The Allegany County Public School System has worked diligently with the collaboration of the Allegany County Health Department to maintain in-person education in ACPS. However, with the shortage of staff available to provide in-person instruction, and the rising COVID-19 metrics in Allegany County, ACPS finds it necessary to return all students to a 100% virtual model at this time.
Students should log into their Schoology accounts and follow their virtual schedule for Monday, November 9, 2020. All Allegany County Public School buildings will be CLOSED to students and the public during this time. Employees will receive additional direction from the Human Resources department by email. ACPS will continue to review employee data, as well as county metrics, and will make a decision on Thursday, November 12, 2020, as to whether in-person education can resume on Monday, November 16th.
As of today, November 7th, ACPS reports an additional four individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within an Allegany County Public School. During the week of November 2nd, ACPS had 101 staff members who were unable to report to work due to a COVID-19 related issue. As of today, ACPS has 110 staff members in this situation. These staff members include individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and individuals who are quarantined due to close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Many of these individuals are quarantining for a period of 14 days.
The health and safety of staff and students is the school system’s number one priority. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during these difficult and ever-changing times. Stay safe!
All schools in Mineral County will be remote learning on Mon. Nov. 9, 2020 due to Designation of RED on County Alert Map. Mineral County is in the red as a result
Hampshire County Schools will be virtual this week
Extracurricular activities at Bishop Walsh have been postponed for the fall 2020 season due to the rise in COVID -19 cases
The Allegany County Health Department reports 129 new cases of COVID-19 in Allegany County since Wednesday, bringing the county’s total case count to 1,076. Two Allegany County residents have died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the county death toll to 27.
The 129 new cases include: five children ages 12 and under, nine females and four males in their teens, 11 females and nine males in their 20s, nine females and six males in their 30s, 12 females and five males in their 40s, ten females and 11 males in their 50s, six females and seven males in their 60s, six females and eight males in their 70s, five females and four males in their 80s, and one female and one male in their 90s.
The Allegany County case rate has reached 46.66 cases per 100,000 population and remains the highest case rate in the state. Maryland’s case rate stands at 15.54 cases per 100,000 population.
UPMC Western Maryland continues to report 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.
Health officials urge everyone to do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding gatherings, wearing a mask when around others, washing hands frequently, maintaining six feet of distance from others, and staying home if you are sick. These simple precautions will limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
The Garrett County Health Department received eight additional positive COVID-19 results since the last report on November 4th. This brings the current county total positives to 202, with 42 people isolating due to positive results.
The new positive COVID-19 cases include:
• 3 females in their 20s
• 1 female and 1 male in their 30s
• 1 female in her 40a
• 2 females in their 60s
During a press conference yesterday, Governor Larry Hogan gave some updates on the COVID-19 situation in the state.
“Our statewide metrics do not yet warrant taking drastic immediate actions,” he said. “However, the upticks in some of our metrics here and the spiking numbers in other states do place us once again at a pivotal moment in the spike.”
“Today we need every single Marylander to recommit to the actions that have helped us crush the curve the first time around,” the governor said. “The simple steps that can help us keep our loved ones and neighbors safe are statewide masking order, which will remain in full force and effect, requiring everyone to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces of all businesses across the state, and in outdoor public areas when it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.”
The state statistics Governor Hogan highlighted included:
• Maryland this week reported highest daily count since July at 1,198 new cases.
• 588 Marylanders were in the hospital with COVID-19.
• Maryland’s hospitalization rate for COVID-19 has more than doubled since the last low in September and is now at levels last seen in midsummer.
• The state’s positivity rate surpassed 4% this week for the first time since August.
“Wearing masks continues to be the single best mitigation strategy we have to fight this virus,” Hogan continued. “It is the best way to keep you and your family members safe, keep people out of the hospital, save lives, and to keep Maryland open for business. I mean, it’s that simple.”
Visit garretthealth.org for the most up-to-date COVID-19 information
In Mineral County there are 354 total cases, 104 are active 246 have recovered, 4 deaths
The Mineral County Health Department has received confirmation of an employee and several patrons testing positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)at the Loyal Order of Moose located in Keyser, WV. This has been classified as an official outbreak(#740) by the West Virginia DHHR Bureau for Public Health’s Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. The Health Department is working to identify any potential persons who may have had close contact with the individuals, including family members ,friends, and additional members/patrons. Additionally ,the facility has been closed for environmental cleaning and will reopen following a reinspection by the Health Department. The time frame in question is as follows: Saturday, October24ththru Friday, November 6thIf you visited this establishment during the dates
listed above, you may have come in contact with a positive case. The purpose of this alert is preventative as well as informative. If you develop symptoms, have concerns, or feel you need to be tested, you may contact the Mineral County Health Department at (304) 788-1321or your local provider. Additionally, free COVID-19 community testing is available this week at the Mineral County Vo Tech and the Fort Ashby Fairgrounds. Please visit our Facebook Page for testing times
Frankfort Middle School employee, 2 Keyser Middle School employees, New Creek Primary school all tested positive for COVID-19. The Mineral County Health Department will be working closely with Mineral County Schools to identify any potential persons who may have had close contact with them including students, staff, family members and friends. Those that need to be quarantined will be contacted by the health department. 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.
There were 8 new cases reported in Grant County over the weekend. Three of these were from the Mountaintop area, with one a family member of a recent positive case.
214 Total COVID Cases
• 196 Confirmed Positive COVID cases
• 18 Probable COVID cases (Probable cases are those that have a positive test from a rapid antigen test).
• 188 Total Recovered
• 13 active Cases.
