 Dear Friends,
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.
 Marc Elrich, County Executive
 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.
 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
 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.
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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.
A list of restaurants throughout the County that remain open during the crisis can be found at the mocoeats.com website at http://visitmontgomery.com/restaurant-directory.
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 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.
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