Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is urging
residents to be patient as they attempt to get appointments for
COVID-19 vaccines. Although many people are ready to get vaccines,
right now, the number of available doses continues to be far less than
the demand. However, there is optimism that more vaccines will be
headed to the County. He also offers good wishes to those who will be
celebrating the start of the Lunar New Year.
COVID-19
Updates: Indoor Dining in Restaurants to be Allowed Up to 25 Percent
Starting Sunday; Progress Being Made on Vaccinations
Montgomery County restaurants and food service businesses
will be allowed to operate with indoor dining at 25 percent capacity
starting Sunday, Feb. 14, after County Executive Marc Elrich’s
Executive Order 19-21AM was approved by the County Council this week.
The County is making progress toward getting vaccinations to the
top priority groups. Through Tuesday of this week, more than 22,566
County residents 75 and older have been vaccinated. That is about
one-third of the County’s 73,000 residents in that age group.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Preregistration Urged, Whether Online or by Phone
The COVID-19 vaccine process is rapidly changing. An
update on the vaccination progress in Montgomery County is summarized,
with information on how to preregister for a vaccination.
COVID-19
Information Portal Has Statistics on How the Virus Has Impacted the
County, Including Infections by Zip Codes
COVID-19 Deaths by Zip Code,
Montgomery County, MD
Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a
variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The
statistics are regularly updated to reflect the most recent reports
during the health crisis. Among the information available is how many
positive cases have been reported in each zip code in the County.
There are numerous ways to get tested for COVID-19 in
Montgomery County. The County operates dozens of clinics most weeks and
rotates the locations to make testing easily accessible for residents
in all parts of the County. In addition, there are many privately
operated testing programs.
County Executive
Elrich Releases Reimagining Public Safety Report with Recommendations
to Address Racial and Social Injustices
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has released the Reimagining
Public Safety (RPS) Task Force Recommendations Report.
The report, which addresses racial and social injustices, outlines
87 recommendations for the County to deliver services in a more
equitable manner.
Montgomery Parks
Offers Programs to Celebrate Black History Month and Other February
Events
Programs to celebrate Black History Month and other
special February events are being offered by Montgomery
Parks, which is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
County
Recreation Returns to Limited In-person Programs; Spring Registration
Now Open
Montgomery County Recreation will begin offering a limited
number of indoor, instructor-led sports and fitness activities at four
community recreation centers beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16. The program,
RecFit-Limited, is the first in-person recreation program offered at
community recreation facilities since last March when the facilities
closed due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Registration for spring
programs is now open.
MDOT SHA
Applying Friction Surface Treatment to Capital Beltway in Attempt to
Reduce Crashes
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway
Administration (MDOT SHA) this week began work on the Outer Loop of
the Capital Beltway (I-495) with an innovative technique that applies
a friction surface treatment to the roadway aimed at reducing tractor
trailer crashes. In a research study, MDOT observed the program could
produce friction and drainage improvements of about 70 percent.
Maryland
Department of Transportation to Hold Virtual Meeting on Improvements
for Connecticut Avenue at Jones Bridge Road on Wed., Feb. 17
The Maryland Department
of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) at 6 p.m.
on Wednesday, Feb. 17, will hold a virtual information meeting about
its upcoming project that will lead to road improvements at the
intersection of MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) at Jones Bridge Road and
Kensington Parkway in Chevy Chase.
Seraxis, a
Company in the Montgomery Incubator in Germantown, Announces $40
Million in Funding to Further Its Diabetes Cell Therapy Treatment
Seraxis, a company in the Montgomery County-supported
Germantown Innovation Center (GIC), has announced that it has closed a
$40 million Series C funding round led by Indianapolis pharmaceutical
company Eli Lilly and Co. Seraxis is developing a cell therapy for
insulin-dependent diabetes. The investment will allow the biotech
to complete preclinical studies of its lead cell therapy and advance it
to clinical (human) trials.
County Green
Bank Has a New Program to Support Small Businesses
A flexible, affordable lending program to help small-
and medium-sized Montgomery County businesses of 500 or fewer
employers is available from the nonprofit Montgomery County Green
Bank. Loans from the Green Bank can be used for improvements to
indoor air systems that may be needed to reopen businesses that
closed due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
County’s
Department of Permitting Services Working to Keep Residential Projects
Moving
Due to the COVID-19 health crisis and other factors,
many permit holders and contractors are experiencing considerable
shipping delays. The Montgomery County Department of Permitting
Service’s (DPS) residential inspection team is working with permit
holders and contractors to minimize setbacks concerning their
projects. The biggest challenge with materials seems to concern
windows.
