VIRTUAL LEARNING FORMAT UPDATE: The school board voted at their January 12, 2021, meeting to have all ACPS students continue to remain in a fully-virtual learning format until the target positivity rate in the county is 5% or less and the target cases per 100,000 in the county is 15 cases or less for five consecutive days. The school board will further discuss return to school plans, the availability of adequate staffing, and county health metrics at their February 9th meeting, or sooner if necessary, and will provide additional guidance at that time.
At the January 12, 2021, school board meeting, board members heard an update on athletics from Mrs. Tracey Leonard, Assistant Supervisor of Health, PE, Athletics, and Mental Health. After some discussion, school board members voted 4-1 to forego playing winter sports and proceed with fall sports, pending appropriate county health metrics, with the first available practice date being February 13, 2021. This decision was made as a result of the limited number of play dates available for winter sports after mandatory practices concluded as well as current county health metrics.
The Garrett County Board of Education voted at its regular meeting last night to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation to remain in the “red model” in which students are learning virtually. Students will begin transitioning back to in-person learning when the Garrett County metrics are at 5% or less positivity rate and 15 or less per 100,000 for 14 consecutive days. The metrics are based on guidelines from the MSDE and the Maryland Department of Health. School system employees will have the option to return to the buildings beginning January 19, 2021.
GCPS will continue to work in collaboration with the Garrett County Health Department to ensure that eligible employees can be vaccinated as quickly as possible in accordance with the local and state requirements. It is our sincere hope that by following all of the recommendations to slow the spread, coupled with the opportunity to be vaccinated, GCPS will be able to return our students to in-person learning safely.
COVID-19 vaccination appointments are now available for Allegany County residents ages 75 and over. Vaccinations are available by appointment only and will be given at the Barton Business Park Shell Building, 17300 Barton Park Drive, Rawlings, MD.
To make an appointment online, go to https://health.maryland.gov/…/Pages/COVIDVaccination.aspx.
To make an appointment over the phone, please contact your local HRDC senior center:
• Cumberland Senior Center: 301-783-1721 or 301-783-1710
• Frostburg Senior Center: 301-689-5510
• George’s Creek Senior Center: 301-783-1842
• Westernport Senior Center: 301-359-9930
Individuals with barriers which prevent them from getting to the clinic should let the HRDC senior center representative know.
Fact sheets and safety information about the vaccines can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronav…/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html.
Allegany County Health Department Health Officer Jenelle Mayer discusses the upcoming vaccination clinic for county residents age 75 and older along with the ongoing COVID-19 testing and reminders for residents to continue following the current health guidelines. To hear the interview click here https://soundcloud.com/amanda-mangan/allegany-county-health-department-health-officer-jenelle-mayer-on-vaccine-and-testing-for-pht
The health department continues to offer free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Allegany County Fairgrounds on Mondays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. No insurance, appointment, or doctor’s order is needed to obtain a test.
Vaccination clinics are available for West Virginians who are 80 years of age and older.
Thursday, January 14, 2021 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, National Guard Armory, 157 Freedom Way, Moorefield, WV 26836. By appointment, Hardy County residents: call 304-530-6355 or 304-897-7400; Hampshire County residents: call 304-496-9640; Grant County residents: call 304-257-4922; and Mineral County residents: call 304-788-1321.
There were Three (3) New Cases reported today.
995 Total COVID Cases
• 784 Confirmed Positive COVID cases
• 211 Probable COVID cases (Probable cases are those that have a positive result from a rapid antigen test).
• 831 Total Recovered
• 142 Active Cases. Multiple are hospitalized, however as many are transferred to other hospitals quickly it is difficult to obtain accurate information quickly.
• 18 Deaths listed as COVID related (6 from GRCC).
Possible symptoms of COVID are increased sinus or cold like symptoms, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, fever, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or diarrhea.
COVID TESTING
Curative testing Friday January 15, 2021 PES, more details tomorrow.
Grant Memorial Hospital:
COVID testing hours LIMITED TO TWO DAYS WEEKLY
Monday and Thursday 6:00 am- 9:00 am and 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm
Call (304) 257 1026 and press 5 to speak to an ER nurse to preregister.
