The Allegany County Health Department reports a surge in COVID-19 cases locally. Over the last seven days, Allegany County has seen 37.5 COVID cases per 100,000 population, the highest case rate of any jurisdiction in Maryland. The Maryland case rate stands at 14.2 cases per 100,000 population.
The growing number of Allegany County COVID-19 cases includes individuals in all age groups. Ninety new cases have been identified since Monday and the new cases include: four females and six males ages 12 and under, ten females and four males in their teens, three females and four males in their 20s, five females and nine males in their 30s, six females and three males in their 40s, four females and four males in their 50s, nine females and four males in their 60s, six females and one male in their 70s, and four females and four males in their 80s. These new COVID-19 cases bring the county total to 947 cases.
UPMC Western Maryland has reported to the Allegany County Health Department that it has seen an increased number of patients with COVID-19 in its urgent care clinics and in the emergency department, as well as a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
As cases surge in our area, the Allegany County Health Department encourages all county residents to avoid gatherings, big or small. Residents should continue to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including wearing a mask, social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene.
The Allegany County Health Department and NORC at the University of Chicago are conducting contact tracing in Allegany County but are experiencing a large influx in cases so there may be some delays. Please assist in the community-wide contact tracing effort. If you test positive for COVID-19, reach out to your close contacts to let them know. If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, quarantine for 14 days and watch for symptoms.
One of the most important steps you can take to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home if you are sick. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, stay away from others and contact your health care provider about COVID-19 testing. COVID-19 symptoms include: new loss of taste or smell, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The Allegany JV practice, JV only, has been cancelled today because they may have had close contact with a person with COVID like illness. The results are pending. According to Allegany High School Head Football Coach Bryan Hansel the person who is awaiting test results is not a member of the Allegany Program.
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in Allegany County for now Allegany County Public Schools continue in-person learning. Over the weekend Maryland Governor Larry Hogan designated Allegany County as in the red zone with a case rate of 24 per 100,000. Based on the Maryland Coronovirus tracking website as of yesterday Allegany County had a case rate of 37 per 100,000. In neighboring Mineral County, which according to the WV DHHR is designed red at a 28 cases per 100,000 rate today halted all in person learning and after school activities.
According to ACPS officials “We have plans to phase-in Grade 6 November 16th, but that too will be evaluated closer to that time to make a final decision. As of right now, we are not bringing any more groups back before then. Please note that we are only in the initial stages of planning the secondary transition. It will be a careful and deliberate process as we phase in the middle school grades, beginning with Grade 6. Hybrid learning structures are subject to change based on health metrics and guidance provided by the Allegany County Health Department.” Today is the deadline for families to send in opt out forms to school officials for their students to allow them to continue virtual learning.
Mineral County Schools and the Mineral County Health Department received confirmation this morning of our district being designated as RED on the daily DHHR County Alert System.
The RED designation will immediately impact in-person learning and extracurricular activities. We will be held to this designation until the release of the WVDE Saturday Map, which will be released Saturday, November 7th at 5 PM.
More specific information related to the rest of this week will follow later today.
RED Substantial Community Transmission 25 AND ABOVE CASES of INFECTION PER 100,000 or GREATER THAN 8% POSITIVITY RATE
· Suspend in-person instruction and begin remote learning the next school day. All school-related activities are suspended immediately.
· Staff continues essential student support services including meals, student engagement and special education services.
· All school-related athletic and extra-curricular activities are suspended immediately.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, everyone is urged to follow best health practices as issued by the Governor’s Executive Orders and outlined by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) guidance. This includes wearing face coverings, and practicing social distancing, hand washing and cleaning protocols regularly.
Those who feel they need to be tested, please contact your primary care provider, your local hospital or your local healthcare clinic. For more information about COVID-19 visit the DHHR at www.coronavirus.wv.gov or the CDC at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
For details about WVDE and DHHR guidance documents, visit https://wvde.us/COVID19.
In Mineral County there are 292 total positive cases, 64 are active, 2 are probable with 4 total deaths
The Garrett County Health Department received 18 additional positive COVID-19 results, bringing the current county total positives to 194.
The new positive COVID-19 cases include:
• 1 female age 10-19 years old
• 2 males in their 20s
• 1 male and 1 female in their 30s
• 1 female in her 40s
• 4 males and 2 females in their 50s
• 1 male and 1 female in their 60s
• 1 male and 1 female in their 70s
• 2 females in their 80s
Additional current statistics for Garrett County:
• 35 persons are isolating due to positive COVID-19 test
• 7-day case rate per 100,000 population is 10.8, compared to the state rate of 14.2
• 7-day average positive percent is 5.8% compared to the state rate of 4.1%
Visit garretthealth.org for the most up-to-date COVID-19 information.
