Reminder all schools in Mineral County will be remote learning on Fri. Nov. 6, 2020 due to Designation of RED on County Alert Map.
All schools in Hampshire County will continue remote instruction for next week. According to a post from Hampshire County Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Pancione he is making the announcement now to provide families adequate time to prepare. He states the county numbers are still trending upward. At this point, Hampshire County Schools has only one student and one employee to test positive. In each case, they did not contract the virus from within the school system.
As a result of increased health metrics related to COVID-19 in Allegany County, ACPS is cancelling all in-person extra-curricular activities and athletics events and practices effective today, Thursday, November 5, 2020, beginning with afternoon activities. This decision was made in collaboration with the Allegany County Health Department and school system staff after reviewing recent health data. Coaches and advisors will be in contact with students if they opt to conduct their activities in a virtual format. Community health metrics will continue to be monitored to determine when ACPS can resume in-person extra curricular activities and athletic practices and events.
In response to the nationwide fall COVID-19 surge and rising positivity rates, case rates, and hospitalizations in Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan today provided a detailed update on the state’s preparedness and urged Marylanders to follow all public health protocols.
“Thanks to the heroic efforts of so many state employees working around the clock, and because of the vigilance and support of the people of Maryland, we are in a much better position than we were this spring, and Maryland is also much better prepared than most states to be able to withstand this next surge,” said Governor Hogan. “However, I cannot stress strongly enough that we cannot afford to let our guard down. The weeks and months ahead will be difficult, and our collective actions will determine whether we can continue safely on the road to recovery.”
The governor was joined at today’s press conference by Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall, Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Jerry Jones, Maryland Acting Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan, and Dr. David Marcozzi, COVID-19 Incident Commander for the University of Maryland Medical System.
FALL SURGE PREPAREDNESS:
TESTING STRATEGY. The State of Maryland has built a successful long-term testing strategy and a strategic stockpile of test kits and supplies. State officials recently deployed rapid antigen tests to nursing homes across the state. To continue expanding these efforts, at the request of local leaders and in partnership with the Allegany County Health Department, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is standing up a new testing site at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.
CONTACT TRACING OPERATION. Maryland built a robust contact tracing operation, nearly 1,400 tracers strong, and has kept this operation at full strength to find patterns and identify where and how the virus is spreading.
The state’s contact tracing operation continues to show that social gatherings are the most likely source of transmissions. The number one activity of those who have become infected with COVID-19 continues to be family gatherings, followed by house parties. View the data here.
HOSPITAL SURGE CAPACITY. Maryland met and exceeded its hospital surge capacity goal of an additional 6,000 beds, maintains a comprehensive surge capacity plan, and continues to keep the state’s alternate care sites open—including the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital.
PPE STOCKPILE. Emergency management officials have distributed more than 78 million units of PPE throughout the state, and have built up a 60-day supply of the most critical resources.
MARYLAND RESPONDS. In response to the nationwide shortage of nurses, Governor Hogan encouraged medical and public health volunteers to register for the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps. More than 15,000 people have already signed up to be part of this initiative from every jurisdiction throughout the state. To sign up, Marylanders can visit mdresponds.health.maryland.gov.
PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE:
MASKS AND FACE COVERINGS. Maryland’s statewide masking order remains in full effect. Under this order, all Marylanders over the age of five are required to wear face coverings in the public spaces of all businesses across the state. Face coverings are required in outdoor public areas, whenever it is not possible to maintain physical distancing. The order continues to provide certain exceptions, including for medical conditions. Read the order here.
COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT. In response to increasing reports of individuals and businesses failing to comply with the law, the governor urged local leaders, county health departments, county liquor boards, and, when necessary, local law enforcement agencies to immediately step up efforts to ensure that all residents and businesses in their jurisdictions are in compliance with all public health regulations.
TELEWORK. Marylanders are encouraged to continue teleworking, and employers should make every effort to give employees the opportunity to telework.
OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL ADVISORY. With the holiday season approaching, the travel advisory issued by state health officials has been renewed and remains in effect. Under this advisory, Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to states with positivity rates of 10% or higher. Anyone traveling from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results. Marylanders should avoid non-essential travel of any kind outside of the region. Read the travel advisory.
“With the holidays approaching and so many Marylanders making plans to spend time with family and friends, it is more important than ever for all of us to remain cautious and vigilant,” continued the governor. “We want Marylanders to enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones, but we want you to do it as safely as possible.”
Allegany County was declared in the red zone Sunday after the COVID-19 case rate reached 25 cases per 100,000. According to a statement from the Maryland Department of Health officials “The seven-day moving average case rate per 100,000 by jurisdiction enables public health officials to track the spread of the virus in all of the state’s jurisdictions. MDH works closely with local health departments in these affected jurisdictions and uses data to try to pinpoint areas where there is an elevation in cases. Local health departments and law enforcement agencies play an important role in directly reaching out to areas with clusters and rising cases to slow the spread of the virus and ensure compliance to public health orders. Additional information, guidance and orders is available here: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/cdc-resources.”
MDH officials also note “Another component to slowing the spread of COVID-19 is the state’s contact tracing efforts, which helps health officials to identify how the virus is moving from person-to-person and also allows local health departments and other officials to intervene and deploy resources to stem the rise of the virus. “
An individual in a northern area school in the Garrett County Public School system has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is out of the building and will continue to isolate. Garrett County Public Schools will follow its comprehensive internal plan for a positive case, including consistent sanitizing, informing families whose students were at risk of exposure or in close contact, and supporting the affected family. Through collaboration with the Garrett County Health Department and contact tracing, it has been determined that there was one possible close contact of a student or staff member in this case. That individual has been notified and has been asked to quarantine at home and be tested. The GCPS plan for notification is as follows:
The Garrett County Health Department will notify those who have had close contact with the ill person. Close contact means being less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, with or without a face covering.
