Daily COVID-19 Update

Frostburg State University officials report 28 new cases of COVID-19 from the latest round of testing held Oct 4th -17th. A total of 546 were tested.

The test results above include 40 self-reported tests uploaded to the University portal, 15 positive results and 25 negative results.

According to a message posted on the site from FSU President Nowaczyk: This report of COVID-19 testing results shows that FSU has seen an increase in one of the measures we monitor, our positivity rate. This increase is not totally unexpected.

Last week we reminded our campus community to continue to upload test results to our campus portal. While many external testing entities only provide records of positive tests, not negative ones, any positive test results we can confirm in our university community is valuable information that we are using to evaluate our status.

Our positivity rate, as well as our rate in comparison to our local community, are two of multiple data points we are monitoring. While we continue to test below the county’s positivity rate, the increase in cases in our county and among the FSU community is a trend we are watching closely as we determine if responses or additional measures, such as the current ‘pause’ in athletic activity among some teams, are required.”

My message to campus is an especially important one: Please be more vigilant than ever in wearing masks — and wearing them properly — social distancing in all situations on and off campus, and washing your hands frequently. As we spend more time indoors because of the cooler weather, these actions are very important for your safety and that of the campus community. We will continue to take actions on campus to keep the campus as safe as possible.

https://www.frostburg.edu/fall2020/COVID-Testing.php…

The Garrett County Health Department received four additional positive COVID-19 results, bringing the current county total positives to 107.

The new positive COVID-19 cases are a male and a female in their 30s, and a male and a female in their 60s. All of the individuals are being advised to isolate at home or to seek immediate medical attention based on their signs and symptoms.

Garrett County currently has 24 persons isolating due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, including

one person who is hospitalized.

“Please continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Jennifer Corder, Deputy Health Officer in Garrett and Allegany Counties. “Contact tracing continues to reveal that the current surge in cases in Garrett County is primarily being spread through gatherings among families, friends, and worshipers.”

“As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Garrett County, it is important that we know about the virus, how it spreads, and how to protect ourselves,” Corder said.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, so the best way to prevent the illness is to avoid being exposed to it. The virus is spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus is an aerosol and can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Wash Hands Frequently: Everyone should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or using the restroom. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact: Inside your home, avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. Outside your home, keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household. It is safest to avoid crowded places and gatherings where it may be difficult to stay at least 6 feet away from others who are not from your household.

Wear a mask or face covering: Cover your mouth and nose with a mask or face covering when around others. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. The mask is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

However, masks should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Cover coughs and sneezes: Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water or clean your hands with a hand sanitizer.

Clean and disinfect: Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Then, use a household disinfectant.

Monitor Your Health Daily: Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet. Take your temperature if symptoms develop. Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen. Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Protect Your Health This Flu Season: It’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter. Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed treating both patients with flu and patients with COVID-19. This means getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever.

While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, there are many important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19.

In Mineral County there are a total of 203 cases, 14 are active, 185 have recovered and there are a total of 4 deaths

The Hampshire County Health Department has confirmed two new positive COVID-19 cases today. The new cases are contacts of a positive case. Case investigation has been completed and all direct contacts notified.

The current case count for Hampshire Co. is 120 confirmed, 2 probable, 3 active, and 1 death. No one is hospitalized at this time.

The Hampshire County Health Department and the Hampshire Center Nursing Home are pleased to announce that the COVID-19 outbreak that started on Sept 30th has been resolved. Weekly testing of all staff and residents has concluded with 2 consecutive weeks of negative test results. The total outbreak resulted in two staff members testing positive. During the outbreak no residents tested positive.

There was one (1) new case in Grant County today. This person is self-quarantining at home and contacts have been notified.

183 Total COVID Cases

• 175 confirmed Positive COVID cases

• 8 Probable COVID cases

• 162 Total Recovered

• 9 Active Cases. 2 are hospitalized at this time, all cases will remain active and in quarantine until a minimum of 10 days after diagnosis or symptom onset, AND no symptoms for 24 hours without medication.

• 12 Deaths, of these:

§ 8 Deaths listed as COVID related (6 from GRCC)

§ 4 others tested positive soon before dying from other causes and COVID was not determined to contribute to the death by the physician of record.

