COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: July 21, 2020

Posted: July 21, 2020

Coronavirus, Daily COVID-19 Briefings

COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER BRIEFING

July 21, 2020

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

Governor Hogan continues to share the message of, “Only YOU can keep Maryland open for business.” As we continue through the summer months, everyone is encouraged to do the following:

Avoid crowds
Wear a mask
Wash your hands
Get tested

The Emergency Operations Center is aware that many families are choosing to vacation outside of the state. The CDC states, “Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Before you travel, learn if coronavirus is spreading in your local area or in any of the places you are going. Traveling to visit family may be especially dangerous if you or your loved ones are more likely to get very ill from COVID-19. People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra precautions.”

If you choose to vacation, the CDC encourages you to do the following:

Clean your hands often.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.
If soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Avoid close contact with others.
Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
Wear a cloth face covering in public.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or stores.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have visited a hotspot, health officials strongly encourage individuals to get tested. Let’s continue to work together to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

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

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 IS TODAY!

The deadline for the Rise Up Business Stabilization Grant is today, 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 IS TODAY – 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.

Upcoming Webinars:

Wednesday, July 15th, 12:00 p.m.

NFIB Webinar: Your EIDL and PPP Loan Questions Answered — SBA’s Loan Experts Explain the Rules

Join special guests, SBA representatives Kathy Cook and Melissa Loder, both experts in SBA loan programs, as they join NFIB’s Beth Milito and Holly Wade to dig into the details of SBA loan relief.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans, in particular, carry terms that may cause business owners to inadvertently default, so EIDL borrowers want to make sure they understand the rules.

The webinar will cover:

Loan types: Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
Spending rules for the EIDL program and understanding how the EIDL and PPP work together
How to ensure you achieve maximum PPP loan forgiveness

As always, the presenters will save time to answer your individual questions. You can submit your questions in advance by emailing [email protected]

Wednesday, July 22nd, 12:00 p.m.

NFIB Webinar: PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Step-by-Step Live

Join NFIB’s PPP experts, Beth Milito and Holly Wade, as they walk through a live line-by-line demonstration on filling out the PPP loan forgiveness application followed by Q&A.

The webinar will cover:

How to fill out Form 3508EZ
How to complete the FTE calculations and Schedule A and Schedule A Worksheet
Common FAQs and mistakes when filling out the application

As always, we’ll save time to answer your individual questions. You can submit your questions in advance by emailing [email protected]. Participants will also have the opportunity to chat in questions to be answered during the webinar by NFIB staff who will be standing by ready to answer live.

Attention Employers:

Maryland Commerce Department Announces Additional Loan Program: MSBDFA COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund

Beginning July 20, a new low-interest loan program is available to small businesses throughout Maryland that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Hogan recently announced that an additional $50 million was allocated for small businesses in need. Specifically, $5 million is being designated to Maryland Commerce’s MSBDFA – or the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority – which promotes the viability and expansion of businesses owned by economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs. The new MSBDFA Program – COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund provides emergency financial relief to eligible businesses that have experienced economic hardship due to the ongoing pandemic with low-interest rates and low-documentation loans. Five-year term loans ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 will be available with an interest rate of zero percent for the first 12 months and two percent for the remaining term of the loan. The state program is managed by a private contractor, Meridian Management Group, who will be processing applications on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about the new program, find eligibility criteria, or apply for a loan, visit the MMG website.

https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/programs-for-businesses/msbdfa

CHAMBER SURVEY: TELL US HOW YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT YOU NEED

As businesses and nonprofits continue to reopen and adjust to operating in the current coronavirus environment, we want to know how you are doing, as well as what support and services you may need. Our goal is to help you receive the support you need and to address the problems you are currently facing. We will use the information we receive to advocate on your behalf with our local, state, and federal officials. Please take just a few minutes now to complete this short 5-question survey created by the Washington Co. Chamber of Commerce – CLICK HERE. By doing so, it will help us to help you.

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.

CITY OF HAGERSTOWN

City of Hagerstown – Paid Parking Returns to Downtown August 3

Street, lot, and deck parking to resume normal paid schedules, procedures

With Governor Hogan’s Maryland Strong Roadmap to Recovery continuing to reopen the state by lifting many restrictions previously imposed under his executive orders, paid parking and timed parking limits will return to Downtown Hagerstown on Monday, August 3. In the coming weeks, Parking Enforcement Officers will be returning to the streets and lots, and Parking Attendants will be back in the decks in an effort to spread the word and ensure public awareness regarding the resumption of paid parking in downtown beginning on August 3. Questions may be directed to a Parking Attendant or Enforcement Officer, and by calling the Parking Office at 301-739-8577, ext. 445.

Imagine Hagerstown Strikes Up the Bands Outdoors This Friday

The Fourth Friday Music Series as it was originally imagined—mostly!

After COVID-19 forced June’s Imagine Hagerstown Fourth Friday Music Series to go virtual, this Friday’s edition will mark the 2020 outdoor debut of the series as originally imagined—with some restrictions. An evening of great musical entertainment is scheduled from 5-8pm. The concert will take place at University Plaza, 50 West Washington Street, free of charge. Attendees are invited to get takeout from one of Hagerstown’s outstanding downtown restaurants, bring chairs and blankets, and settle in for what promises to be a terrific show. Alcohol in non-breakable containers will be permitted. Fan favorite the Skyla Burrell Band will headline Friday’s lineup, playing rock, swinging good time, get down and boogie music, punctuated by high-energy original electric blues. Opening for Skyla will be the popular bluegrass band with Washington County roots, The Plate Scrapers. With influences ranging from jazz to hard rock to funk, the group has taken its music to an eclectic new level by incorporating original material and dabbling in genre-bending “jamgrass” music. Event-goers are encouraged to wear face coverings, follow social distancing guidelines, and practice safe hygiene while enjoying the concert. University Plaza will be limited to 50-percent capacity for the event. Imagine Hagerstown is supported, in part, by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), the Washington County Arts Council, and Visit Hagerstown—the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, call 301-739-8577, ext. 111; or, check the Facebook page @imaginehagerstown for updates and additional details.

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

Hub Labels donates “Proud to be Safely Open” Window Clings to Maryland Businesses

The Maryland Commerce Department through generous donation from Washington County’s Hub Labels, is providing Maryland businesses with “Proud to be Safely Open” window clings. The clings are 4” x 4” in size and, together with a copy of the signed Maryland Strong: Back to Business Pledge (found here: https://open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness/), can serve to bolster the confidence of a consumer as they slowly and safely return to some of their previous shopping patterns. The window clings will be distributed by business partners including the County Department of Business Development, the City of Hagerstown Community & Economic Development, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Hagerstown Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Greater Hagerstown Committee.

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: