Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

picture of a virus. text: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

This is a rapidly evolving situation and the Washington County Health Department will provide updates as they become available.

For COVID-19 testing and confirmed case counts:

As of 3/30/2020:

Washington County has 13,313 confirmed cases and 263 deaths. For a count of confirmed cases, death, tests administered and test results received please visit washco-md.net/coronavirus-info/

In Maryland: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Novel-coronavirus.aspx
In the United States: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

For case data related to nursing homes and other congregate living facilities visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/hcf-resources

Where is testing being done in Washington County?

Washington County Health Department Testing Sites:
(All COVID-19 testing at WCHD sites are Free)

WCHD Winter Drive-Thru and Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing Site (Lee Street): Closed

Spring Mobile COVID-19 Testing Schedule

Testing sites will operate from 10am-2pm

April 14: Hagerstown Fire Department, 25 Church Street, Hagerstown

April 16: Hancock Town Hall, 126 W. High Street, Hancock

April 21: Hagerstown Fire Department, 25 Church Street

April 23: Shafer Park Pavilion #1, Shafer Park Dr., Boonsboro

April 26: Hagerstown Housing Authority, 35 W. Baltimore Street, Hagerstown

Getting your Test Results

After your specimen has been collected it is shipped to the lab. The lab receives your specimen the morning after it’s collected, and it takes approximately 24-48 hours for your results to be ready for viewing.

Visit: https://portal.ciandx.com/portal
Click the GET MY RESULTS button. Enter your name, birthday, and the phone number you provided when you got tested.
Once logged in you can see your results. Results will be available 48 hours from receipt at the lab

For additional questions for the Lab, please call 240-396-4343 or the Washington County Health Department at 240-313-3200

Additional Testing Sites in Washington County

Meritus Screening Drive Thru Center is located at 13620 Crayton Blvd. No Appointment required. Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
CVS Drive Thru Testing Site located at 1503 Potomac Ave, Hagerstown MD 21742. Please visit https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to see if you qualify for testing at this site and to schedule an appointment.
CVS Drive Thru Testing Site located at 10 E Wilson Blvd, Hagerstown MD 21740. Please visit https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to see if you qualify for testing at this site and to schedule an appointment.
U.N.I. Urgent Care Center located at 11236 Robinwood Drive, Suite 101 Hagerstown, MD 21742. No Appointment required, patients are charged with copay. Monday – Friday 8 am – 8:30 pm Saturday and Sunday 8 am – 6 pm
240-313-4242
U.N.I. Urgent Care Center located at 18721 N Pointe Drive Hagerstown, MD 21742. No Appointment required, patients are charged with copay . Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 7 pm Saturday 8:30 am – 6 pm.
301-733-8313

COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Antibody testing is now available to the general public at all Meritus Medical Laboratory patient service centers. A lab order from a person’s primary care provider is required in order to have a COVID-19 antibody test. Antibody tests do not take the place of COVID-19 screening tests. Insurance or patients will be billed for antibody testing. Meritus Medical Laboratory locations and hours are available online at https://www.meritushealth.com/treatment-care/medical-lab/

COVID-19 Vaccine

Please visit the county’s website for the most up-to-date information regarding the vaccine, testing clinic locations, priority groups and phases.

Plans for local vaccine distribution are being coordinated by WCHD in partnership with Meritus Health, Washington County Emergency Operations Center, the Maryland Department of Health, and the State of Maryland.

Additional Resources:

Maryland Department of Health covidLINK

CDC Information on COVID-19 Vaccines

Contact Tracing

The Health Department is investigating these cases with the help of the of the Maryland Department of Health. Contact tracers at the health department are identifying household and casual contacts and advising them to self isolate for 2 weeks. For more information on Contact Tracing please visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/contact-tracing

Contact tracing is an important public health tool used to stop the spread of disease. By stopping the chain of transmission we are able to save many people from dying of COVID-19.

Here is how it works:

When someone tests positive for COVID-19 the health department is notified
We call the person who tested positive for COVID-19 and collect information on places they have been and people they are been in close contact with
Once we know the household and casual contacts we call each person who was exposed and follow up with them until they are released from self-isolation
In order to protect patient privacy, contacts are only informed that they may been exposed to a patient with COVID-19. They are not told the identity of the patient who may have exposed them.

If you receive a phone call from the Washington County Health Department, it is extremely important to answer the call or call us back quickly. Your cooperation is crucial for contact tracing to be effective in stopping the chain of transmission.

What to Expect during your phone call with the health department:

We will ask you:

To verify your name, date of birth and address
About your health and symptoms
Locations you have been during a specific period of time
Names and contact information for any household and casual contacts (we do not disclose your name to anyone, only that they may have come into contact with an infected individual)

(Please be as specific as possible about the nature and location of your interaction with others, We heavily rely on positive individuals giving us accurate information of their contacts.)

We will NOT ask you about:

Social security number
Financial or bank account information
Money or payment
Immigration status
Passwords
Personal details unrelated to COVID-19

For more information about contact tracing please visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/contact-tracing

MD COVID Alert

MD COVID Alert pairs seamlessly with Maryland’s traditional contact tracing efforts by using Exposure Notifications technology to notify users who may have been exposed to an infected person. Opt-in today to participate in protecting all Marylanders from COVID-19.

https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/mdcovidalert/

Local Updates

Washington County is currently in Stage 3 as of 9/5/2020 of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. For more information on what services are open during this time and for guidelines and toolkits for businesses please visit the following sites:

Please visit the Washington County Government for updates on COVID-19 regarding local news, closings and more.

Governor Hogan issued Executive Order #20-04-05-02 Delegating Authority to Local Health Officials to Control and Close Unsafe Facilities. The purpose of this order is to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring that a business, organization, facility, or construction site complies with the Social Distancing Guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Maryland Department of Health. Individuals can call (240) 313-3210 or email wash.health@maryland.gov to report concerns regarding compliance with this Executive Order.

COVID-19 & Food Service Establishments

Below are COVID-19 resources, documents and executive orders for food services establishments.

Messages from Health Officer, Earl Stoner

Washington County, Maryland Joint Information Center COVID19

Local Press Briefings

Washington County agencies have formed a Joint Information Center (JIC) in order to better share information regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and provide the public with timely, accurate and consistent briefings on what is happening in Washington County. Daily briefings will be posted at 2 p.m. Briefings can be found on the Washington County Government website at https://www.washco-md.net/jic/

What to Do If You’re Sick?

If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, call your regular primary care provider first. Do not go to your doctor’s office without calling.

If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are mild, you need to follow the same guidelines – stay home when sick, avoid contact with other people and practice social distancing, cover your cough/sneeze, monitor your symptoms and stay in contact with your healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19

Fever
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Chills or repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell
In more severe cases, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

The vast majority of people recover from this infection. Most people will have mild or moderate symptoms. Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, immune suppression or heart or lung disease have a greater risk for more serious illness.

COVID symptoms: symptoms are described in the text of this page

What can I do to protect myself and others?

Take everyday preventive steps that are always recommended to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like colds and flu:

four photos, someone washing their hands, a woman blowing her nose, a woman cleaning her house and a sick person laying on their couch at home

Wear a mask
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, your sleeve or your elbow
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using standard cleaning practices
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
If you are sick, stay home, except when seeking medical care

Face Masks

Per Governor Hogan’s most recent executive order on September 1, 2020 all persons in Maryland over the age of five years old are required to wear a face covering when they are:

In or on any public transportation
indoors at any location where members of the public are generally
permitted, including without limitation, Religious Facilities, Retail
Establishments, Foodservice Establishments, Fitness Centers,
Gaming Facilities, Indoor Recreation Establishments, Personal
Services Establishments, and Indoor Theaters;
outdoors and unable to consistently maintain at least six feet of
distance from individuals who are not members of their household;
obtaining healthcare services, including without limitation, in
offices of physicians and dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, and
laboratories; and
engaged in work in any area where:
a. interaction with others is likely, including without
limitation, in shared areas of commercial offices; or
b. food is prepared or packaged.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared new guidance on face coverings saying homemade masks are a sound step to further slow community spread of COVID-19.

The face coverings do not have to be hospital-grade but need to cover the nose and mouth. For example, bandanas, fabric masks, and neck gaiters are acceptable. Fabric covers and bandanas can be washed and used again. For examples of how to make your own, click here.

Face coverings should be washed frequently with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. Ideally, wash your face covering after each use, and have a dedicated laundry bag or bin.

Make sure the covering is comfortable – you don’t want to have to keep adjusting the mask, which means touching your face. Always wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, before AND after touching your face or face coverings.

Social Distancing

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, social distancing is a way to keep people from interacting closely or frequently enough to spread an infectious disease. Social distancing can take many forms, depending on your lifestyle and your family and work situation. Social distancing can include the following habits and steps:

Maintain 6 feet from others
Avoid handshaking, hugging and other intimate types of greeting
Avoid non-essential travel (your health care provider may have specific guidance for your situation)
Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces
Work from home if possible for your work situation
Avoid unnecessary errands — consider ways to have essential items, like food and other household supplies, brought to your house through online delivery services or through family or social networks

About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. This is a new virus that hasn’t caused illness in humans before. Worldwide, COVID-19 has resulted in thousands of human infections, causing illness and in some cases death. Cases have spread to countries throughout the world, with more cases reported daily.

How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 is spread just like colds or flu through:

Coughing and sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly eyes.

Washington County Community Partners Efforts

Washington County government, health, school, first responders and law enforcement agency partners, along with the city of Hagerstown, are working together to plan, respond and communicate on COVID-19 by:

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to work with Meritus Health to assure capacity needs are being addressed in the event that Meritus Health experiences a surge of patients as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak
The EOC is working aggressively to obtain more supplies and preserve our current resources, such as COVID-19 test kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Communicating with CDC and MDH for international, national and local situational awareness updates.
Washington County agencies have formed a Joint Information Center (JIC) To ensure coordination of public information during the COVID-19 crisis to support the gathering, verification, coordination, and dissemination of accurate, accessible, and timely information to the public.
Conducting site visits and providing CDC guidance to local organizations and businesses to assist them in planning and preparing for COVID-19.

CDC Guides on How to Prepare and Take Action for COVID-19

Other Resources

For General Information on Coronavirus please call MD 2-1-1 or 301-790-9170
or email: COVID-19@MeritusHealth.com

For COVID-19 testing and confirmed case counts:

Where is testing being done in Washington County?