By Appointment:
Grove Street Health Center call 304-257-2451
Mt. Storm Health Center call 304-693-7616
The Hampshire County Health Department has received 15 confirmed cases today. Case investigation and contact tracing are ongoing. Hampshire County’s current case count is 1,235 confirmed (PCR and Rapid test combined), 100 active, 21 deaths and 5 hospitalizations.
**Free community testing**
Hampshire County Fairgrounds
Thursday January 14th – 9a-3p: This is an oral swab. NO eating or drinking 20 minutes prior to testing. You can walk-in or schedule an appointment at www.curative.com
HARDY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
January 12th, 2021 COVID-19 UPDATE
COUNTY INFECTION RATE: RED
COUNTY POSITIVITY RATE: RED
LESSER OF THE TWO: RED
The Hardy County Health Department and Hardy County Office of Emergency Management has 25 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hardy County, making 196 active cases, with a total confirmed case count of 1,078. We have had 14 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. We currently have 179 patients in quarantine at home, following proper protocol to protect their neighbors and community.
17 patients are currently hospitalized due to severe symptoms of COVID-19. Due to privacy, additional information regarding the persons, area of residence, and travel history will not be disclosed. The Hardy County Health Department has completed the necessary contact tracing to ensure the safety of close contacts and to prevent additional transmission. Hardy County now has 868 individuals recovered, included in the total confirmed case count of 1,078.
COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may linger in the air, as well as land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by breathing in the droplets, touching these objects or surfaces, or by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. COVID-19 can be very easily spread by airborne transmission when near a contagious person or in the same room or enclosed space. Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, lung problems, and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
There are vaccines under development and testing, and a few recently released to prevent COVID-19. The first vaccines available will be used for healthcare workers, first responders, and the most vulnerable community members. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The Hardy County Health Department as always recommends everyday preventive actions to help impede the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
Avoiding exposure to others who are sick.
Staying home when you are ill.
Wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).
DHHR’s COVID-19 information hotline 24/7, toll-free at 1-800-887-4304 and state website at http://www.coronavirus.wv.gov/. For local information, please call Hardy County Health Dept at 304-530-6355 or visit the Health Department’s website at http://www.hardycountyhealthdepartment.com/.
Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in Maryland residents caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 variant strain commonly known as B-117.
The B-117 strain first emerged in the United Kingdom in late 2020. The strain has not been shown to cause more severe illness or increased risk of death when compared to other strains. However, the strain has been shown to be more transmissible than other strains. Additionally, there is no evidence suggesting that the currently available COVID-19 vaccines are less effective on the B-117 strain.
“Our state health officials are closely monitoring the emergence of the B-117 strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the state,” said Governor Hogan. “We encourage Marylanders to practice caution to limit the additional risk of transmission associated with this strain. It is critically important that we all continue to follow standard public health and safety measures, including mask wearing, regular hand washing, and social distancing.”
The two cases announced today involved Maryland residents in the Baltimore region who are both younger than 65 years old and live in the same household. One of the individuals had traveled internationally prior to the infection, and it is thought that this individual transmitted infection to the other individual. Neither patient has required hospitalization.
Extensive contact tracing measures have been employed for both cases of the B-117 strain identified in Maryland, and there is currently no evidence of additional transmission of the strain. MDH continues aggressive contact tracing for all cases of COVID-19 identified in the state.
Both of the cases involving the B-117 strain were identified in viral samples tested at an independent lab licensed in Maryland. The results of the analysis were reviewed by the state’s public health lab and discussed with officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the strain was initially identified, the lab has been monitoring for the possible emergence in Maryland by sequencing viral samples collected in the state. To date, the CDC has identified 72 cases of COVID-19 caused by the B-117 strain in the United States.
COVID-19 information and resources are available at covidLINK.maryland.gov. COVID-19 data are available at coronavirus.maryland.gov.
Allegany College Of Maryland Vice President Of Advancement And Community Relations David Jones talks about the upcoming spring semester at ACM. To hear the interview click here https://soundcloud.com/amanda-mangan/allegany-college-of-maryland-vice-president-of-advancement-and-community-relations-david-jones-on-spring-semester-for-pht
US Senator Ben Cardin discusses the response to the events Wednesday at the Capitol, addressing the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the ongoing pandemic. To hear the interview click here https://soundcloud.com/amanda-mangan/us-senator-ben-cardin-for-pht-1