Dear Friends,
As your County Executive, my goal is to keep the one million people in our County safe, and sometimes that means making difficult decisions. While the Governor has announced he is lifting the state’s stay at home order and moving into phase one of recovery, here in Montgomery County we are not ready to take that step. That’s why I am issuing an Executive Order extending the stay at home order here in the County.
While we have made progress, we have not reached the necessary benchmarks for us to safely reopen. We are not alone in this situation. Prince George’s County has also maintained its stay at home order, and others in Maryland share our concerns about opening prematurely. We are working with others who have similar policies about what is appropriate. And I note that the Governor’s order still maintains multiple restrictions including curbside pickup and delivery only for restaurants and continued closures for many entities like theaters, all internal entrances for malls and fitness centers.
The Governor acknowledged at his Wednesday news conference that only four of the counties in the state have about 70% of the cases. Montgomery County has the second highest number of cases in the state behind Prince George’s County, and the highest number of deaths at nearly 400. Our region is densely populated, unlike other parts of the state like Western Maryland, and is adjacent to Washington, DC and Northern Virginia, which also have ongoing restrictions. In consultation with our public health officer and other public health officials, we have written specific guidelines tailored to our community to help us determine when it is safe to reopen. We need to see:
- A sustained decrease during a 14-day period of new cases in an environment of increased testing
- A sustained decrease in the COVID-19 related hospitalization rate
- A sustained decrease in the percentage of COVID-19 related ICU beds in use
- A sustained decrease in the number of COVID-19 related daily deaths
- A sustained decrease in the number of COVID-19 related patients going to County emergency rooms
We are headed in the right direction. We have increased testing, contact tracing, equipment and hospital capacity. These efforts will make our community safer, but we have to make sure that they are sufficiently implemented.
As a reminder, when you go out, please continue physical distancing and wearing face coverings. And you can go for a walk – I encourage you to get some fresh air and exercise if you are able.
I know this is very difficult for all of us. Our businesses are eager to reopen, and we would like to resume our usual activities, but we risk undoing our progress if we stop now. We cannot go backwards. We will keep you updated as we work toward being able to safely reopen our County. We will get through this – together.
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 Marc Elrich, County Executive
 During this week’s Weekly Wednesday Media Briefing, Public Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles outlined the importance of increased testing. According to Dr. Gayles, as of May 13, nearly three percent of the County's population has been tested for COVID-19. The goal is to be able to test five percent of County residents on a monthly basis. He also stressed the need for all communities to have equal access to testing.
 Volunteers in the Clarksburg and Germantown areas of Montgomery County are working together to help individuals negatively impacted by COVID-19. They have set up a food consolidation center where they are gathering essential items for children, families and seniors. These items are then delivered by volunteers from Germantown HELP to families who have been referred for assistance.
The Upcounty Food Consolidation Hub is now set up at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. It was an ideal location, since the facility is not currently offering programming. There are nearly a dozen community organizations that are working together to offer a variety of supplies. As of the first week of May, more than 600 families had been served.
Donations are accepted daily by BlackRock staff. This week, County Executive Marc Elrich stopped by to help with the efforts. Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Craig Rice have also come by to check out the community-run operation.
Needed items include milk, water, cereal, Gatorade, Pedialyte, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and household cleaning supplies. If you would like to donate, the facility is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you need assistance, or know someone who does, please reach out.
 Face masks and gloves are now part of our everyday routine, but throughout the County there is an increase in this hazardous waste being left behind on sidewalks and in parking lots. Experts say this litter is more hazardous than normal garbage, as it has a higher risk of spreading COVID-19.
Not only is the trash a safety issue and an eyesore, it also harms the environment. “Anytime it rains, everything on our streets, sidewalk and lawns is washed into our streams. The streams flow into the Potomac river and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay," said Department of Environmental Protection Director Adam Ortiz. "If they are not properly discarded, the gloves and masks intended to protect us will harm the environment and will undermine the great progress we've made to stem pollution of our natural resources."
For more information on how to properly remove and dispose of gloves, check out this information from the Centers for Disease Control.
Montgomery County Recreation will have new safety standards in place for all programs and services when it reopens following the COVID-19 health crisis. As part of the contingency planning process, Montgomery County is refunding its customers and canceling current summer camps and programs, while new camps are being developed for a COVID-19 environment. Facility rentals through May 31 have also been canceled. Registration for summer activities and classes has been postponed until further notice.
Montgomery County Recreation is continuing to follow State and County guidelines regarding the reopening of facilities and programs. It is working on restructuring a new set of summer camp offerings, if guidelines will eventually allow those programs this year. In addition, the department has launched a new Virtual Rec Room that offers hundreds of ideas for creative family fun. The Virtual Rec Room is available 24/7 at www.mocorec.com/recroom.
“Our team is ready to provide services and welcome the community back to our facilities, but we will not do so until it is safe,” said Director of Montgomery County Recreation Robin Riley. “Once we receive guidance from State officials, we will work closely with our local public health officials to determine the appropriate methods and timing to reopen our facilities and programs.”
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