Dear Friends,
As you may already know, on Friday, I issued, and the County Council approved, an Executive Order keeping the stay-at-home order in place. I did this because Governor Hogan had lifted the statewide stay-at-home order and gave local jurisdictions the option to issue their own individual orders. I made this decision after consulting with our County health officer and other health care professionals. The number of cases, the situation in our hospitals, and other criteria are not at a point in this County where it makes sense to lift the stay-at-home order. We are monitoring all data closely and will very soon be sharing publicly more information about the metrics for reopening. What we have done to date is making a difference. The spread of COVID-19 has not been as bad as it could have been without action. But we are still at risk. As the state data shows, four jurisdictions in the state, including our County, account for more than 70% of the cases in Maryland. If we loosen up too soon, we could put our first responders, hospital workers and residents at unnecessary risk. Our neighboring jurisdictions, including Prince George’s, Howard and Frederick counties all have restrictions stricter than the State. Washington, DC and Northern Virginia have stay-at-home orders still in place. I want to be clear: this is about the public health of County residents. I am eager to reopen, but I can only allow it to be done in a way that is deemed safe by guidance from our public health experts.
I hope you understand and will continue to follow the guidelines. And if you can, please support your local businesses, neighbors and friends as much as you can.
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 Marc Elrich, County Executive
 Since early April, Kingdom Fellowship Church AME and their members have worked in collaboration with Councilmember Will Jawando, the Capital Area Food Bank, the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, the East County Regional Services Office, Office of Community Partnerships, and MCDOT to distribute more than 2,200 nutritious grocery boxes to people impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic in the White Oak and Briggs Chaney communities.
County Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Kleine, East County Regional Services Director Jewru Bandeh, and countless volunteers worked on May 9 to hand out both food and information about the importance of completing the 2020 Census.
For more information on available food resources, including a map of distribution sites, or to learn more about how you can help alleviate food insecurity and hunger, please visit the COVID-19 Food Resources page: montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19-food.
 Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) retail store sales have seen a significant spike since the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis. Sales in January and February were already up 1.5%. By the end of March, the County-run stores were deemed essential by the Governor and saw a surge in retail sales of 22.7% in March and April, as compared to the same time last year. Sales are now closer to normal levels.
“All of our profits are transferred to the County,” said Robert Dorfman, director of ABS. “Additional sales and profits benefit taxpayers and can help support County initiatives resulting from these difficult times.”
County Council members, who manage the General Fund, and Montgomery County residents who benefit from it, can find consolation in knowing that in a time where every dollar matters, ABS is hard at work to contribute to the County to help with relief efforts.
ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County. It operates 25 beer, wine, and spirits stores and manages alcohol licensing and enforcement. Generating more than $35 million last year, ABS profits are used to pay off County debt and a large portion is deposited in the County General Fund to pay for services that would otherwise be paid for with tax dollars.
 A testing helpline is now available for County residents who believe they need testing but do not have a primary care provider. Residents can call 240-777-1755. The line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Resident who call will be evaluated to see if they need testing. If they do not have a doctor, they will be contacted within 24 hours by a volunteer medical professional. That person will evaluate them and set up an appointment for testing, if needed, at one of the three County testing sites currently available. The evaluation is free.
 Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD
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