COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: October 9, 2020

Posted: October 9, 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 is updated Monday-Friday**

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

This season it’s more important than ever to get a flu shot. We need to prevent the flu, save medical resources, and protect health workers caring for people with COVID-19. If you’ve never gotten a flu shot before, this is the year to start, especially with COVID-19 spreading.

Getting a flu vaccine not only protects you, but those around you – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many different flu vaccine options, including flu shots, a nasal spray vaccine and vaccines for people who are 65 years and older.

Most insurance plans cover flu vaccines at no or low cost to you. You can get your flu shot at:

Grocery Stores
Pharmacies
County Health Departments
Primary Care Doctors
Urgent Care Centers

The Community Free Clinic is offering a free vaccine for uninsured patients on October 28, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. An appointment is required. Call 301-733-9234 to set up your appointment and bring your photo I.D. the day of your appointment.

Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone six months or older; and you need one every year. The best time to get a flu vaccine is before flu starts spreading since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for protection against flu to set in. Find a flu vaccine near you: www.vaccinefinder.org .

Concerned about getting your flu shot because of COVID-19? Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend ways you can safely be vaccinated during this time.

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 and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.-noon.
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. Appointment required and patients are charged with copay. 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. Appointment required and patients are charged with copay. 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

Washington County Health Department Testing Sites:

(All testing at WCHD sites are Free)

VEIP Station Drive Thru Testing Site

12100 Insurance Way in Hagerstown.

Now Closed

Mobile Walk-Up Testing Sites:

Washington County Health Department has launched mobile testing sites throughout Washington County. Testing at these sites are free and you do not need a doctor’s referral or an appointment to be tested.

All testing sites are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. unless indicated differently.

October 14: Christ’s Reformed Church, 17012 Alcott Rd, Hagerstown, MD 21740
October 16: Keedysville Library, 22 Taylor Dr, Keedysville, MD 21756
October 19: Hagerstown Fire Dept – rear parking lot, 25 Church St, Hagerstown, MD 21740
October 21: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (parking lot across the street), 601 Washington Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21740
October 23: Hancock Town Hall, 126 W High St, Hancock, MD 21750
October 26: Hagerstown Fire Dept – rear parking lot, 25 Church St, Hagerstown, MD 21740
October 28: University Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Hagerstown, MD 21740

How to Get Your COVID-19 Test Results:

It takes approximately 48 hours from the time of your visit to a collection facility to the time your result is available and ready for viewing.

Open your browser and type in https://go.ciandx.com/results
Register and create an account
Check the email you used for the activation code
Activate by entering your birthday, username, zip code, and password
Login to lifepoint after successfully activating
Once logged in you can see your results

FREE Flu and Childhood Vaccination Clinics

Washington County Health Department is offering FREE Childhood Vaccination Clinics and FREE Flu Vaccination Clinic for Elementary Age School Children. Parents must register their child in order to be seen at one of these clinics. For instruction on how to register you child and the schedule of clinics please go to https://wp.me/p9M1Nf-Xe

MERITUS HEALTH

MERITUS HEALTH DRIVE-THRU SCREENING CENTER

The drive-thru screening center for COVID-19 testing is now open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.-noon. The center will continue its weekday hours of Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

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. Test results are available in as little as 24 hours either through a patient’s My Chart account or primary care provider.

COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING AVAILABLE LOCALLY

Antibody testing is now available with no required lab order and at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient at all Meritus Medical Laboratory patient service centers.Meritus Medical Laboratory locations and hours are available online at https://www.meritushealth.com/treatment-care/medical-lab/. Antibody testing is being made available to better understand the COVID-19 prevalence in our community, as well as offer peace of mind for anyone who may have had an asymptomatic case. Please note that positive antibody test results do not make you immune to COVID-19, so it is vital to continue to be vigilant in wearing proper PPE, social distancing and washing your hands. Antibody test results will be available to patients via their MyChart account. There will be no phone calls made for positive or negative results. The antibody test will help determine if you most likely had the virus in the past and is not a replacement for the COVID-19 test.

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS EASED AT HOSPITAL

Most Meritus Medical Center patients may now have one visitor during limited times daily. Limited visitor hours are 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and again from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Close family members of patients should first call to speak with their loved one’s nurse to check on potential restrictions that may keep them from coming to the hospital. All visitors must be age 18 or older unless he/she is the parent of a pediatric patient. At this time, no visitors are permitted in the rooms of patients diagnosed with or being investigated for COVID-19. Additionally, outpatient services and inpatient behavioral health areas are not open to visitors yet. All visitors will be screened for flu-like symptoms including fever upon entering the main lobby of the hospital and those with visible symptoms or a fever will not be admitted to visit patients. Facemasks are required for all visitors and must be worn at all times in the hospital. Details and specific exceptions to the visitor policy can be found at https://www.meritushealth.com/patients-visitors/public-notice/.

