 County Executive Elrich addresses the historic and horrific mob attack on the U.S. Capitol—and how Montgomery County emergency employees were deployed to help restore order and preserve our nation’s democracy. He also discusses how the County is distributing its first doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the availability of updated information on the County’s response.
 The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has taken on various dimensions around the nation over the past few weeks as the first steps to combat the health crisis created by the virus are moving forward. Although Montgomery County is anxiously awaiting allocation of more vaccines, it has taken swift steps to administer the first vaccines it has received. Details on the County’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, including the list of priority groups, can be found at the County's Vaccine page.
Montgomery County has received a “Gold” designation from the national SolSmart program—the highest designation awarded to communities by the program—for making it faster, easier and more affordable for homes and businesses to go solar. Montgomery is the first Maryland jurisdiction to achieve the SolSmart Gold designation.
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 Montgomery County has launched a virtual information room to facilitate public review of the Draft Climate Action Plan. The County’s strategic plan focuses on cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and by 100 percent by 2035. The 87 climate actions outlined in the plan lay the path to achieving the County’s ambitious climate goals while building a healthy, equitable and resilient community.
The COVID-19 health crisis dominated world news in 2020. In Montgomery County, which is home to one of the world’s largest life sciences communities, numerous companies have played major roles in the development of lifesaving vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and other diseases that impact public health.
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 COVID-19 Deaths by Zip Code, Montgomery County, MD
Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics are regularly updated to reflect the most recent reports during the health crisis.
 There are numerous ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Montgomery County. The County operates dozens of clinics most weeks and rotates the locations to make testing easily accessible for residents in all parts of the County. In addition, there are many privately operated testing programs.
 The Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA), which traditionally holds a single, huge employment expo in Montgomery County each year, instead will hold several free virtual events this year. The next County Virtual Employment Expo for Job-seekers Age 50 and Over will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12. It will be held via Zoom.
The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange will have a new special enrollment period in which uninsured Maryland residents have the opportunity to enroll in health coverage due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and the recent rise in the positivity rate throughout the state. The enrollment period begins immediately and will run until March 15.
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Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has announced that the buses it operates, including Ride On, Ride On Extra and Flash, will maintain temporary, rear-door boarding and suspended fare collection while Metrobus has resumed front-door boarding and collecting fares.
 Every January for more than a decade, the Montgomery County Volunteer Center has brought together thousands of area residents for an afternoon of activities featured as part of its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day of Service. This year, the event will go virtual and will be expanded to a week, Jan. 16-24, with a variety of home-based and safely distanced service opportunities available online at http://bit.ly/MoCoMLKDay.
 Montgomery Parks will hold two virtual community meetings—one in English and the other in Spanish—to discuss plans to update the Wheaton Regional Park master plan. Residents are invited to learn more about the project, provide comments and ask questions.
Six individuals selected by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich were inducted into the 2020 class of the County Human Rights Hall of Fame. The 11th biennial event, which was held virtually on Dec. 27, honored individuals who have made great personal sacrifices in contributing to human and civil rights in Montgomery County, either as trailblazers of the past or as current light bearers in the struggle.
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The fifth annual Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival is eight months away, and although COVID-19 continues to create uncertainty, the planning is in motion for the event that grows in stature each year. Entries are now being accepted from Montgomery County college and high school students for the poster design contest that will add to the enthusiasm for this year’s event.
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A lot of electronic items were purchased as gifts during the holiday season. And holidays also provided down time that led to using battery-operated items. Those scenarios meant that many older or no longer usable electronics will be on their way out. It also means many batteries have worn out. In each case, the Montgomery County Department of Environment Protection (DEP) wants consumers to know how to properly recycle electronics and how to dispose of batteries.
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