The school will notify parents/guardians if the COVID-19 positive person was in their child’s classroom even if your child was not a close contact. A letter will be sent home with your child.
The confidentiality of the COVID-19 positive person will be maintained.
Students and staff members have been closely adhering to all safety protocols in place, including facial coverings, hand washing, and social distancing. Garrett County Public Schools follows all CDC, Maryland Department of Health, and Maryland State Department of Education protocols, including collaborating with the Garrett County Health Department. Additionally, the district requests that if your child is tested for COVID-19, you report your child’s test results to the school nurse at your child’s school.
Garrett County Public Schools will continue to be vigilant in adhering to all of the protocols put in place to continue in-person learning. Students who are required to quarantine at home will continue learning via remote education.
Officials have been preparing for this scenario in all of the planning for the return to learning. Our primary goal continues to be keeping our students and staff safe. We will continue our efforts to mitigate risk and to maintain a safe environment in our schools. We are grateful to our families for their continued efforts in keeping students home at the first sign of symptoms. These measures along with wearing face-coverings, social distancing, and hand washing will significantly reduce any further transmission risk.
In Mineral County there are a total of 302 positive cases, 72 active cases, 0 probable cases, 226 recovered cases and 4 total deaths.
Potomac State College: As of yesterday (11/4), there is 1 additional positive COVID-19 test result reported of the most recent tests processed from WVU Potomac State.
There have been 17 total positive results from 1,504 tests since 8/20.
https://www.wvu.edu/return-to…/daily-test-results/keyser
The Hampshire County Health Department has confirmed 8 (7 confirmed and 1 probable) new COVID-19 cases today in the county. Case investigations and contact tracing are ongoing. The health department has enlisted the help of the Hampshire County School Nurses and the National Guard for case investigation and contact tracing.
The current case count is 167 confirmed, 10 probable, 37 active, 2 hospitalizations, and 1 death.
The community drive-thru testing sites have tested 286 people so far. More dates and locations will be added to the schedule.
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 12 active cases, with a total confirmed case count of 118. We have had one confirmed COVID-19 death. We currently have 11 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 105 individuals fully recovered, included in the total confirmed case count of 118.
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 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/…/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx
Bedford County
Total Cases: 550
Confirmed: 430
Probable: 120
Negative: 5,690
Cases per 100,000: 1,141.6
Deaths: 9
Deaths per 100,000: 18
Somerset County
Total Cases: 514
Confirmed: 425
Probable: 89
Negative: 13,010
Cases per 100,000: 695.0
Deaths: 3
Deaths per 100,000: 4.1
There was one new case reported in Grant County. This person was a close contact to a recent case. All contacts have been notified and are self-quarantining.
206 Total COVID Cases
• 192 Confirmed Positive COVID cases
• 14 Probable COVID cases (Probable cases are those that have a positive test from a rapid antigen test).
• 179 Total Recovered
• 14 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.
:As part of Governor Larry Hogan’s $250 million economic recovery package for Marylanders affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, new financial assistance programs are now available to restaurants, independent artists, arts organizations, entertainment venues, and Main Street businesses across the state.
“This economic recovery initiative will be critical to the struggling restaurants, small businesses, and Main Streets across the state that are attempting to weather this crisis,” said Governor Hogan. “I have directed our team to ensure that this much-needed funding gets out the door as quickly as possible. We are urging counties and local jurisdictions to match these new state investments by utilizing their remaining CARES Act funding so that we can direct even more resources to where they’re needed most.”
Support for Local Restaurants. For restaurants across Maryland, a new grant program is available. The state will distribute a total of $50 million across each county and Baltimore City based on the number of restaurant establishments located in each of the 24 jurisdictions. Restaurants interested in this new grant program must apply through their local jurisdiction, which are launching their own relief programs. Anne Arundel County has previously announced that it will match the state’s investment in the restaurant relief program.
The chart below is the funding for restaurant relief expected to be allocated throughout the state:
Support for Arts Organizations. The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), an agency of the Maryland Department of Commerce, has received an additional $3 million to reinvest in its Emergency Grant Program, aimed at helping those in the arts community that have experienced losses because of programming, operations, and events that have been modified or canceled. New applications are being accepted until November 13 for impacted county arts agencies, Arts & Entertainment District management entities, arts organizations, and independent artists through the MSAC website.
Support for Hometown Tourism Efforts. Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) will receive $2 million through the governor’s initiative to to support hometown tourism efforts that promote local restaurants, attractions, and shops. Each local jurisdiction’s DMO will receive funds specifically earmarked for marketing purposes, to help drive visitors to local venues and stores. This new funding greatly enhances the annual marketing assistance that Maryland Commerce’s Office of Tourism provides directly to the local tourism offices. Additional information is anticipated to be sent out to DMOs early this month.
Support for Main Street and Small Businesses. $50 million will be used to fund the remaining applications submitted for the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund. While new applications are not being accepted for this program, this additional funding will help clear the backlog of approximately 5,000 remaining small business applications submitted in March and April earlier this year. Similarly, an additional $5 million will go toward the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA), for COVID-19 relief loans for businesses owned by economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs that applied earlier this summer.
New applications are also being accepted for state programs at our partner state agencies. Both the Maryland Department of Labor and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will receive $20 million to reinvest in their coronavirus relief programs. Labor began accepting applications on October 28 for its COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which is designed to prevent or minimize the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs. DHCD has launched its web page with resources for Main Street businesses, entertainment venues, and tourism nonprofit organizations.
For more information about financial assistance available to businesses across Maryland, please visit the Maryland Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Business web page.