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

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is pleased to announce the return of more students to the classroom for the start of Stage three on Monday, October 12, 2020. On this date, WCPS will also expand athletics and extracurricular activities to prepare for competitive events. Read more at: https://www.smore.com/a5vbj.

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.

UPCOMING WEBINARS:

In honor of Maryland Economic Development Week, October 25-31, 2020, The Maryland SBDC Cordially Invites You To Join All October Small Business Webinar Trainings:

Tuesday, October 13th, 1:00-2:30pm

Webinar: Old School Marketing, New School Results

Presenter: Pieter Bickford, Marketing Executive, HighRock Studios

The marketing and advertising industry is constantly evolving, but some strategies and tactics are timeless if applied correctly. Join the marketing experts at HighRock to explore some “old school” marketing principles that have proven to be effective regardless of how new trends and technologies develop.

Wednesday, October 14th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Webinar: Website Must Haves!

Presenter: Dennis Ottey, Dott Digital Marketing

Learn the top 10 things to ask your next web developer or designer in addition to learning many “website must-haves”. Statistics will be provided to document the importance of the items presented. The take away will be to help you know what to ask to ensure your new or redesigned website comes out of the box, ready to go to work for you!

Wednesday, October 14th, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Webinar: Profitable Pricing-How Do I Price My Goods or Services?

Presenter: Ali Paskun, ABIL Solutions LLC

Of all the difficulties small business owners and freelance service providers face, one of the most pressing and difficult to overcome is price. What do you charge for your products or services? This is not an easy question to answer, but in this presentation, you’ll learn various methods to help you not only pick a price, but pick the right one!

Thursday, October 15th, 10-11:30 a.m.

Webinar: Risks & Rewards Of Going Into Business With Someone

Presenter: Matt Johnston, Esquire

Going into business with someone can be amazing. But going into business with someone without lots of forethought and planning can be a disaster. This session will be about the discussion you should have before opening a business with a partner so that you can find the good and avoid the mire.

Thursday, October 15th, 1-2:00 p.m.

Webinar: Getting Back To Basics-A Resource Toolkit From The Department of Labor

Presenter: Janice Walker-Emeogo, Small Business State Outreach Director Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance at the Department of Labor

This session will provide information to employers, economic development and workforce partners who have employees transitioning back to work after being closed due to COVID-19.

Wednesday, October 28th, 1-2:30 p.m.

Webinar: Scary Close…Finding Your Target Market!

Presenter: Melody Belotte, Marketing Expert

Regardless of how amazing your business, product or service is – you may not be getting the sales or connections you want simply because you’re not reaching the right audience. Technology now allows us to get “scary close” to customers through advanced targeting and tracking, but we must learn to use these tools effectively and responsibly. Join the marketing expert, Melody Belotte, for a crash course on how to identify, narrow and reach your target market.

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.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFO & EVENTS

WCPS PARTNERS WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPT FOR CHILD VACCINATION CLINICS

Get your child vaccinated! WCPS is working in partnership with the Washington County Health Department to vaccinate children of all ages. The first clinic is this Saturday, October 10 at Clear Spring High School. Please note the vaccines available on this date.

The Health Department provides free flu vaccines to WCPS elementary students through a grant. These vaccine clinics are held on separate days. Check out the instructions to register!

If you are behind on your bills (rent, electric, gas, oil, & water) contact the Community Action Council to determine if you are eligible for assistance!

The funding available is first-come, first-served. Please call 301-797-4161 or email [email protected] for more 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:

Adding to the forum if you can provide a service or have a need
Sharing the forum

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

“EAT-IN-THE-STREET” EVENT – EVERY WEEKEND THROUGH OCTOBER

The City of Hagerstown will be closing the first block of South Potomac Street to traffic and opening it to diners for the first two Saturdays and the last two Sundays. Join the City in supporting Hagerstown’s outstanding downtown restaurants by choosing to dine outdoors, eating in the street or getting a to-go order to enjoy in University Plaza or along the Cultural Trail. Scheduled Closures:

Saturday, October 10th 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday, October 11th 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 17th 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday, October 18th 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Visit the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) Facebook page, or call 301-797-6294 for more information.

2020 GENERAL ELECTION VOTER GUIDE

Looking for information about voting locations, early voting, and dropbox locations in Washington County? Read the 2020 General Election Voter Guide at https://conta.cc/32RW76M