COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: January 5, 2021

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

 

**The dashboard is updated Monday-Friday**

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

With Washington County’s positivity rate continuing to loom close to 17%, it is more than likely that you or someone you know has been affected personally by COVID-19. On November 5, 2020, our positivity rate was 4.53%. In just two months, the positivity rate has more than TRIPLED in the County. Simply stated, the virus continues to infect many citizens in our County. The Emergency Operations Center continues to urge citizens to avoid gatherings outside of their household and to remain vigilant as we continue the fight against COVID-19.

 

In the video above, the CDC recommends that if you might have been exposed to COVID-19 or if you are experiencing any symptoms, please stay home and quarantine. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please isolate yourself from other members of your household. As healthcare workers and first responders receive the first vaccinations in our County, it provides a glimmer of hope, however, we must ALL continue to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

 

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

 

Total Vaccinations Administered in Washington County: 2,071

Washington County Health Department Begins Providing COVID-19 Vaccinations to First Responders, Health Care Providers

 

The Washington County Health Department has announced plans to roll out its COVID-19 vaccinations for first responders and health care providers, the two populations identified in the State of Maryland’s highest priority group. 

 

Maryland has been planning for the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines since early 2020 by working closely with federal partners. Primary distribution and allocation to the states will be made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the federal Operation Warp Speed (OWS) effort.

 

In the first phase, based on the latest federal information and relatively limited availability of the vaccine in December, Maryland will prioritize nursing homes (both staff and residents), and critical healthcare staff at the state’s hospitals. This is in accordance with recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The vaccination of long-term care facilities is being handled by the federal government directly through partnerships with CVS and Walgreens that will vaccinate staff and residents.

 

Starting this week, and pending the arrival of the Moderna vaccine, the Washington County Health Department, in partnership with Meritus Medical Center, will focus initial vaccination efforts for first responders, including law enforcement officers, paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, and crisis teams. The health department is already working with these groups to coordinate the vaccination efforts.

 

Washington County health care providers not affiliated with a hospital or long-term care facility will be the next group vaccinated. Practices needing to be vaccinated should submit their names online on this Google Form.

The Washington County Health Department will work with the community and our partners to ensure that the most vulnerable have access to this vaccine. We are learning new things about the COVID-19 vaccine daily, causing things to change often so it is crucial that we maintain clear lines of communication.

 

For up-to-date COVID-19 information:

https://www.washco-md.net/coronavirus-info/

https://washcohealth.org/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

 

For more information about the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website, click here.

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

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

COVID-19 TESTING

Mobile Testing Sites: Closed for the winter months.

 

Winter Testing Site: Our drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 test site is located at one place during the winter months. Please go to the entrance at 13 West Lee Street and follow all traffic directions to be tested.

 

Hagerstown Housing Authority

13 West Lee Street, Hagerstown

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

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   

CONTACT TRACING UPDATE

Due to significant increases in the daily volume of COVID-19 positive individuals in our county, the Washington County Health Department is working diligently alongside NORC call center to notify all positive cases and their contacts in a timely manner.

 

Currently NORC call center is making all first contact attempts for COVID-19 positive individuals in Washington County. When you see “MD COVID” or (240) 466-4488 on your phone, please answer the call. If NORC is unable to reach the individual, Washington County Health Department is notified and attempts to reach the COVID-19 positive individual.

 

The key things to know if you test positive but don’t get a call are to isolate (please see the FAQs about Isolation and Quarantine) and to tell your close contacts* of their exposure.

 

We urge Washington County residents to cooperate and help contact tracer by answering all the questions they ask. Your honest answers and the information you provide will help us in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Your cooperation in contact tracing efforts plays a crucial role in keeping our community healthy.

 

* Close contact is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. Cumulative total can be determined by adding individual exposures over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes)

 

For more information of contact tracing please go to https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/faqs/#faqCT

Maryland Department of Health launches MD COVID Alert

Marylanders can now 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.

 

For the full press release go to: https://health.maryland.gov/newsroom/Pages/Maryland-Department-of-Health-launches-MD-COVID-Alert.aspx

The Maryland Department of the Environment is offering Free Radon Test Kits to Maryland residents. To learn more about Radon and how to request your free kit go to https://washcohealth.org/free-radon-test-kits-available/

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. Due to the current volume of cars coming through the line daily, results can take more than five days to be available through a patient’s My Chart account or primary care provider.

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.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

 

Thursday, January 7, 10-11:30 a.m.

Independent Contractors & Small Businesses: What to Know No Matter What Side You are Positioned!

