The Allegany County BOE voted to have all students remain in a fully-virtual learning format until county’s health metric are below the recommended levels of 5% positivity rate and 15 per 100,000 cases for a 5-day trend AND pending the availability of adequate staff.
Announcements regarding COVID-19 updates will be communicated to the public every Friday. Due to this decision, next week (Nov. 16-20), all students will remain fully virtual.
As of yesterday 17 staff members had tested positive and eight children in schools had tested positive.
From AC Commission: Governor Larry Hogan and the State of Maryland has given each county the flexibility in “The Road Map to Recovery” and to date, Allegany County has moved to each new phase of recovery as soon as allowed by the State of Maryland. Unfortunately, our COVID-19 numbers are escalating at a pace that is nearly three times the rate of the rest of the State of Maryland. This requires us to need to make an adjustment. As a result, to protect the public and to try to improve our health, effective today Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 5PM, Allegany County will make changes to our reopening plan.
The following guidelines will be in place in Allegany County starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday November 10, 2020:
• Indoor dining at restaurants, limited to 50% capacity, with tables at least six feet apart and other public health protective measures.
• Outdoor amusements, such as miniature golf and go-kart tracks, limited to 50% capacity and with other public health protective measures.
• Indoor fitness, gyms, martial arts, dance and other studio-type activities, limited to 50% capacity and with other public health protective measures.
• Casinos, arcades and malls limited to 50% capacity with public health protective measures.
• Additionally, admittance to the County Office Complex will be by appointment only.
Allegany County’s Roadmap to Reopening resource can be found online at:
We will monitor this closely over the next few weeks and will re-assess our situation on Monday, November 30, 2020. We ask that citizens and businesses be extra vigilant during this time to improve our health metrics to allow us to expand our re-opening.
With a strong resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Allegany County, Cumberland City Hall will be closing to the general public beginning Thursday, November 12, 2020, in an effort to keep our citizens safer through minimal personal contact.
Much like the closure that took place in March, operations within City Hall may be modified, but will be staffed sufficiently to support the needs of the City of Cumberland. Any business or transaction that requires a visit to City Hall must be conducted by appointment only, and the appropriate individual or department should be contacted by phone or email in advance to arrange a mutually agreeable time.
The City of Cumberland encourages the utilization of online payment methods for utility bills and any other financial obligations, such as parking violations, citations, real property tax, personal property tax and corporate tax. Visit http://www.ci.cumberland.md.us/131/Online-Payments for more details and instructions to pay online.
Payments may also be made in the following ways:
– Mailed to 57 N. Liberty Street, Cumberland, MD 21502
– Paid by phone (credit card payment) by calling 301-759-6409
– Placed in the drop box outside City Hall, 1st floor
– Drive-by drop box at Chamber of Commerce Bell Tower in City Hall plaza
– At select First United Bank locations: 115 Harrison St. or White Oaks
Shopping Center (1501 E. Oldtown Road) – Cash payments for water/sewer only
Persons needing to conduct business in-person regarding permits, rental licensing and code issues should contact the Community Development Department in advance to schedule an appointment at 301-722-2000, Extension 5600.
With Maryland’s positivity rate exceeding 5% for the first time since June and health metrics spiking across the nation, Governor Larry Hogan today announced a series of actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Since last week, most of our key metrics have worsened considerably,” said Governor Hogan. “More people are getting infected with the virus, more people are being hospitalized, more people are going into intensive care, and more Marylanders are dying. The actions we are taking today are absolutely necessary to help us withstand this surge, to save lives, and to keep Maryland on the road to recovery and open for business.”
EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 AT 5PM:
INDOOR DINING CAPACITY REDUCED TO 50%. The governor issued an emergency order reducing indoor operations for bars and restaurants from 75% to 50%. Bars and restaurants in the State of Maryland are permitted to be open for seated and distanced service only, with strict capacity restrictions. Read the governor’s order.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY TO LIMIT INDOOR GATHERINGS TO 25 OR LESS. With contact tracing data showing an uptick in cases resulting from family gatherings and house parties, state health officials have issued a public health advisory strongly discouraging indoor gatherings of 25 people or more. Read the health advisory.
EXPANDED OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL ADVISORY. With contact tracing data showing an uptick in confirmed cases connected to travel outside of the state, the governor has directed the Maryland Department of Health to issue an expanded public health advisory for out-of-state travel. Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to any state with a positivity rate above 10% or any state with average case rates above 20 per 100K. Anyone traveling from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results.
This public health advisory—which takes effect immediately—applies to personal, family, or business travel of any kind. Marylanders are advised to postpone or cancel travel to these areas until their positivity and/or case rates decline. Read the travel advisory.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO RETURN TO MANDATORY TELEWORKING. Governor Hogan has directed the Maryland Department of Budget and Management to immediately execute a period of mandatory telework across state agencies, except for essential direct public-facing services and other essential personnel. State officials strongly encourage all businesses to take immediate steps to expand telework.
