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COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 9, 2020

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COVID-19 Joint Information Center Update: April 9, 2020

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The Washington County, Maryland Joint Information Center (JIC) provides the following update regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emergency Operations Center
In celebration of the Easter holiday this weekend, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is reminding the community to continue following social distancing guidelines.
We want to wish everyone a safe and happy Easter holiday. The holiday and nice weather are a good time to be more active BUT we ask that you maintain all social distancing and preventative measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Washington County, MD. It may be tempting to want to gather together as a family to celebrate the Easter holiday but please know that this can be fatal to our loved ones. Please be advised that while we only have 74 confirmed cases in our community, please do not have false security in those numbers. We should continue to take the proper precautions as if we are infected or everyone around us is infected and we are trying to prevent spreading or catching the virus.
For more information on how to protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19 click here.
WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Governor Larry Hogan announced in his press conference yesterday a new executive order empowering local health departments to shut down any business, establishment, or construction site it deems unsafe. The Washington County Health Department is currently waiting on further guidance from the Governor’s office on how to move forward with complaints regarding businesses. As soon as we receive this guidance the health department will inform the public on how they can report businesses to us to be investigated.
MERITUS HEALTH
To provide Meritus Health employees and providers safe equipment and strategies to reduce potential for exposure to COVID-19 and based on new CDC guidelines found here, staff not in direct patient care settings are now being encouraged to wear masks. We are making cloth masks available to these staff members thanks in part to the generous donations of sewn masks from the community. Staff working in direct patient care continue to follow a specific masking strategy directed by the CDC with regard to PPE.
Meritus Health continues to offer telehealth visits. These visits will allow patients to speak directly with a primary care provider to discuss health concerns.
Telehealth visits are available from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. To request a telehealth visit please complete the form below.
COVID-19 TESTING SITES
Click on the map to right to access the closest testing site.
Once you have spoken with someone on the COVID-19 care line – 301-790-9170 – or to your physician about your symptoms, you may be directed to Meritus Health’s drive-thru or walk-thru screening center.
  • Drive-thru Center: COVID-19 screening is available behind Meritus Medical Plaza, at 13620 Crayton Blvd. Hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weekends from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Walk-thru Center: COVID-19 screening is available at 24 N. Walnut St, Hagerstown, MD. The walk-thru screening center is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To view testing guidelines for COVID-19 at Meritus testing locations, please click here.
For the most up-to-date information on Meritus Medical Group e-visits, visitor restrictions at Meritus Health facilities including the hospital and other COVID-19 resources, please visit https://www.meritushealth.com/patients-visitors/public-notice/.
WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The information below and links to disaster relief resources, webinars and more can be found on the Chamber website, www.hagerstown.org and the Chamber’s special breakout page www.hagerstown.org/strongtogether
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Friday, April 10, 12:00 PM
NFIB Coronavirus Part V: UPDATE – SBA’s EIDL and PPP Loan Programs
NFIB will host its fifth COVID-19 webinar on Friday, April 10, 2020, at 12 pm ET, which will cover new guidance information released by the SBA and Treasury on the EIDL and PPP loan programs. NFIB presenters will also answer the most frequently asked questions that they’ve received over the past week by small business owners about the loan programs.
Frequently asked questions include:
  • When will I hear if my loan was accepted?
  • I applied for the EIDL loan. When will I receive my loan?
  • I can’t find a participating bank that will take my application. What do I do?
  • Do I include independent contractors in my “payroll costs”?
  • I made a mistake filling out my application. How can I fix it?
  • My employees filed for unemployment, should I still apply for a loan?
All business owners who anticipate a need for financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic should attend.
If you can’t make the webinar you can still register and they’ll email you an on-demand version!
Friday April 10, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Hosted by Weiss Bros – Free Webinar: “Cleaning Best Practices: NOW and BEYOND”
  • Personal Protection Equipment
  • Disinfecting and Sanitizing
  • Efficacy Reports & SDS
  • Proper Cleaning
  • Touch Points
  • Dwell Time
ATTENTION EMPLOYERS
*NEW* – MARYLAND BUSINESS RELIEF WIZARD – Howard County Chamber of Commerce has worked with MD Commerce to engineer an online tool to help businesses identify what programs might help them the most during the COVID-19 crisis. Please feel free to share this with people in your network.
PPP opens up for independent contractors and self-employed individuals tomorrow, April 10, 2020.
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. All loan terms will be the same for everyone.
The loan amounts will be forgiven as long as:
  1. The loan proceeds are used to cover payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs over the 8-week period after the loan is made; and
  2. Employee and compensation levels are maintained.
  3. Payroll costs are capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.
  4. Due to high volumes of applications, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs.
  5. Loan payments will be deferred for 6 months.
When can I apply?
  • You must apply through your local bank that is an approved SBA lender
  • April 3, 2020, small businesses and sole proprietorships began applying through existing SBA lenders to cover their payroll and other certain expenses
  • Starting April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.
  • Other regulated lenders may be available to make these loans as soon as they are approved and enrolled in the program.
Additional PPP Information:
CITY OF HAGERSTOWN
Public Works Director Eric Deike shares a message regarding his department’s adjustments to the City of Hagerstown’s bulk trash program, street sweeping, and parking—and what they mean for citizens—during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Message from the Director of Public Works
COMMUNITY RESOURCES & INFORMATION
HORIZON GOODWILL – CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH FABRIC MASKS
Multiple local agencies and organizations that provide direct or essential services have requested in obtaining fabric masks for their employees. Horizon Goodwill is partnering with these agencies and volunteers to provide materials and instructions for creation of these masks. We have the supplies and instructions; we need volunteers with sewing machines to help get them made!
Organizations Needing Masks
City of Hagerstown- 125
Washington County EOC- 200
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen – 40
Turning Point Homeless Outreach Team- 50
Horizon Goodwill – 400
Arc of Washington County – TBA
Additional Ask
Emergency Command-7000-8000 masks that need elastic replaced. These will be at the CAC for repair, need volunteers 10:00 a.m.-Noon or Noon-2:00 p.m. Monday-Friday to complete this project. We want to keep these in one place so that we can be sure all masks are returned to Sheriff. Would like to start Friday, April 10, if possible.
Contact Information
Call Brooke Grossman, Horizon Goodwill volunteer Point Of Contact, at 301-988-0185 if interested in assisting.
Interested volunteers/groups should pick one of the projects above and a quantity they feel is reasonable for them to produce. Pickup of packaged materials will be coordinated at Horizon Goodwill headquarters at 145151 Pennsylvania Ave (across from Nick’s Airport Inn). Once volunteers are identified for specific projects, they will be provided with the POC for the specific organization and they can deliver masks directly once complete.
For additional information, please contact the Public Relations and Marketing Department at 240-313-2380 or [email protected].
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