COVID-19 Joint Information Daily Briefings will be released ONLY on Tuesdays and Fridays.

**The dashboard is updated Monday-Friday**

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Emergency Operations Center recommend that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.

Wearing a mask in public is one of many heroic measures you can take to help slow the spread of COVID-19. When wearing a mask it is important to wear the mask correctly. Position your mask so that it covers your nose and mouth. Do not wear on your chin or under your nose. If you’re not wearing your mask properly, virus particles can spread.

Learn more about the dos and don’ts of masking at https://bit.ly/30QOzQF.

Jaqua (Jay) Williams is a transit driver for Washington County Transit. During COVID-19, transit has continued as an essential service to the community. Transit serves a large elderly population, who are the most vulnerable during this pandemic. As an essential worker, Jay has gone above and beyond to clean and disinfect his bus to keep his passengers safe and healthy. Transit drivers across the county have provided essential transportation for citizens, providing transportation for citizens to pick-up medications, groceries, and other essential items needed to make it through this time. It is now time for us to join our transit drivers by keeping each other safe and protected against COVID-19! Jay Williams protects our community. It is now time we join his team by practicing social distance, hand washing, and wearing a mask. IT IS NOW TIME FOR YOU TO PROTECT HIM!

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, all citizens are encouraged to continue washing your hands, social distance, wear a mask, get tested, and stay at home when experiencing minor symptoms. Do your part to keep Washington County and the State of Maryland open for business!

THIS IS A HERO public messaging campaign emphasizes the importance of wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing hands to protect those most vulnerable in our community.

To nominate a local hero or learn more about our “THIS IS A HERO” campaign visit www.washcoheroes.com.

COVID-19 TESTING SITES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD

WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Washington County Health Department Testing Sites:

(All testing at WCHD sites are Free)

VEIP Station Drive Thru Testing Site

12100 Insurance Way in Hagerstown.

Now Closed

Mobile Walk-Up Testing Sites:

Washington County Health Department has launched mobile testing sites throughout Washington County. Testing at these sites are free and you do not need a doctor’s referral or an appointment to be tested.

All testing sites are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. unless indicated differently.

How to Get Your COVID-19 Test Results:

It takes approximately 48 hours from the time of your visit to a collection facility to the time your result is available and ready for viewing.

FREE Flu and Childhood Vaccination Clinics

Washington County Health Department is offering FREE Childhood Vaccination Clinics and FREE Flu Vaccination Clinic for Elementary Age School Children. Parents must register their child in order to be seen at one of these clinics. For instruction on how to register you child and the schedule of clinics please go to https://wp.me/p9M1Nf-Xe

VIRTUAL VISITS CONNECT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

Since restrictions remain in place for visitors at Meritus Medical Center, the hospital is offering virtual visits to connect patients with their families and friends. To setup a virtual visit, please contact the program’s coordinator at 240-313-3163.

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is pleased to see more students returning to the classroom for the start of Stage three. On Monday, October 12, 2020, WCPS also expanded athletics and extracurricular activities to prepare for competitive events.

Read more at: https://www.smore.com/a5vbj.

To avoid sharing materials, every elementary student who returns to classrooms will receive their own box of school supplies. We will fill about 11,000 boxes for the future return of all elementary students! To learn more watch the video below.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.

Important information below from SBDC’s Financial Specialist Team if you or your business as received a PPP loan:

As a PPP borrower – and with 2020 tax preparation season now in swing – the Maryland SBDC Financial Specialists Team wants to remind you about tax implications related to PPP forgiveness. Although the SBDC does NOT provide tax advice, they wanted to make you aware of a potentially KEY issue. Per IRS Notice 2020-32, expenses paid using FORGIVEN PPP funds are NOT tax-deductible expenses. This means that if your application for forgiveness is APPROVED in 2020, the expenses you paid with those “forgiven” PPP funds WILL NOT be deductible on your 2020 tax return. This could have significant “2020 income tax due” implications when you file the return. If you delay the “Forgiveness” request/get approval until 2021, that would allow time for tax planning related to the 2021 tax filing when those “forgiven” related expenses still cannot be deducted. STEPS TO TAKE: SBDC encourages you to connect ASAP with your tax preparer to consider strategies and options. Certainly, if you have any questions or want additional insights, please feel free to contact your Maryland SBDC Business Consultant, go to the www.marylandsbdc.org website to get connected with a Consultant and/or refer to our COVID19 Small Business Survival Guide.

For more information the NIFB (National Federation of Independent Business) is offering a FREE webinar Wednesday, October 14th @ 12 noon: Automatic Forgiveness Update and Ask the CPA – Covid-19 Small Biz Tax Tips: PPP and Beyond

Join special guest CPA and Tax Expert Martin Abo, CPA/ABV/CVA/CFF, as he answers the most urgent tax questions from small businesses:

NFIB will also go over the SBA’s new PPP automatic forgiveness application (Form 3508S) for loans of $50k or less and save plenty of time for live Q&A including all your top PPP and EID questions. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER (those who register will also receive a recorded version of the webinar)

Other News:

Final weeks of Hagerstown’s “EAT-IN-THE-STREET” EVENT:

The City of Hagerstown will be closing the first block of South Potomac Street to traffic and opening it to diners on SUNDAYS 10/18 and 10/25 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join the City in supporting Hagerstown’s outstanding downtown restaurants by choosing to dine outdoors, eating in the street or getting a to-go order to enjoy in University Plaza or along the Cultural Trail.

