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

Posted: July 17, 2020

Coronavirus, Daily COVID-19 Briefings

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

Please visit www.washco-md.net/coronavirus-info for the latest numbers on Washington County’s COVID-19 dashboard.

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

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

**The dashboard will be updated Monday-Friday**

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

As Governor Hogan stated, “Only YOU can keep Maryland open for business.” Through every phase of this pandemic, the Emergency Operations Center has emphasized the importance of being in this fight together. It is important to recognize COVID-19 is still in Washington County. To be a respectful and responsible citizen, we ask that everyone continues to wear a face covering in required locations and when physical distancing is not possible. The only way we will get through this is together.

Thank you to businesses and organizations who are responsibly holding their customers and clients accountable by implementing safety and health protocols. To sustain our local economy, following simple safety procedures such as wearing a mask and physical distancing, is a minimal sacrifice to help keep employees safe and businesses open. As we continue to move forward in the coming days, let’s continue to work together to keep each other safe and show support to our local businesses.

COVID-19 TESTING SITES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD

Meritus Screening Drive Thru Center is located at 13620 Crayton Blvd. The drive-thru screening center is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
VEIP Station Drive Thru Testing Site is located at 12100 Insurance Way in Hagerstown. Starting Tuesday July 21, doctor’s orders are no longer required to get tested. Appointments are still required. Individuals can schedule their own appointment by going to https://health.maryland.gov/covidtest/Pages/Home.aspx
CVS Drive Thru Testing Site located at 1503 Potomac Ave, Hagerstown MD 21742. Please visit https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to see if you qualify for testing at this site and to schedule an appointment.
CVS Drive Thru Testing Site located at 10 E Wilson Blvd, Hagerstown MD 21740. Please visit https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to see if you qualify for testing at this site and to schedule an appointment.
U.N.I. Urgent Care Center located at 11236 Robinwood Drive, Suite 101 Hagerstown, MD 21742. No Appointment required. Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; 240-313-4242
U.N.I. Urgent Care Center located at 18721 N Pointe Drive Hagerstown, MD 21742. No Appointment required. Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; 301-733-8313

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Starting Tuesday July 21, 2020, the Hagerstown VEIP Drive-thru Testing Site will no longer require a doctor’s order to get tested at this site. Appointments are still required. Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Individuals can schedule their own appointment by going to https://health.maryland.gov/covidtest/Pages/Home.aspx

Please follow the directions on the page and choose the Hagerstown VEIP Station when choosing a location. Accommodations such as large print or Braille materials, sign language interpreter, deaf language interpreter, foreign language interpreter, use of MD Relay and more are available at no cost to you at this testing site. Please make sure you indicate any accommodations you require when scheduling your appointment.

More information on:

What to expect at this testing site

While you are waiting for testing results

(English and Spanish versions are accessible by clicking on the above links)

The Washington County Health Department continues to expand FREE COVID-19 testing to vulnerable and hard to reach populations in Washington County. The health department is working with local towns and communities all over the county to bring mobile walk-in testing sites right to the local residents. Testing as these sites will be open to everyone and you do not need a doctor’s order or an appointment to participate. The tests used are the quick nasal swap that takes about 15 seconds to administer. Please follow social distancing and masking guidelines when participating at these sites. All testing sites are walk-up clinics.

At this time free COVID-19 testing is scheduled from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the following locations:

7/22: Church of the Nazarene – 141 N. Edgewood Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740 (Spanish interpreter will be available)
7/24: Smithsburg (Veterans Park) – 68 W Water Street, Smithsburg, MD 21783
7/29: Zion Baptist Church – 61 Bethel Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740
7/31: Byron Memorial Park – 11 Park Road, Williamsport, MD 21795
8/5: University Plaza – 50 W Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
8/7: Funkstown City Hall – 30 East Baltimore Street, Funkstown, MD 21734

New locations will be announced on the Health Department’s website at https://washcohealth.org/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/ and on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WashHealth/

MERITUS HEALTH

MERITUS HEALTH DRIVE-THRU SCREENING CENTER

The drive-thru screening center for COVID-19 testing is now open for summer hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The drive-thru screening center is no longer open on weekends.

The screening center is located behind Meritus Medical Plaza at 13620 Crayton Blvd. 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. There is no cost to the patient. Due to high demand for testing and national supply disruptions, results may be delayed as much as 10 days or more.

COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING AVAILABLE LOCALLY

Antibody testing is available at all Meritus Medical Laboratory patient service centers. A lab order from a person’s primary care provider is required in order to have a COVID-19 antibody test. Antibody tests do not take the place of COVID-19 screening tests. Insurance or patients will be billed for antibody testing. Meritus Medical Laboratory locations and hours are available online at https://www.meritushealth.com/treatment-care/medical-lab/

FREE TELEHEALTH VISITS AVAILABLE

Meritus Health continues to offer FREE 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

VIRTUAL VISITS CONNECT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

Since restrictions remain in place for visitors at Meritus Medical Center, the hospital is offering virtual visits to connect patients with their families and friends. To setup a virtual visit, please contact the program’s coordinator at 240-313-3163.

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS – RETURN TO LEARN UPDATE

Earlier this week members of the Washington County Board of Education unanimously agreed to start the 2020-2021 school year with students engaged in distance learning.

As there is much to consider as WCPS prepares to start the 2020-2021 school year, specific details regarding distance learning and school operational plans will be shared with the community as decisions are made. Read more at: https://www.smore.com/b9zkd.

RISE UP BUSINESS STABILIZATION GRANT – DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The deadline for the Rise Up Business Stabilization Grant has been extended until Tuesday, July 21, 2020. This grant encourages small businesses in Washington County, Maryland that meet the criteria to submit an application. Grant applications are accepted and funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.

The application can be accessed by clicking here:

RISE UP GRANT APPLICATION

Applications will be accepted electronically and can be downloaded at www.washcorises.net. Details for submission are stated on the application. The website also provides guidelines, application instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

For questions regarding eligibility criteria or required documentation, please email [email protected].

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Visit www.washcorises.net for constantly updated resources and information to help you reopen your business.

Washington County Back to Business Posters – As businesses continue to reopen in Washington County, local business owners are encouraged to print out the documents below and post on your door or storefront. This will let customers know your business is taking precautions for them to receive the best service while maintaining health and safety standards. Click the graphics below to download and print.

Back to Business Toolkit
10 Things Businesses Should Do Now for Reopening
MD Strong Back to Business Pledge (please sign and post in your storefront)
Rise Up Washington County Business Stabilization Grant – DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JULY 21ST – APPLY ONLINE NOW AT www.washcorises.net – Up to $10,000 for businesses under 50 employees and $5M in sales

Help Us Continue on Our Path to Reopen Washington County – 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 – IT IS ALSO STATE LAW. 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.

Attention Employers:

Maryland SBDC’s Post COVID-19 Small Business Recovery & Sustainability Guide. With the success of the Small Business Survival Guide, The Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is pleased to present part two, the Post COVID-19 Small Business Recovery & Sustainability Guide. The Recovery Guide is a compilation from several diverse resources including but not limited to: Executive Orders from Governor Larry Hogan, SBA, Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Department of Health, CDC and OSHA Guidelines for small businesses, US and Maryland Chamber of Commerce, America’s SBDC, Resource partners, etc. Also included are new business strategies and marketing tips to help businesses pivot and grow during and after this pandemic. Click Here For Recovery Guide. You can also find the link on the main page of our website: www.marylandsbdc.org

The Federal Government approved extending the deadline to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to August 8, 2020. Treasury and the SBA have issued more than 50 guidance documents and 20 regulations to answer the flood of PPP questions as well as a “Frequently Asked Questions” Document. The PPP Flexibility Act of 2020 allows for PPP borrowers to (a) defer payroll taxes; (b) extend use of PPP funds to 24-weeks; (c) benefit from a 5-year loan term; and (d) gain flexibility by lowering the percentage of loan proceeds that must be spent on payroll to 60%.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has produced a Forgiveness Guide, produced a “Forgiveness in 15 Minutes” video, and is partnering with AICPA to promote a free PPP forgiveness calculator. The rules around forgiveness continue to change. We encourage you to talk with the bank who processed your PPP loan regarding your forgiveness application.

Do you know a Washington County business that is going above and beyond to keep customers safe and healthy during COVID-19? Washington County Government is looking to highlight local businesses that are getting creative and using best business practices to maintain a safe and healthy environment as they return to business.

Nominations can be made at https://www.washco-md.net/together/.

Pictures and videos are encouraged with submission.

Together We Rise Business Spotlight’s will be featured on Washington County Government social media channels and website.

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 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: