Happy New Year!

News You Can Use Friday, December 31, 2021 COVID and Vaccine Information Media Briefing Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich  December 29, 2021 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Earl Stoddard, Dr. Ann Burke from Holy Cross Hospital, Fire Chief Scott Bolson, and Sean O'Donnell from the Department of Health and Human Services held the weekly public health update on Wednesday, December 29. The briefing provided updates on COVID-19 cases, the Omicron variant, testing sites, and more. COVID-19 cases are surging throughout the country. The county's case rate is 649.5 per 100,000 with a positivity rate of 14.1% - a six-fold increase compared to the beginning of the month. The severity of symptoms seen with this new variant is low, which is consistent with what the CDC reports as a result of being vaccinated and boosted.  The new CDC announced new quarantine guidelines this week. The number of days in isolation has been reduced from 10 days to 5 days, if asymptomatic. A mask must still be worn in public and around others. The Maryland Department of Health has not yet adopted these guidelines. Hospitals in Montgomery County are seeing an influx of COVID-19 patients. With staffing shortages, it is important that individuals should not seek routine testing as hospitals, as they are not at the capacity to provide services to patients experiencing mild to no symptoms. Currently, 18% of overall admitted patients in the county are COVID-19 positive patients. Of those, 6% are receiving breathing help through a ventilator. Dr. Burke noted that lower rates of severe illness is seen in individuals who are vaccinated. As cases surge, the need for testing has also increased. There has been frustration with rapid tests, unannounced site cancellations, and testing site moves. County Executive Elrich assured that there is work being done to expand testing sites and move to larger locations in order to accommodate more people. The county ordered 1 million rapid tests and will receive 300,000 in the upcoming week. There is a rush to get tested, and community members are asked to be patient. O'Donnell shared the Department of Health and Human Services Pulse Report which shows increasing daily positivity rates. Over 1 million residents in Montgomery County have at least one vaccination dose, and 83% of the county is fully vaccinated. Omicron is the most commonly sequenced variant in the county as well as across the country. In order to protect against Omicron, individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not already, as well as get their booster dose. It is important to get tested before any travel, and check on international traveling requirements. In other news. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service has made service adjustments as COVID-19 cases increase amongst staff. More information can be found here.  The County Executive also brought attention to the recent shooting in Silver Spring. There will be an investigation and Elrich plans to address funding for areas to improve greater accountability and negotiate a new contract with the police department. With New Year's Eve coming up, the county urges people to keep festivities smaller. Be smart, get tested, and wear masks. COVID aside, please remember to not drink and drive. Watch the media briefing here.     MoCo Biennial Resident Survey Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced that the County has started conducting its biennial online survey of County residents. The survey is available on the County website and is designed to get residents' assessment of the local government, its services and their quality of life.  The survey will be open until 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2022. The survey is available here. COVID-19 Testing information: Because there's a high demand for tests, the best way to guarantee a test is by appointment. Private care practices are also a resource for tests. If scheduling a test with the county is not an option, you should contact your primary care physician. Click here for more information and to find a testing clinic. County Resources This website provides a listing of all county food resources. It is regularly updated so be sure to check back often. Montgomery County Council Approves Ride On Fare Holiday until July 2022 The County Council extended free Ride On bus service for all County residents through July 2, 2022. "Across our County, public transportation plays an essential role in getting our residents to where they need to go," said Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz. "Extending the Ride On fare holiday until the end of FY22 will continue to sustain our workforce, expand economic vitality, and enhance our racial equity and climate goals during a global pandemic." Read more here. New Parking Rates Will Go into Effect Starting Monday, January 3 Montgomery County has announced new parking rates and hours requiring payment in Bethesda, Wheaton, and Silver Spring. See details here. CFW Programming Registration is now open for the 42nd Women's Legislative Briefing (WLB). The WLB will once again be virtual and take place on Sunday, January 30, 2022.  Tickets are now available here. Numerous sponsorship opportunities are available here.   Separation and Divorce Seminars Please join us as local family law attorneys walk through the "ins" and "outs" of going through a separation and divorce in Maryland. All classes are FREE and are from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Seminars will be taking place online. Participants will receive the meeting information after signing up. Classes are the FIRST Wednesday of every month through June 2022: Wednesday, January 5, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, February 2, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, March 2, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, April 6, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 4, 2022 7:00 PM Wednesday, June 1, 2022 7:00 PM Sign Up Today! Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Updates Winter Break Guidelines and Updates In partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Public Schools published a letter to the community with updates following an increase in COVID cases. In this document, you can find instructions to report a positive COVID test to MCPS, restrictions for athletes and extracurricular activities, how to prepare for a potential quarantine, and resources. Say Yes to the Test MCPS now has an online section for parents to provide consent for COVID testing.  One form provides permission for both rapid and screening testing. Vaccinations for 5-11 Year Olds MCPS is partnering with the County's Department of Health and Human Services and Holy Cross Hospital to offer a number of free vaccination clinics for children at schools and county sites. Due to limited appointment availability, information about how to register for an appointment at weekday vaccination sites is being shared with school communities by each school's respective principal. More information can be found here. Volunteering Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community. Check out the opportunities available here.  Holiday Volunteer Opportunities There are many current opportunities across the county to support holiday needs. See ways you can help, from food distribution to gift wrapping, here. Employment News 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. Virtual New Year's Eve Events Virtual Bingo Night On December 31, join this free online bingo night event for a fun and safe celebration! Register beforehand to get your bingo card emailed to you.  Click here for more information. New Year's Guided Meditation Start 2022 with clarity by joining an introductory mindfulness practice on Monday January 3 at 6 p.m. This event is free and virtual. Click here to register. Health & Wellness Dinner Ideas to Welcome 2022! After the holidays, thinking about dishes for New Year's Eve can be a challenge. This article by Epicurious will give you 51 ideas to make the last meal of the year a great one.  Mocktails Recipes You don't need to drink to have fun! This article by Bon Appetit will teach you 25 Mocktail recipes to celebrate the New Year. Addictions Assistance The end of the year can be a hard time for recovering addicts, which is why reaching out for help is important. Click here for a list of recovery meetings in Maryland. Farmers Markets for Fresh Food Did you know there are many Farmers Markets all throughout the County? Find one near you for fresh produce, meat, eggs, dairy products, seafood, prepared foods, and more!  Join Us! Welcome to social media, @MoCoHTPC! The Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee increases understanding of the issue in our county and develops interagency coordination of strategies for response and prevention. For important resources and information, follow them on social media and visit their website here. 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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