It's May!

Updated COVID-19 information

News You Can Use:COVID-19 May 1, 2020 COVID-19 and Family Violence Announcements from Governor Hogan This week Governor Hogan made several new announcements that included:  Expanded testing: The focus will be on high-priority COVID-19 outbreaks and clusters, including nursing homes, and on health care workers and first-responders. New directives for nursing homes and senior living facilities: Universal testing of all residents and staff at all Maryland nursing homes, regardless of      whether they are symptomatic Mandatory compliance by facility operators and cooperation with state strike teams Daily evaluation of residents by a physician, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant or registered nurse Provision of emergency clinical staffing to nursing homes that are experiencing a staffing crisis Regular informational updates for residents, resident representatives and staff regarding COVID-19 infections Eastern Shore: Maryland has dispatched epidemiologists to Salisbury and Hurlock to focus on testing support, contact-tracing, occupational health, communications and outreach. A FEMA liaison and CDC team will provide assistance. Update on Maryland unemployment website:  Since its launch on Friday, Hogan said that more than 245,000 accounts have been activated and over 100,000 new claims filed. The website is now activating an average of 33 accounts a minute and an average of 780 claims per hour. Nonetheless, Hogan expressed his frustration that the website is not working better and directed the IT contractor that developed the site and the Secretary of Labor to fix it. See the press conference video. Saturday, May 2, Healthcare Heroes Day to honor doctors, nurses, medical workers and first-responders. The Navy's Blue Angels and Air Force's Thunderbirds will do a flyover. Buildings across the state, including the capitol dome in Annapolis, will be lit in blue. Maryland Strong: Roadmap for Recovery is available on line. The roadmap is based on input from health care experts, business leaders and economic advisors in order to ensure a well planned and safe recovery. More information can be found here. If you haven't already, take a look at Governor Hogan's  A-to-Z COVID-19 Resource Guide.  It is an excellent resource for all COVID-19 issues. Montgomery County Announcements Emergency financial assistance will soon be available for Montgomery County residents through the new Emergency Assistance Relief Payment program. Families with incomes less than 50% of the federal poverty level* who are not eligible for Federal COVID-19 stimulus checks or State benefits will begin receiving a one-time emergency assistance check from the County early next week. Eligible families will receive $1,000 for a family with one child (plus $150 for each additional child up to a maximum of $1,450 per family) early next week.  Approximately $2.5 million will be given out to residents by the County's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and another $2.5 million will be intended for individuals and families served by nonprofit organizations in the community.  *Families with incomes less than 50% of the federal poverty level who are not eligible for Federal COVID-19 stimulus checks or State benefits will begin receiving a one-time emergency assistance check from the County early next week. Learn more about the program here. New Corona Montgomery Cable Channel  Montgomery County's public, education and government channels have launched a new Corona Montgomery channel, creating creates a direct communications channel to all residents, including those who don't have access to hi-speed internet and technology. The programming is available on channel 10 on Comcast, Verizon and RCN. In its initial launch, Corona Montgomery is airing critical Covid-19-related information from multiple county agencies and municipalities. In its second phase, Corona Montgomery will feature virtual community content that is being created by businesses, nonprofit organizations, educators, students and performance artists to reach even more residents while Maryland's stay-at-home order is in effect. Volunteering Want to give back?  Learn how to here. Donating Medical and Cleaning Supplies Personal Protective Equipment is still needed in the county. Handmade and prototype versions will not be accepted. Find out more information here. Grocery Stores Local grocery stores and national store chains in Montgomery County are offering dedicated shopping hours to seniors. Here's the list. Food Resources Food Assistance Resource Map locates the nearest food assistance provider to your address. Montgomery County Food Council COVID-19 Response Resource Page provides general food assistance information including details about food assistance providers, grocery services, prepared meals and federal nutrition benefits. Food Assistance Provider Referral Tool enables service providers to match food assistance resources to the precise needs of their callers or participants.  Maryland Hunger Solutions COVID-19 SNAP Infographic provides accurate and relevant information on changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), along with details on how to apply.  The Montgomery County Volunteer Center COVID-19 website provides information on ways people can donate items or time to food assistance efforts during this crisis. Call-n-Ride Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities Special Covid-19 program allows clients to request contact-less taxi delivery service from grocery stores, food banks and restaurants. Senior Connection links volunteers with older adults 60+ who need groceries. To request grocery delivery, please call 301-962-0820 or email Susan.Girard@seniorconnectionmc.org.  Take Out and Delivery Services This is an updated list of County restaurants that are providing curb side pick up and take out. Public Schools Please be sure to check the MCPS website often, as they regularly update it with announcements. Grab and Go meals for children up to 18 years of age - parents do not need to have their children to pick up meals at these locations. External resources for supplemental education while students our out of school can be found here. English TV programming from MCPS-TV that airs shows from Scholastic is cast on cable channels Comcast 34, Verizon 36, and RCN 89. Shows are for all age ranges, K-12. For a full TV schedule, use this link.  For families without internet service: English: We know that many of our families do not have access to the internet at home. Comcast has announced that effective Monday, March 16, new Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service. You can learn more about this offer at https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19. Español: Sabemos que muchas de nuestras familias no tienen acceso a Internet en casa. Comcast ha anunciado que efectivo el lunes, 16 de marzo, los nuevos clientes de Internet Essentials recibirán dos meses de servicio de Internet gratis. Ustedes pueden conocer más acerca de esta oferta en https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19. Educational Resources for Kids Even though last Wednesday was officially Earth Day, it's never too late to stop learning about our wonderful planet. Here are some other great virtual learning opportunities:  The American Museum of Natural History has a great website for kids called Ology, which gives children the chance to learn about multiple different fields of science through educational videos, interactive games, and hands-on activities. Come explore nature and history through the National Park Service's Find Your "Virtual" Park  website. Kids can participate in games and challenges, watch wild animals on webcams, and take their own virtual visit to parks across the country. The Washington Post published a GREAT guide for all things related to kids! It includes educational links, exercise links, and more! Transportation Information The Montgomery County Department of Transportation continues to update its website regarding transportation in Montgomery County.  Individuals should only travel for essential purposes.  Non-Profit and For-Profit Business Information Montgomery County's $25 million public health emergency grant (PHEG) program has begun depositing initial payments into the accounts of businesses and organizations whose applications for assistance have been approved. To date, 352 grants have been approved, totaling $3.35 million. Payments will continue to be distributed on a daily basis as grants are approved. The program is designed to help for-profit and nonprofit businesses and organizations with 100 or fewer employees that have demonstrated significant financial losses due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. The program also is open to businesses with no employees, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors. There now is an online PHEG dashboard that is updated daily, showing the number of awards granted and the breakdown of awards by type of industry. More. The county now is encouraging businesses to explore other forms of federal and state assistance that may be available. Resources to assist in this search include: https://reliefwizard.net  https://montgomerycountymd.gov/Biz-Resources/covid19/   https://thinkmoco.com/covid-19-resources County Council Building is Closed In accordance with Gov. Hogan's March 30 executive order, there is no public access to the Council Office Building or the Council Hearing Room, until further notice. In order to ensure continued public participation during this unprecedented crisis, the Council is now accepting written, video, and audio testimony online for public hearings. The Council is also accepting call in testimony for remote public hearings. Residents must sign up to testify by using the online form. For questions call 240-777-7803. Employment The Maryland Department of Labor updates its website each day with news and FAQs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on employment. You can access this website here.  Need to find a job or have general employment questions? Check out Worksource Montgomery, which is currently offering virtual workshops. Find out which establishments are currently hiring here.   Housing Assistance Montgomery County has put together a great list of resources on all things related to housing.  Click here for more information. Relief for Renters On April 24, County Executive Elrich signed the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act which prohibits landlords from increasing existing rent by more than 2.6 percent during the COVID-19 health emergency.  The Renter Relief Act took effect immediately and applies to all licensed residential rental units in Montgomery County.See Renter Relief Act Financial Information Are you in need of financial assistance?  This county website provides financial resources for you and your family. COVID-19 and Pets Although information is limited thus far, CDC says the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. However, it appears that it can spread from people to animals in some situations. Last week CDC and USDA confirmed the first cases of COVID-19 in two house cats in New York state. Each is expected to recover. CDC offers the following advice for pet owners: Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household. Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people. Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals. Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather. If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just as you would around other people. When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick. Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them. COVID-19 Related Scams The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection is a great resource to stay updated with.  