generous donations of sewn masks from the community. Staff working in direct patient care continue to follow a specific masking strategy directed by the CDC with regard to PPE.

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. Meritus Health is hosting a blood drive Tuesday, April 21, from 11 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in the Robinwood Professional Center’s atrium. Visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/ and search “Robinwood” to schedule your appointment and help meet this need. The American Red Cross website also 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 HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Washington County Health Department Division of Behavioral Health will only be open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. until further notice due to the COIVD-19 pandemic.

During those times our Harm Reduction Program will continue to provide Narcan and syringe exchange services. If you are interested in Narcan outside of office hours please go to the following pharmacy:

Reed’s Pharmacy. 343 N Pennsylvania Ave, Hancock, MD 21750
Sharpsburg Pharmacy. 17316 Shepherdstown Pike, Sharpsburg, MD 21782
Smithsburg Pharmacy. 22030 Jefferson Blvd, Smithsburg, MD 21783
Williamsport Pharmacy. 100 E Potomac St, Williamsport, MD 21795
Express Pharmacy. 25 N Cannon Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

The Tobacco Free for Life program has temporarily suspended their classes, however those who are in need of free nicotine replacement therapy patches, gum and/or lozenges can still receive them. Please call 240-313-3310 to arrange drop off.

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Washington County Public Schools has a section of their website devoted to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at http://wcpsmd.com/school-health/covid-19-faq. Topics include: distance learning; online video classrooms; special education and English Learner supports; end of the school year and graduation; and student support. The community can send additional questions to [email protected].

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The information below and links to disaster relief resources, webinars and more can be found on the Chamber website, www.hagerstown.org and the Chamber’s special breakout page www.hagerstown.org/strongtogether

MD DOC Grant and Loan programs are now closed for an indefinite period of time. The State received over 39,500 applications for their grant and loan programs and expect the dedicated funds to be exhausted with eligible applications that they have already received. Their reviewers are processing the applications in order to disburse these funds into our business community as quickly and accurately as possible. They plan to keep the programs in place should additional money become available to refund them, but there’s no guarantee at this time for more funding.

The Chamber of Commerce wants to hear about the challenges you are having filing for state and federal loans and grants. The Chamber created a survey to gather feedback from businesses on the specific challenges they are having filing applications for state and federal relief programs, as well as filing for unemployment for your employees. If you have had problems and challenges or have suggestions to improve the system, please consider taking this short survey. The EOC’s business response team will be using you feedback to inform federal and state officials in an effort to improve the application processes. To fill out the survey, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZbCeF4H4CkJb9XZR7d4bd4GX66OXgs6YGGXv5–TKbtRosQ/viewform

Application Process for Payroll Protection Program Loans (PPP) Now Open

The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The application process for eligible businesses and nonprofits interested in the PPP Program started Friday, April 3^rd, and is expected to start for independent contractors and those who are self-employed on April 10^th. You must apply for these loans through a participating bank.

Please note, that the specifics and guiding documents behind the PPP program are a fluid issue and some things that are still being worked out. The banks just received the main guiding documents late Thursday evening and had more adjustments came Friday morning. Many banks will need time to sort through the information and educate their staff, so please be patient as these application processes are rolled out and refined.

The Department of the Treasury is advising small businesses “to apply as quickly as you can because there is a funding cap to the program” and the expectation for a significant volume of applications. It is also recommended that businesses and nonprofits first contact their bank to see if they are SBA certified, let them know their desire to apply, and learn about their bank’s internal process in handling customers for these loans. Due to expected volume, some banks are addressing their current customers prior to taking on any new ones. A list of participating lenders as well as additional information may be found at www.sba.gov.

In addition, businesses should consider contacting their accountant for assistance with gathering the necessary information and paperwork, as well as advice on whether they are applying for the best SBA programs given their specific circumstances.

Finally, due to the number of visitors there could be breakdowns when accessing some pages on the SBA website or filling out online applications. Please be patient with your banks and SBA as they work to handle a volume of SBA business over ten times more than a normal year.

For more details:

The time to support local restaurants through carry-out and delivery service is NOW. More than ever, they’re depending on this community to help them stay afloat. Please visitwww.hagerstown.org/restaurants to review some area options when it comes to eating out safely!

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has established plans to respond to COVID-19 at the Washington County Detention Center and Central Booking. The Washington County Detention Center has not had a positive case of COVID-19 to date, but preparation is critically important. These plans include education of and continuous communication with staff and the inmate population on COVID-19, including ways to stop the spread of disease, establishment of additional cleaning schedules, and modifications to processes to increase the possibility for social distancing within the WCDC facility.

In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the department has implemented the following procedures:

Outside programs and visitation has been suspended (03/16/20).
Inmates receive two free phone calls per week.
Limited movement of inmates to essential medical and mental health services.
Dedicated quarantine housing has been established; one housing unit is being utilized to quarantine all new arrivals for the first 14 days prior to being placed into the general population. Regular medical checks are conducted.
Food service inmates have been separated into two units by assigned shifts. The inmates are kept away from the general population and provide masks for wear while conducting food preparations.
WCDC has worked with Judges, the State’s Attorney Office and the Office of Public Defender to reduce the inmate population by 58 inmates since this State of Emergency began.
WCDC has collaborated with the Secretary of Public Safety and fellow Wardens/Directors to eliminate movement of inmates from one correctional facility to another.

In addition, the Washington County Detention Center has established cleaning schedules with increased frequency for all high traffic areas. WCDC has also instituted a temperature check protocol for new detainees who enter the facility. Detainees with a temperature of 100 degrees or more are placed into immediate isolation.

Employees are reminded to wash hands frequently; any employee with fever or other symptoms must stay home and not enter the facility.

WCDC staff is provided with personal protective equipment for duties requiring contact with inmates who may have been exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19. To date, WCDC has no confirmed positive cases of COVID-19.

The health and well-being of our employees and those in our custody are our highest priority; the WCDC has conferred with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, PrimeCare Medical Inc. officials and the NIC on how to best manage this pandemic inside our facility.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES & INFORMATION

Antietam Wealth Management One-Day Food Drive – April 13th

Antietam Wealth Management, located at 1125 Opal Court, Suite 1003, Hagerstown, is collecting non-perishable food items for the Washington County Commission on Aging’s Meals on Wheels with a one-day food drive on Monday, April 13^th. They are seeking the following items: rice, pasta, canned goods (soup, vegetables, ready-to-eat meals, fruit cups, oatmeal, healthy snacks (raisins, trail mix, nutri-grain bars), peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, un-opened toiletries (shampoo, lotion, mouth wash, toothpaste). Drop-off can be accessed using a drive-thru service setup at the office.

LegalShield Offers Legal Advice

LegalShield is a partnership held with the Chamber, offering legal advice during this pandemic. This handy website offers a lot of complimentary resources and answers to questions:https://covid19.wearelegalshield.com/, and our local rep, Eddie Peters, can be contacted viawww.eddiepeters.com