If you have any symptoms (loss of taste or smell, fever, cough, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, headache or diarrhea) or have been told that you are a close contact to a positive case and are tested, please follow the instructions given at that time for self-isolation until test results are returned and you are instructed when to discontinue isolation.

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.

Bedford County 33 cases confirmed in the past 7 days

Total Cases: 342 Confirmed: 281  Probable: 61
Negative: 5,175 Cases per 100,000: 709.9
Deaths: 6  Deaths per 100,000: 12.5

Somerset County 43 new cases in the past 7day

Total Cases: 331 Confirmed: 283  Probable: 48
Negative: 11,835 Cases per 100,000: 447.6
Deaths: 3  Deaths per 100,000: 4.1

Governor Larry Hogan announced the release of the State of Maryland’s initial draft COVID-19 mass vaccination plan, which was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week. Read the draft plan. https://lnks.gd/…/eyJhbGci…/s/465585450/br/87123560135-l

“In anticipation of a COVID-19 vaccine, Maryland stands ready to order, distribute, and administer it effectively and rapidly as soon as a vaccine becomes available,” said Governor Hogan. “The State of Maryland’s plan for this historic undertaking will immediately make the vaccine available to Marylanders at highest risk of developing complications from COVID-19 as well as our critical frontline health care workers and essential workers in public safety and education.”

“The Maryland Department of Health has worked collaboratively with our many partners in both the public and private sectors to develop a draft plan that will ensure the swift, safe, and equitable administration of a life-saving COVID-19 vaccine,” said Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Secretary Robert R. Neall. “We stand ready to take additional action and operationalize this effort as soon as a vaccine becomes available.”

Safe and Phased Plan for Vaccination Distribution

Maryland’s draft COVID-19 vaccination plan focuses on two major phases of vaccine availability and distribution. Phase 1 will focus on priority groups to receive vaccination, and Phase 2 will have wide-scale vaccine availability for the general population. Additionally, vaccine supply is expected to rapidly increase once distribution begins, alleviating the need to limit vaccine administration.

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Vaccination Second Dose Reminders. For most COVID-19 vaccines, two doses of vaccine will be required separated by >21 or >28 days. Second dose reminders will be provided to patients in several ways. Marylanders may choose to receive reminders through PrepMod

Governor Hogan Announces Maryland Farmer COVID-19 Relief Program
New Initiative Makes $10 Million Available for Thousands of Eligible Farmers and Producers

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced a new $10 million initiative to provide critical support to thousands of Maryland farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maryland Farmer COVID-19 Relief Program will offer direct assistance to contract poultry growers and a bonus payment to any farm operation that received funding through the first round of the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Watch today’s announcement.



For more information, or to apply online for the Maryland Farmer COVID-19 Relief Program, please visit https://mda.maryland.gov/pages/farmer-relief.aspx.

Superintendent Barbara Baker updated the Board of Education on a number of points related to the Garrett County Public Schools’ Reopening Plan at its regular meeting on October 13. Students, parents, and families should note the following:

Students in grades 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 successfully returned to in-person learning on Monday, October 12. These students are attending, for the most part, in the hybrid model of M-T OR Th-F.

The following students are scheduled to return on October 26: Grades 4, 5, 7, and 10

The following students are scheduled to return on November 9: Grades 8 and 11 and all students who have not previously voluntarily returned.

The current three hour early dismissal schedule will continue until at least November 30. This date is three weeks after all remaining students who wish to do so have returned to in-person learning. This date is also after the shortened Thanksgiving week.

The current 4 day per week of in-person learning will also continue until at least November 30. Wednesdays will remain a day for asynchronous learning for students and for professional development for staff members.

All of the above targets for return are tentative based on metrics of infection rates at each phase of return. If infection rates warrant, the school system may need to make additional, more restrictive changes and return to the reopening plan at a later date.

Progress reports for the first term have been distributed to all students. Parents and families are reminded that it is important for all students to engage in their own learning. Teachers will continue to grade students’ work at their own discretion. Furthermore, students will no longer have automatic minimum grades due to the pandemic. During the closure last March, students across the state were provided with assurances that everyone would be promoted. This was due to the emergency circumstances at the time. GCPS spent significant time during the summer building instruction through Schoology. Therefore:

With the robust virtual learning and increased in-person learning opportunities, in order to pass or be promoted, all students must meet the standards set by each teacher, each school, and the requirements of each course.