NEW HOSPITAL SURGE CAPACITY ORDER. State health officials have issued an emergency order expanding hospital surge capacity. Read the emergency health order.
Provides state EMS officials with the flexibility to shift patients to alternate care sites such as the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital, Laurel Hospital, and Adventist Takoma Park Hospital, and to add capacity at those sites if the need arises.
Requires hospitals to implement plans to stage and accept surge patients. All hospitals will be required to begin preparations to increase COVID-19 related operations by making sure they have enough beds and staff.
Makes additional infection control staff available from regional hospitals and other nursing homes to intervene and provide support through mutual aid agreements when outbreaks occur at any one nursing home.
NEW GUIDANCE FOR NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. State health officials have issued new guidance for slowing the spread of COVID-19 at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Read the nursing home guidance.
Marylanders should take all precautions to protect their loved ones at nursing homes and assisted living programs including staying home if sick and getting tested before they visit.
Nursing home and assisted living program staff should minimize their contact with large gatherings and work with their management on communicating early and often about infection control issues at their facilities.
Nursing homes and assisted living programs are reminded that indoor visitation is not permitted if the facility is currently conducting outbreak testing and in accordance with federal guidance on this subject. Each facility may restrict visitation, to include the number of individuals allowed in the facility at any given time, on a facility-specific basis given each facility’s circumstances and infection control guidelines.
Nursing homes must continue to take steps to secure sufficient personal protective equipment for their staff.
EXPANDED CONSULTATIONS WITH LOCAL LEADERS. At the governor’s direction, administration officials will increase teleconferences with county and municipal leaders in order to ensure additional real-time coordination.
As of today, November 10, five individuals in southern area schools in the Garrett County Public School system have tested positive for COVID-19. The individuals are all out of the buildings and will continue to isolate. Garrett County Public Schools will follow its comprehensive internal plan for positive cases, 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 were several possible close contacts of both students and staff members in this case. All of the affected individuals have been notified and 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 persons 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.
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. We must remain vigilant at school and at home.
48 new cases were reported in Mineral County yesterday bringing the total number of cases to 432, with 171 active, 257 recovered and 4 total deaths
In Mineral County the Health Department received confirmation of 3 additional employees and a student testing positive for COVID-19 at Keyser Middle School these cases do not have an epidemiological link and therefore are not considered an outbreak at this time. The Health Departmenr received confirmation of another individual at New Creek Primary School testing positive. This has been classified as an outbreak. The Health Department has received confirmation of an individual associated with the Frankfort Football team testing positive. This has been classified as an outbreak. The Health Department also received confirmation of two employees at McDonald’s in Keyser testing positive. Health Department officials believe the risk to the public is low because the employees were following the guidelines wearing masks and gloves while working. Two employees at the Catamount Children’s Center have tested positive. This is classified as an outbreak. Anyone who had been to the child care facility between Nov 4th through Nov 9th may have come into contact with a positive case.
The Hampshire County Health Department has confirmed 2 additional cases today. Case investigation and contact tracing are ongoing.
Hampshire County’s current case count is 178 confirmed, 14 probable, 34 active, 1 death and 2 hospitalizations.
***FREE Community Testing this week***
Monday-Friday at Hampshire Memorial Hospital from 9a-1p
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 29 active cases, with a total confirmed case count of 140. We have had one confirmed COVID-19 death. We currently have 26 patients in quarantine at home, following proper protocol to protect their neighbors and community. Three 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 110 individuals recovered, included in the total confirmed case count of 140.
There were two (2) new cases reported today. One was a contact of a previous case, the other had an unknown exposure.
225 Total COVID Cases
• 202 Confirmed Positive COVID cases
• 23 Probable COVID cases (Probable cases are those that have a positive test from a rapid antigen test).
• 190 Total Recovered
• 22 Active Cases. Two are 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 of 11/9, there are 10 additional positive COVID-19 test results reported of the most recent tests processed from WVU Potomac State. There have been 33 total positive results from 1,649 tests since 8/20.
Due to the recent Covid-19 spike in cases in our immediate area, the drive through Bountiful Blessings distribution at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cumberland WILL NOT be held on Thursday, November 12. This was to be the only session in November.
The Maryland Department of Health and the Allegany County Health Department have partnered to establish an ongoing COVID-19 drive-thru testing clinic at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. The new site will begin providing tests tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, at 8 a.m. and will offer free COVID-19 testing three days per week. Hours for the testing site are Mondays from 2 – 7 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. No appointment, insurance card, or doctor’s order is needed.
This new testing schedule at the fairgrounds replaces the kids-only drive-up clinic which has been operating for the past few weeks in the fairgrounds multipurpose building. The new drive-thru clinic is open to children and adults.
“By partnering with the Allegany County Health Department to establish a new testing site, we are able to increase local testing capacity at a time when the need is high,” said MDH Secretary Robert R. Neall. “With COVID-19 case and positivity rates ticking up in the region and across the state, it is critical for all Marylanders who need a test to be diligent about getting a test. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and testing provides the knowledge that we need to help contain the spread of the virus.”
“The Allegany County Fairgrounds COVID-19 testing site will provide residents of Allegany County and our neighboring counties with a safe, comfortable place to get free tests,” said Jenelle Mayer, Allegany County’s health officer. “As testing has become more important than ever, so too has the importance of accessible options for those needing tests. We are thankful to have this convenient new site to serve our area.”
As of Tuesday, Allegany County’s case rate had climbed to 66.54 cases per 100,000 – the highest rate in the state. By comparison, Maryland’s statewide average case rate is 19.79 per 100,000.
The Maryland Department of Health continues to urge all Marylanders who need a test to get a test, including:
● symptomatic individuals;
● all who suspect exposure, including those who are asymptomatic;
● individuals who are at risk of exposure, including workers in frequent contact with the public in health care, emergency services, food and grocery, retail or manufacturing, public transportation, educational, and other congregate settings;
● individuals who have been in large gatherings; and
● individuals who have traveled recently.
COVID-19 information and resources are available at https://coronavirus.maryland.gov. If you have questions about the testing clinic in Allegany County, please call the Allegany County Health Department at 301-759-5000.
The demand for COVID-19 testing in the area has increased because of the dramatic rise in positive cases and the number of close contacts these cases have generated.
“This new testing site is a great addition to locations currently available in Garrett County,” said Garrett County Health Officer Bob Stephens. “We appreciate the partnership between the Maryland Department of Health and Allegany County Health Department to make this testing site available to anyone in the region.”
There are a variety of testing locations available in Garrett County with differing criteria.
For anyone age 18 and younger:
• Friendsville – Mondays, 9 am -12 pm, Northern Garrett Rescue Squad, Station 3, 320 Chestnut Street. No appointment needed.
• Grantsville – Wednesdays, 9 am -12 pm, Northern Garrett Rescue Squad, Station 1, 124 Miller Street. No appointment needed
• Oakland – Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 am -12 pm, Garrett County Health Department, 1025 Memorial Drive. Call 301-334-7770 for an appointment.
For all age groups:
Call your primary care provider to ask about testing at the doctor’s office.
Call Urgent Care Centers to ask about testing at their center.
Testing is available at CVS in Oakland. To schedule a test, go to cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.
If you have a doctor’s order for testing, call Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) in Oakland for testing:
• With symptoms: Monday through Thursday during normal business hours. Once you have your provider’s order for a Rapid test, call 301-533-4670 to schedule an appointment. Hospital staff will meet you at your car under the canopy at the front of the hospital at the designated appointment time. The result will be called to your provider within an hour.
• Without symptoms: No need to call ahead. Just bring your provider’s order to the hospital and register as you would for any lab work. This test will be sent out and the results normally come back in 2-3 days.
The Maryland Department of Health encourages the following individuals to get COVID-19 tests:
• Individuals with symptoms that could be COVID-19
• All who suspect exposure, including those who don’t have symptoms
• Individuals who are at risk of exposure, including workers in frequent contact with the public in health care, emergency services, food and grocery, retail or manufacturing, public transportation, educational, and other congregate settings
• Individuals who have been in large gatherings
• Individuals who have traveled recently.
Hampshire County
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hampshire Memorial Hospital, 363 Sunrise Blvd, Romney, WV
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Capon Bridge Elementary School, 99 Capon School St, Capon Bridge, WV
Mineral County
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Mineral County VoTech, 981 Harley O Staggers Drive, Keyser, WV
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Mineral County Fairgrounds, Rt. 28, Fort Ashby, WV
The Maryland Department of Health today announced the launch of MD COVID Alert, the official COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Express system of Maryland. MD COVID Alert uses Bluetooth technology to notify users who might have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 with the goal of reducing infections in Maryland.
Starting today, Marylanders with an iPhone or Android smartphone will receive a push notification inviting them to receive exposure notification alerts. MD COVID Alert is available at no cost and is voluntary. Users can disable exposure notifications at any time.
“Privacy is important. MD COVID Alert does not collect, transmit, or store personal information of users, and the system is completely anonymous,” said Dr. Katherine Feldman, MDH Contact Tracing Unit Director. “We’re asking Marylanders to add their smartphones to the fight against COVID-19 by using MD COVID Alert.”
To download on an Android device, visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…
For instructions on how to enable notifications on an iPhone, visit: https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/mdcovidalert/
Learn more: https://bit.ly/MDCOVIDAlert