• 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.
The Hampshire County Health Department has confirmed 4 additional cases over the weekend 5 confirmed and 3 probable). Cases investigations have been completed and contact tracing complete.
Hampshire County’s current case count is 171 confirmed, 13 probable, 38 active, 1 death and 1 hospitalization.
***FREE Community Testing this week***
Monday-Friday at Hampshire Memorial Hospital from 9a-1p
Tuesday – Central Hampshire Park from 1p-5p
Wednesday – Capon Bridge Elementary 2p-6p
Thursday – Romney Elementary 2p-6p
Friday – Central Hampshire Park 1p-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 14 active cases, with a total confirmed case count of 121. We have had one confirmed COVID-19 death. We currently have 13 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 106 individuals fully recovered, included in the total confirmed case count of 121.
67 new cases in Bedford County Friday and Saturday Bedford County
Total Cases: 648
Confirmed: 515
Probable: 133
Negative: 5,853
Cases per 100,000: 1,345.1
Deaths: 9
Deaths per 100,000: 18.7
45 new cases in Someset Friday and
Saturday Total
Cases: 573
Confirmed: 470
Probable: 103
Negative: 13,266
Cases per 100,000: 774.8
Deaths: 3
Deaths per 100,000: 4.1
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has posted the November 7, 2020, Saturday Education Map that determines which counties will hold in-person and blended instruction and directs the level of extracurricular activities permitted. The map is developed with information from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and vetted by the COVID-19 Data Review Panel.
The weekly updates are posted at https://wvde.us/reentrymetrics. County plans should be reviewed for additional requirements.
Red (Substantial Community Transmission): Counties must move to remote learning. No extracurricular competitions or practices are permitted. Staff may report to their schools, as determined by the county. Essential support services, including special education and meals, will continue.
Red counties include:
| Mineral | Mingo |
Orange (Heightened Community Transmission): Remote learning required. Extracurricular activities are limited to conditioning only and sport-specific practicing is not permitted. Marching band is limited to outdoors only. Staff may report to their schools, as determined by the county. Essential support services, including special education and meals, will continue.
Orange counties include:
| Hampshire | Jackson | Lincoln | Marshall |
| Ohio | Putnam | Tyler | Wood |
| Wyoming |
Gold (Elevated Community Transmission): In-person instruction permitted with increased mitigations including face coverings for children grades 3 and above at all times. Extracurricular activities are permitted in-county (with schools from the same county) and with other gold counties.
Gold counties include:
| Berkeley | Jefferson | Morgan | Pleasants |
| Wetzel | Wirt |
Yellow (Increased Community Transmission): Counties will continue with in-person instruction. Extracurricular practices and competitions may occur. Health and safety precautions include, at a minimum, face coverings at all times for grades 6 and above.
Yellow counties include:
| Boone | Cabell | Clay | Fayette |
| Kanawha | Lewis | Marion | McDowell |
| Monroe | Preston | Randolph | Ritchie |
| Upshur | Wayne |
Green (Minimal Community Transmission): Extracurricular practices and competitions may occur. Health and safety precautions include, at a minimum, face coverings in grades 3 and above when students are outside of core groups and in congregant settings and on school buses.
Green counties include:
| Barbour | Braxton | Brooke | Calhoun |
| Doddridge | Gilmer | Grant | Greenbrier |
| Hancock | Hardy | Harrison | Logan |
| Mason | Mercer | Monongalia | Nicholas |
| Pendleton | Pocahontas | Raleigh | Roane |
| Summers | Taylor | Tucker | Webster |
The COVID-19 Data Review Panel reviewed and verified the data used to inform theWVDE Saturday Education Map to ensure both accuracy and reliability. The panel considered data captured at 11:59 p.m., Thursday, November 5, 2020. As a result, there may be differences between the WVDE map and the DHHR County Alert Map.
The county color announced each Saturday will be in effect until the following Saturday at the same time with the exception of a county turning red during the course of the week. Once reviewed, that change may be made immediately to the WVDE map because all in-person instruction and extracurricular and athletic activities would be suspended.
All schools, both public and private, are expected to adhere to the WVDE Saturday Education Map to guide in-person instruction and extracurricular activities.
The COVID-19 Data Review Panel, responsible for verifying the data utilized in the West Virginia Department of Education Saturday Education Map, today reviewed data from a public health perspective to determine the accuracy and reliability of the data to ensure they are a true indication of what’s occurring among counties across West Virginia.
As a result of today’s review, the panel approved the following:
Berkeley County: Moved from orange to gold based on additional testing results received and a reduced positivity rate.
Lewis County: Moved from gold to yellow due to data validation and three cases being removed due to case status updated and one case removed due to outbreak information being updated.
Marion County: Moved from green to yellow due to data validation and one case being added due to outbreak information being updated.
Marshall County: Moved from red to orange due to data validation of 11 nursing home residents excluded and transfer of three cases to correct county of residence.
Monroe County: Moved from gold to yellow due to data validation and one nursing home resident excluded.
Morgan County: Moved from yellow to gold due to additional testing results received.
Randolph County: Moved from gold to yellow due to data validation of ten college students isolating in dorms excluded and transfer of three cases to correct county of residence.
The data contributing toward the Saturday Education Map is based on data from the DHHR’s County Alert Map as of 11:59 p.m. Thursday, November 5, 2020. This cut off time is used to give time to verify the accuracy and completeness of all data to be utilized in the Saturday Education Map.
To view the Saturday Education Map, visit https://wvde.us/reentrymetrics. The COVID-19 dashboard is located at www.coronavirus.wv.gov.