As Chair of the Health and Human Services committee, I have been closely monitoring the County’s testing efforts and worked with my colleagues to expand the number of County-operated testing sites throughout our community. Proper testing, contact tracing, facial coverings, and hand-washing have been and continue to be the best weapons of protection for County residents to remain safe from this deadly virus. These practices have controlled community transmission in Montgomery County and curb the positivity rate to 2.1%. The percent positive is a critical measure because it gives us an indication how widespread infection is in the area where the testing is occurring—and whether levels of testing are keeping up with levels of disease transmission.
The County had been using tests from Rockville-based AdvaGenix at several county-operated testing sites, but stopped using these tests earlier this month following the issue of a cease and desist order issued on August 14 by the Maryland Department of Health. As a result, the County terminated its contract with AdvaGenix. Although the AdvaGenix tests comprised only approximately 8% of all tests administered in the County, it was important to get the County test sites operating at full speed again.
To bridge the gap in testing, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has provided the County with 20,000 test kits from CIAN Diagnostics, a Frederick County company. MDH has delivered the first 5,000 kits, and testing has resumed at County sponsored testing sites.
The new tests are now available at the local free walk-in clinics at Plum Gar Recreation Center and the White Oak Recreation Center. To view a list of testing locations, please click here.
 Picture Credit: Bethesda Magazine
At the beginning of this week, the Council, sitting as the Board of Health, met for an emergency session to review and approve changes to the COVID-19 restrictions from the County Executive Elrich and County Health officer, Dr. Travis Gayles. Under this revised local order, Montgomery County now requires its residents to wear face coverings that will fully cover a person’s nose, mouth, chin, and it must be secured to the person’s head. It is our hope that this modification will help provide additional protection to County residents and prohibit future contracting and spreading of this virus. Children over age of 2 years old are now required to wear a face covering.
Sports activities plays a pivotal role in youth development and it teaches our children valuable life lessons to exercise throughout their lives. As a former athlete and a father to children actively engaged in sports, I understand and empathize with the frustration many parents and children have experienced since mid-March. However, as the Chair of the Health and Human Service committee, I also understand the balance governmental leaders have to employ to keep our community safe.
After reviewing the progress we have made to lower the infection rate across our County, Montgomery County has now designated soccer as a “medium-risk” sport. Under this category, soccer scrimmages and games will now be permitted and must utilize protective equipment in place in order to prevent or greatly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. All those who engage in sports activities are governed to wear face coverings, and follow precautionary measures.
This modified executive health order also includes:
- Museums and art galleries to open with restrictions.
- Bowling alleys to open with restrictions.
- Clarifies a requirement for food service facilities to post signs advising customers about face covering and social distancing restrictions.
- Continues to prohibit sports tournaments unless the County issues a letter of approval.
- Sets a 50-person limit for all sporting events that include coaches, participants and spectators.
- Prohibits sporting events with teams from outside the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia.
To view the newly revised Montgomery County Health Order in its entirety, please click here.
 Video Credit: Montgomery County Commission for Women
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote. Although this was a huge step for women to fully engage in the civic process, women of color were not afforded the same right until the Voting Rights Act of 1965—led by civil rights leaders such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker and Diane Nash—who worked alongside Dr. King, Jr., Congressman Lewis and civil rights leaders to protect the right to vote for communities of color.
In the State of Maryland, suffrage movement leaders such as Margaret Brent broke barriers when she petitioned her right to vote in 1648 and was the first American woman to do so. And with respect to advancing the critical work of protecting equal voting rights, Lavinia Engle, a Montgomery County resident, fought for suffrage and was a founding member and leader of the League of Women Voters of Maryland. She became the first woman to represent Montgomery County in the Maryland House of Delegates and continued advocating for voter protection and equal rights for 60 years.
This historic centennial anniversary offers an opportunity to commemorate milestones of unparalleled achievement and an avenue to reflect upon its relevance to voting rights issues we are facing today. Women have and will continue to play a critical role in strengthening our civic process. It is through the sacrifices demonstrated through the women’s suffrage and civil rights movements across the United States that we will continue to safeguard the right to vote for all.
To request a mail-in ballot from the State of Maryland Board of Elections, please click here.
It was recently announced that County health officials are now offering free immunizations to eligible children to meet immunization requirements before the beginning of the upcoming 2020-21 school year. As we continue to navigate the nuances of COVID-19, children are required to have immunizations up to date, and parents must submit documentation by the first day of school attendance. If students are not in compliance with immunization requirements, they can be excluded from attending virtual classes beginning September 20, 2020.
To access additional information on eligibility requirements and where to access free immunizations for the uninsured, please click here.
Prescription Drug Disposal
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has assembled prescription drug disposal boxes at its six district stations across our County. Residents can bring their expired, unwanted, or unused prescription medications to a district station and dispose of these medications safely, conveniently, and responsibly. Residents must wear a face covering and social distance at the time of drop-off.
Accepted items include:
- Prescriptions
- Vitamins
- Prescription Ointments
- Pet Medications
- Prescription Patches
- Over-the-Counter Medications
For more information on this service for the community, please click here.
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