Presented by: Matthew Johnston

Whether you are a small business engaging independent contractors, or you are an independent contractor, there are rules regarding your relationship that need to be followed to maintain the relationship and not have the government sniffing around your business.

 

Monday, January 11, 1-2:30 p.m.

MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE Certification

Presented by: Monica M. Randall, CEO; The Randall Group, LLC.

MDOT MBE/DBE & SBR Certified; SBA Certified WOSB/EDWOSB

The workshop is for firms interested in applying for certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) and/or Small Business Enterprise (SBE).  By attending the workshop, you will learn the benefits of certification, the five key requirements for certification, and the four steps in the certification process.

 

Tuesday, January 12, 1-2:00 p.m.

Small Business Approach to Cybersecurity

Presented by: Justin Smith, Midshore Technology Services LLC

It is paramount that, as a business community, we keep this topic fresh in everyone’s mind and included in business strategy. Regardless of if you have five employees or five-hundred. We will cover the five areas of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Identify, Detect, Protect, Respond and Recover and how to frame small business IT strategy to them.

 

Wednesday, January 13, 10-11:30 a.m.

Are You Riding the Way of Your Cash Flow…Or Being Swept Out to Sea?

Presented by: Bev Stitely, Tax Strategist, Enrolled Agent, Owner, Saunders Tax & Accounting

Join this informative webinar to learn how to where your money is going, control its flow, predict future revenue, and make sure you are paid first!

 

Wednesday, January 13, 1-2:15 p.m.

Understanding Facebook & Instagram Posts, Ads, ad Analytics for Your Business

Presented by: Dave Barnhart, ManningMedia Marketing Solutions

Learn the tips and tricks for maximizing your Business Page. When is the best time to post? How often? How to interpret your analytics and all the Facebook and Instagram ad types and the whole suite of Facebook advertising platforms including Messenger, Facebook Audience Network, and Facebook Marketplace.

 

Thursday, January 14, 10-11:30 a.m.

Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business & Customer List

Presented by: Dennis Ottey, Antonio Guerrero, Dott Digital Marketing

Join Dott Digital Marketing experts to learn how to grow your business and shape that customer! 

 

Thursday, January 14, 1-2:00 p.m.

A Roadmap to Your Professional Web Presence

Presented by: Theresa Stacy-Ryan, President of tmsr Design Delivery LLC

Take a journey to create a roadmap for putting your best foot forward on the web. Learn how to get started, the road bumps to avoid, and how to navigate being found on the World Wide Web. Do Domain Registrar, site hierarchy, brand identity, mobile-first responsiveness, CMS, HTML5, SSL, SEO, UX, and DM mean anything to you? They will after we’ve taken this one-hour webinar journey together!

 

Tuesday, January 19, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The Essentials of Social Media

Presented by: Jude Cyhpher, Graduate Assistant, Maryland SBDC

Learning how social media can help you accomplish your goals and grow your business through best practices and industry trends is key to starting a new business. Learn strategies and tips that will help you successfully reach your target audience.

 

Tuesday, January 19, 1-2:30 p.m.

Building Blocks of Intellectual Property (IP)

Presented by: Kevin McDermott, Esquire

Join this seminar to discover the basic elements of patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade dress, and trademarks/service marks.

 

Wednesday, January 20, 1-2:30 p.m.

Anti-Social: How to Promote Your Business Without Social Media

Presented by: Melody Belotte

Is it possible to build a strong marketing strategy in 2021 that doesn’t completely revolve around social media? Join strategist and marketing expert, Melody Belotte, to explore alternate ways to promote your business and discover which ones could be a good fit for your specific industry, target audience and individual skill level.

 

Thursday, January 21, 10-11:30 a.m.

An Option for Your Business Venture….FRANCHISING!

Presented by: Richard Bock, FranNet

Join us for this detailed franchise ownership workshop from the business experts at FranNet. Designed just for you to answer all those initial questions on business and franchising basics. Stop climbing the corporate ladder, and create your own!

 

Thursday, January 21, 1-2:15 p.m.

New Year, New Message: Plan Your Business Marketing for 2021

Presented by: Pieter Bickford, Marketing Executive, HighRock Studios

With the busy holiday season behind us, January is a great time to plan out your marketing for the year. Join the experts at HighRock to learn how to organize your marketing goals and strategize your messaging for 2021.

 

Monday, January 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Marketing 101

Presented by: Lennart Elmlund, LGE Designs International Corporation

In what ways is marketing different from sales? How can you get the most bang for your marketing dollar? What forms of marketing should you consider? These and many more questions will be discussed.