The Hampshire County Health Department has received 7 ( 6 confirmed, 1 probable) cases today. Four of the cases are from Monday and Tuesday drive-thru results.
All positive cases have been notified. Contact tracing is ongoing.
The current count for Hampshire County is 160 confirmed, 9 probable, 31 active, 3 hospitalizations, and 1 death.
FREE COMMUNITY TESTING OPEN TO ALL
Thursday – HMH from 9a-1p and Capon Bridge Elementary 1p-6p
Friday- HMH from 9a-1p and Augusta Elementary 1p-6p
Saturday – Hampshire High from 11a-5p.
The Hardy County Health Department and Hardy County Office of Emergency Management has three additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hardy County, making ten active cases, with a total confirmed case count of 115. We have had one confirmed COVID-19 death. We currently have nine patients in quarantine at home, following proper protocol to protect their neighbors and community. One patient is 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 104 individuals fully recovered, included in the total confirmed case count of 115.
There were 2 new cases reported today. Neither was a named contact to a positive case reported earlier; meaning they were not identified through contact tracing, and they do not know where they contracted the virus.
Their contacts have been notified and have been instructed on how to self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms.
205 Total COVID Cases
• 192 confirmed Positive COVID cases
• 13 Probable COVID cases
• 179 Total Recovered
• 13 active Cases. (One hospitalized).
• 13 Deaths, of these: 9 Deaths listed as COVID related (6 from GRCC).
Call Grant Memorial Hospital (304) 257 1026 and press 5 to speak to an ER nurse or Grove Street Health Center at 304-257-2451 to help determine if testing is indicated and instructions how to proceed if you develop symptoms, (loss of taste or smell, fever, cough, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, headache or diarrhea). Remain isolated from others until you receive your test result and are cleared to discontinue isolation.
COVID-19 cases are rising around the region including in Bedford and Somerset Counties in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health in Bedford County there are, 410 confirmed cases and 102 probable with a 78.9 per 100,000 case rate and a total of 9 deaths as for Somerset County there are 422 confirmed cases, 89 probable with a case rate of 90 per 100,000. https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx
Yesterday Somerset Area School District announced two new cases one at Eagle View Elementary School and one at the Senior High School. Current closures do not need to be extended however if there are additional cases within 14 days more closures could be necessary. School officials are asking families to be prepared for emergency child care services in case of a sudden school shutdown.
A COVID-19 triage tent is once again going up outside UPMC Western Maryland. According to a statement from UPMC officials “As expected, there are growing numbers of people with COVID-19 in the communities UPMC serves throughout western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Across the UPMC system, COVID-19 cases occupy less than 5% of our hospital beds. We remain fully able to care for all patients, with or without COVID-19. Our hospitals – urban, suburban and rural – are well staffed, have excellent personal protective equipment plans and supplies, and have the resources to serve the health care needs of our communities.
To be best-prepared to serve its community, UPMC Western Maryland has once again proactively deployed a triage tent in the parking lot immediately outside the Emergency Department in order to prevent potential overcrowding and to address members of the public who come to the hospital believing they have coronavirus. The tent will be fully functional on Thursday, November 5.
Because of our extensive planning and preparation, UPMC facilities are safe, and staff are well-equipped and know how to properly care for patients with COVID-19. All UPMC hospitals, facilities and providers have the support of a world class academic medical center, using a wealth of knowledge and guidance on best practices. Should the need arise, we can share resources, transfer patients or mobilize staff between facilities. With the increase in cases in the communities we serve, it remains important for everyone to follow the guidance of our public health experts. This includes wearing a mask, following physical distancing recommendations, staying home when ill and washing hands frequently.
Due to the triage tent deployment, traffic patterns near the emergency department will be adjusted and spaces have been allocated to allow for additional parking. Please be cautious when driving in the area.”
Food distribution will resume at Braddock Middle School today at the regularly scheduled times from 12-1:30 p.m.
After careful consideration, officials regret having to announce that they will be postponing the reopening of the county libraries. Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the community, the library administration and staff feel that the time and circumstances are no longer right to move forward into Phase 4 and continue with the reopening of the libraries. Library staff will continue serving you safely through Sidewalk Service until a new date is scheduled to move to Phase 4. The library administration will be monitoring local metrics closely to determine a new date to reopen the libraries. Please visit www.alleganycountylibrary.info for updates on reopening plans and information about library services.