April has felt like a very long month. The Governor’s
stay-at-home order is heading into its sixth week and I know we want to
get back to our usual spring activities. But I am urging you not to
give up. Physical distancing is working to flatten the curve and we
need to continue with this so we can work toward the reopening of the
State and our County. I know this is hard. I want to thank you for all
you are doing. It is making a difference. We just need to be patient.
The time will come where we will all be together again, maybe initially
not in the way we used to be; but we will be able to put this period of
staying at home, behind us. Until then, stay home, get some fresh air
every day, be in touch with friends and family even if you can’t see
them. Remember to wear a face covering when you have to go out in
public. Stay safe and let’s get through this, together.
The State of Maryland is releasing information on COVID-19
cases in long term care facilities throughout the state. In Montgomery
County, there have been 1,099 cases of COVID-19 in long term care
facilities. That number includes patients and staff.
Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles says
safeguards are in place to protect people working and living in those
facilities. Precautions include dedicated staff for COVID-19 patients
and separating COVID- 19 patients from other residents.
Providing
Personal Protective Equipment to Long Term Care Facilities
Montgomery County continues to work closely with our local
nursing homes, senior living communities, and rehabilitation centers to
provide personal protective equipment (PPE) when supplies are hard to
find. Department of General Services staff and contractors regularly
deliver PPE to facilities serving vulnerable populations in the County
and respond to special requests as they come in.
On Wednesday, April 29, DGS staffer member Steve Palmeter
delivered surgical masks, gloves and face shields to Layhill Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center Executive Director Alphonson Jones and
Director of Nursing Samantha Apoh.
Thank you to the nursing facility staff and to all of our
hard-working County staff who are doing their best to keep our
community safe!
Local health care providers may make PPE resource requests
by completing the Emergency Medical Material Request Form.
Coworkers of a longtime Ride On Bus employee are paying
tribute to him by wearing black armbands. Michael Miller died of
COVID-19 on April 15. He was 60 years old. As a motor pool attendant
from 2011-2020, he was responsible for checking and maintaining the
fleet of buses that keep Montgomery County moving. This valued member
of the County Government and Ride On family is missed.
The State of Maryland continues offering free child care
to parents who are deemed essential personnel.
While child care centers were ordered closed by state
order, child care programs are allowed to remain open if they receive
new licensing approval, commit to serving only the children of
essential personnel, and thoroughly clean their facilities.
In Montgomery County, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater
Washington and YMCA are among the approved child care operations.
The children of essential personnel attending the
state-funded child care programs will be kept at an appropriate
distance from each other with ratios of one teacher to nine children.
Younger children will have smaller class sizes.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to keep children home
when possible.
Essential personnel include:
Health care and
pharmacy providers
Public health employees
Law enforcement, first
responders and correctional services employees
Government employees
required to work during the state of emergency
Employees and
representatives of insurance carriers
Active-duty National
Guard personnel
Staff and providers of
child care or education services , including custodial staff and
food service providers
Food distributors and
suppliers
Transportation and
delivery workers
Gas station operators
and auto mechanics
Critical infrastructure
employees, including emergency support personnel for gas and
electric utility operations, public works, water treatment, and
waste management
Personnel of other
institutions ordered to remain open during the state of emergency
Payments Begin
for County Public Health Emergency Grant Program
This week, Montgomery County’s Public Health Emergency
Grant (PHEG) program began distributing funds to businesses whose
applications for assistance were approved.
The PHEG program was created to help for-profit and
nonprofit businesses with 100 employees or fewer that have demonstrated
significant losses due to the current COVID19 health crisis.
The $25 million PHEG initiative is a collaborative effort
between County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council.
In addition to for-profit and nonprofit businesses, the program is open
to sole proprietors and independent contractors.
Due to the overwhelming response to PHEG, Montgomery
County stopped accepting applications on April 25.
Supporting Local
Restaurateurs through “Takeout Tuesday”
County Executive Elrich joined thousands of County
residents in supporting local restaurateurs who run restaurants that
give back to the County, such as the locally franchised Jimmy John’s,
for “Takeout Tuesday.”
Elrich and County elected officials are encouraging
residents to order takeout meals to help restaurants that have been
operating with carryout and delivery services only since dine-in
service was banned throughout the State.
Takeout Tuesday is a theme that is spreading in
communities across the nation to support local restaurants.
May is Older Americans Month. Historically, Older
Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of
past and current older persons, particularly those who defended our
country. During this month we want to shed a light on the importance of
the 2020 Census. By
having a full count of the number of older Americans living in in the
U.S., our leaders in Montgomery County, in Maryland, and at the federal
level can provide the services necessary to support their needs.