 

Tuesday, January 26, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Business Plan Basics & Capability Statements

Presented by: John Hickman, Eastern Region Director, Maryland Small Business Development Center and Arthenia LeFlore, Procurement Specialist, Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Center

Learn the basic elements of a business plan and how to structure writing an effective plan to maximize your loan potential. Government contracting is a very competitive marketplace! Contractors must know how to distill the information that is most important to a particular decision-maker, state it in a clear concise manner and reinforce its importance to the prospect.

 

Wednesday, January 27, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Key Census Program and Tools for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: A Strategic Approach

Presented by: Andrew Hait, Economic Management Division, U.S. Census Bureau

This webinar will provide an overview of key Census (and non-Census) demographic and business data programs that entrepreneurs and business owners can use to better understand their markets from the start-up phase to expansion considerations. Tune in for the interactive, live demo of the free Census Business Builder data tool that businesses can use to access these data.

 

Wednesday, January 27, 1-2:15 p.m.

Getting the Most from Your Web Presence and Development

Presented by: Ali Stamathis, Business Sustainability Center, Maryland SBDC

Join this session to gather helpful marketing tips to assess your digital footprint. We will identify what your web presence needs in order to be accessible and searchable to an online customer base. We will cover issues on how to identify your business needs on the web, and what you need to do to create next steps to achieve your digital goals. Ideas will assist you in thinking like a customer and making the most of your online efforts!

 

Thursday, January 28, 1-2:30 p.m.

Business Model Design Success in Uncertain Times

Presented by: Dr. Winsome Leslie, President and Ceo of DevSolutions Consulting

Entrepreneurs in the face of COVID19 must be agile to adapt and pivot in a situation of uncertainty. This presentation will describe these methods, with their emphasis on the client and on constant improvement and show participants how these tools are relevant in the current environment.

 

 

Registration is now open for the first-ever virtual SMARTProc GovCon on January 22, 2021.

 

Check out the website here: SMART PROC GOVCON 2021| Virtual Conference

 

For nearly two decades SMART PROC GOVCON has helped small businesses navigate the federal procurement system with focus areas on the contracting and programs at Fort Detrick, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Meade, and the Civilian Agencies in the Mid-Atlantic Region. This year, the Mid-Atlantic’s best-kept secret will be held virtually. The Fort Detrick Alliance is proud to sponsor this event in its 18th year. It is the premier event to bring together government and industry to provide invaluable insight on federal procurement priorities for FY21 and beyond.

 

Registration and more information can be found here: https://registration.socio.events/e/smartprocgovcon

 

FREE NFIB Webinar: What You Need to Know on Applying for A Second (or initial) PPP Loan!

Don’t miss NFIB’s PPP and COVID-19 experts, Beth Milito and Holly Wade, as they go step-by-step on how to apply for a PPP loan:

 

 

Please submit your questions ahead of the webinar so we can make sure to answer them.

(If you have EIDL or Covid paid sick leave questions, we welcome them as well!)

 

NFIB’s On-Demand Webinars are available online, anytime. Browse our online library of free small business Webinars, from legal and tax advice to operations information, to help you run your business better.

 

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.

WESTERN MARYLAND RETAIL RESILIENCY TRAINING SERIES

Below is information for the upcoming webinar series in January that the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering to businesses.

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. 

HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Hagerstown Community College has delayed the start of the spring semester to Tuesday, January 19. All credit classes will be offered remotely at the start. Later in the semester, performance-based classes will return to face-to-face and hybrid formats, when health officials deem appropriate. This includes labs, clinicals, simulations, applied classes, developmental classes, Adult Literacy, English Language Learners, and other performance-based classes. In order to ensure that the semester ends as previously scheduled, spring break has been canceled. The Campus Store is offering drive-thru pick up for books and other supplies. Hours for Student Services, the library, testing center, and Learning Support Center may be adjusted as needed. Please check the website for updates – www.hagerstowncc.edu.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFO & EVENTS

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. 

WASHINGTON COUNTY PARENTS SUPPORT DATABASE

The group WC Parents have created a simplified support database to gather and retain all services and needs in one place. This is an excellent example of the community working together to meet the tangible, everyday needs of parents in our community as this school year will begin with distance learning.

 

If you need childcare or can provide it, if you need tutoring or can provide it, etc., please join this forum and share your resources or needs.

 

It is up to the community to share your resources and fill this database. The group is asking for the public’s help in:

 

Click on the graphic below to join the forum or visit Wcparents.freeforums.net.