From CNN. Fake text messages and robocalls: If you get a text message saying you've come into contact with someone who's tested positive for Covid-19, do NOT click the link.  From  Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh. Schemes aimed at individual and retail investors that falsely purport to raise capital for companies manufacturing personal protective equipment or ventilators and other medical equipment, or vaccines and miracle cures.   From the U.S. Justice Department: DOJ has disrupted hundreds of websites that were exploiting COVID-19 to commit fraud and other crimes by posing as government agencies running relief programs, legitimate companies and even the American Red Cross. Also visit DOJ's Coronavirus Fraud News page. Health and Wellness Connect Your Mind and Body Get out and for for a walk! Montgomery Parks is continuing its efforts to expand safe access to park facilities for recreation and exercise during the COVID-19 crisis. The department recently extended its regular Sunday closures of Sligo Creek Parkway to motorists to Fridays and Saturdays to free up more outdoor park space for walking, running and biking. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Friday and Saturday vehicle closures, the Parks Department has decided to open an additional section of the parkway to people, between Forest Glen Road and University Boulevard, on weekends. These sections of Sligo Creek Parkway will be closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other park users beginning Friday mornings at 9 a.m. through Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. Not able to go for a walk?  Here are some other great ideas related to nature and your family: Learn are about bike maintenance basics before hitting the trails Make a new home for your feathered friends living in the backyard Follow these plans to build a picnic table for those hungry squirrels Create artwork using bark that has fallen off of a tree Collect your own family stories using this Oral History Project as your guide A few hints and tips to consider before purchasing any plants Embrace the wet weather by jumping in puddles Give and Get a Virtual Hug The Lean Green Bean shares how you and your kids can work together to mail a hug.  It's a safe, fun  and wonderful way for everyone to feel loved and care for during these challenging times. Recognizing and Understanding Depression Everyone feels down sometime--how do you know if you're just feeling blue or suffering from depression? The signs of depression are hard to detect, and might go unnoticed by you or others who are close to you. If you're concerned about depression, talking with your doctor is a good first step. Learn more about signs to watch out for and ways to seek help here. Entertainment Montgomery County Couch Tours: From virtual events to online activities, there are a variety of ways to discover Montgomery County from the comfort of your own home via the internet. You and your family can go on a farm tour, participate in musical jam sessions, see art exhibits, visit a lockhouse, hear lectures, learn about nature and try fun new activities.   101 Virtual Field Trips These field trips are definitely kid friendly, but we think adults will love them too! Explore various zoos, aquariums and historical sites throughout the world.  CFW Programming Thank you to everyone who has submitted an entry to date!  Due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Girl Power Contest.    We will be accepting entries though June 26 and will be recognizing the winners at our August 19, 2020 Suffrage Commemoration at the Silver Spring Civic Center from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Please be sure to submit your entries on-line or through the mail, as our office is currently closed until further notice. You can submit your entry here! Our free Separation and Divorce Seminars are now online!  Please join us as local attorneys walk through the "ins" and "outs" of going through a separation and divorce in Maryland. You will learn about: Methods of Dispute Resolution, When and Where to File, Types of Divorce and Grounds, Financial Statements, Alimony, Property and Equitable Distribution, Role of the Attorney, and Domestic Violence/Orders of Protection. All classes are from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm. May 5, 2020: Davis Library (virtual seminar) June 2, 2020: Silver Spring Library (virtual seminar) You will receive login information after signing up on Eventbrite using this link. 2020 Census Complete the 2020 census form you received, either online or by mail. Completing the census helps determine where billions in spending will go for things like health care, transportation and education every year for the next ten years. If you've still got the form, fill it out and mail it in, or do it at 2020census.gov.  Visit our Website and Facebook Page Be sure to visit our Facebook page and our website for all the latest news and stories. Be the first to "Be in the know"! Visit our Instagram Page Did you know the Commission for Women was on Instagram? Check out our page and give us a follow!   Check out our LinkedIn! Follow us on LinkedIn to see event and professional updates from the Commission!  Montgomery County Commission for Women| 240-777-8333  www.montgomerycountymd.gov/CFW STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help This email was sent to you using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Montgomery County, Maryland Government. As a subscriber, you agree that we may contact you by email and use the information you submit as described in the Montgomery County Privacy Policy. Please do not reply to this email. Replies to this email will not be responded to or read. If you have any questions or comments, please visit the MC311 Portal at www.mc311.com or call 3-1-1 (240-777-0311 if outside the County) to speak with a Customer Service Representative. 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