COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: March 24, 2020

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

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The health department is continuing to coordinate guidance distribution to private schools, daycare providers, and other community stakeholders. For questions or guidance regarding Governor Larry Hogan’s COVID-19 directives please contact us at [email protected] or 240-313-3302.

The Behavioral Health building will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for harm reduction services and Narcan supply.

LANDFILL OPERATIONS

Please only bring regular household trash to the landfill. The County is still operating under a State of Emergency with directives to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. While we understand many may be spring cleaning while quarantined at home, we request that all large, bulk item, and yard waste drop-offs remain at a minimum until this global pandemic has subsided. To keep the landfill staff and community members safe, we appreciate your cooperation with this request. 40 West Landfill and all transfer stations remain open to the public with normal operating hours.

WASHINGTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER QUALITY

The Department of Water Quality is actively monitoring the COVID-19 health threat and has emergency plans in place to ensure continued operations. Below are facts regarding drinking water and wastewater treatment related to the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Washington County Chamber of Commerce continues to add resources to www.hagerstown.org/strongtogether. All employees are working remotely from home, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The Chamber shares the information below to the local business community.

The Maryland Department of Commerce is offering three business assistance programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some programs offer loans and some offer grants. There is also some funding reserved for non-profit organizations. The state is simplifying applications and streamlining the approval process to get businesses feedback on their applications quickly.

The new programs include:

Governor Hogan has allocated $5 million and the Maryland Department of Labor has allocated $2 million to collaboratively launch the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund. A total of $7 million in funds will be available to provide flexible rapid response services to proactively support businesses and workers undergoing economic stresses due to COVID-19.

Funding can help Maryland’s workforce adhere to social distancing policies by purchasing remote access equipment and software to allow employees to work from home, providing on-site cleaning and sanitation services at businesses that have workers delivering essential services, and implementing other creative strategies to mitigate potential layoffs or closures in the business community.

In addition to the above resources for businesses, below is a link to where there are two Interpretive Guidance documents from Governor Hogan regarding businesses that are allowed to remain open. If any additional questions remain, please email [email protected].

The Maryland SBDC has developed a” Small Business Survival Guide” on their website www.marylandsbdc.org.  They do plan on having another webinar later this week for small businesses adapting to COVID-19 related closures, and relief efforts.

As awareness to the community, several local nonprofits with essential services are cutting back their hours to balance the work they do with the need to limit interaction and spread of COVID-19. (i.e. Community Action Council is now open 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

CITY OF HAGERSTOWN

In order for Waste Management to maintain its focus on trash and recycling collection, effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Waste Management is temporarily suspending the performance of the Yard Waste Collection (grass clippings, brush, tree limbs, etc.).

In addition, please note:

Please contact the City’s Department of Parks and Engineering at 301-739-8577 extension 125 if there are any questions regarding this advisory.

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

A map of where the 19 different Meal Machine sites are located across Washington County is now available. Click on the photo below to see each location. Washington County Public Schools continues to provide meals to all children 18 and younger.

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is taking additional steps to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Sheriff’s Office will be handling calls which do not require a deputy on scene by telephone. If you are calling to file a police report, you may be told that a deputy will call you back to take the information for your report. Visitors are discouraged at the Sheriff’s Office and would prefer contact by telephone at 240-313-2100.

HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Hagerstown Community College is currently under full remote operations. All credit classes and final exams are being held via remote access. All buildings are locked and employees are working remotely until further notice. Visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/covid19 for details.

The JIC consists of representatives from the following agencies: Washington County Government, Washington County Health Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Public Schools, Meritus Health, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, City of Hagerstown, and Hagerstown Community College.

For additional information, please contact the Public Relations and Marketing Department at 240-313-2380 or [email protected].

###