UPCOMING WEBINARS:

In honor of Maryland Economic Development Week, October 25-31, 2020, The Maryland SBDC Cordially Invites You To Join All October Small Business Webinar Trainings:

Wednesday, October 14th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Webinar: Website Must Haves!

Presenter: Dennis Ottey, Dott Digital Marketing

Learn the top 10 things to ask your next web developer or designer in addition to learning many “website must-haves”. Statistics will be provided to document the importance of the items presented. The take away will be to help you know what to ask to ensure your new or redesigned website comes out of the box, ready to go to work for you!

Wednesday, October 14th, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Webinar: Profitable Pricing-How Do I Price My Goods or Services?

Presenter: Ali Paskun, ABIL Solutions LLC

Of all the difficulties small business owners and freelance service providers face, one of the most pressing and difficult to overcome is price. What do you charge for your products or services? This is not an easy question to answer, but in this presentation, you’ll learn various methods to help you not only pick a price, but pick the right one!

Thursday, October 15th, 10-11:30 a.m.

Webinar: Risks & Rewards Of Going Into Business With Someone

Presenter: Matt Johnston, Esquire

Going into business with someone can be amazing. But going into business with someone without lots of forethought and planning can be a disaster. This session will be about the discussion you should have before opening a business with a partner so that you can find the good and avoid the mire.

Thursday, October 15th, 1-2:00 p.m.

Webinar: Getting Back To Basics-A Resource Toolkit From The Department of Labor

Presenter: Janice Walker-Emeogo, Small Business State Outreach Director Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance at the Department of Labor

This session will provide information to employers, economic development and workforce partners who have employees transitioning back to work after being closed due to COVID-19.

Wednesday, October 28th, 1-2:30 p.m.

Webinar: Scary Close…Finding Your Target Market!

Presenter: Melody Belotte, Marketing Expert

Regardless of how amazing your business, product or service is – you may not be getting the sales or connections you want simply because you’re not reaching the right audience. Technology now allows us to get “scary close” to customers through advanced targeting and tracking, but we must learn to use these tools effectively and responsibly. Join the marketing expert, Melody Belotte, for a crash course on how to identify, narrow and reach your target market.

Help Us Continue on Our Path to Keep Washington County Open – Please ensure your business and customers continue to follow the recommended CDC guidelines as we reopen businesses and other activities across Washington County. Wearing masks inside, social distancing, regular hand washing, and expanded cleaning is still a critical part of keeping infection rates low. By taking on these minor inconveniences, we can prevent a spike in infections which could force officials to slow down or even reverse the reopening process. The coronavirus has not gone away and we must stay vigilant until a vaccine is created. We all have a responsibility to do our part to help our economy reopen so that our many local businesses can survive and provide jobs for our citizens.

The purpose of this page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis. Do your part to the stop the spread of disinformation by doing 3 easy things; don’t believe the rumors, don’t pass them along and go to trusted sources of information to get the facts about the state of Maryland’s (COVID-19) response.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFO & EVENTS

WCPS PARTNERS WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPT FOR CHILD VACCINATION CLINICS

Get your child vaccinated! WCPS is working in partnership with the Washington County Health Department to vaccinate children of all ages.

The Health Department provides free flu vaccines to WCPS elementary students through a grant. These vaccine clinics are held on separate days. Check out the instructions to register!

If you are behind on your bills (rent, electric, gas, oil, & water) contact the Community Action Council to determine if you are eligible for assistance!

The funding available is first-come, first-served. Please call 301-797-4161 or email [email protected] for more information.

WASHINGTON COUNTY PARENTS SUPPORT DATABASE

The group WC Parents have created a simplified support database to gather and retain all services and needs in one place. This is an excellent example of the community working together to meet the tangible, everyday needs of parents in our community as this school year will begin with distance learning.

If you need childcare or can provide it, if you need tutoring or can provide it, etc., please join this forum and share your resources or needs.

It is up to the community to share your resources and fill this database. The group is asking for the public’s help in:

Click on the graphic below to join the forum or visit Wcparents.freeforums.net.

“EAT-IN-THE-STREET” EVENT – EVERY WEEKEND THROUGH OCTOBER

The City of Hagerstown will be closing the first block of South Potomac Street to traffic and opening it to diners for the first two Saturdays and the last two Sundays. Join the City in supporting Hagerstown’s outstanding downtown restaurants by choosing to dine outdoors, eating in the street or getting a to-go order to enjoy in University Plaza or along the Cultural Trail. Scheduled Closures:

Visit the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) Facebook page, or call 301-797-6294 for more information.

2020 GENERAL ELECTION VOTER GUIDE

Looking for information about voting locations, early voting, and dropbox locations in Washington County? Read the 2020 General Election Voter Guide at https://conta.cc/32RW76M