Friends and neighbors, Effective midnight tonight, County Executive Ball has announced a local State of Emergency in Howard County. As you know, the State of Maryland is also currently operating under a State of Emergency due to cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) spreading across our state and country. As of this update, there are at least 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland. Today, we learned from the Howard County Health Department that Howard County has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in our community. This infected resident is a woman in her 80s who has underlying medical conditions and is currently being treated at the hospital. The cause of virus transmission is currently under investigation. Effective midnight tonight, County Executive Ball has announced a local State of Emergency in Howard County and has instructed the Mall in Columbia, Savage Mill, and our movie theaters to close for at least 7 days, with the exception of restaurants that have an external access. Howard County Government has been preparing for this inevitability, which is why we have taken a number of proactive, precautionary measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. We can expect cases of COVID-19 in our community to increase over the next several weeks, which is why it is extremely important that we ALL take actions to slow the spread and flatten the curve. On Friday, March 15, County Executive Calvin Ball held a press conference with our County Departments, HCPSS Superintendent Martirano, and the Howard County Health Department to provide an update on Howard County's response to COVID-19 and new actions that our county is taking to mitigate the spread of this virus. Please review Howard County Government's actions and recommendations below. During this pandemic, my staff and I will be teleworking and are always available by email. If you would like to get in touch with our office during this time, please email crigby@howardcountymd.gov . I encourage each and every one of you, regardless of your age and health situation, to practice social distancing and stay home whenever possible . We must all take actions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve in our community. I know that many of these changes are uncomfortable, but they are necessary and lifesaving. Thank you for doing your part to keep our community and our residents safe and healthy. Yours in service,

Christiana Rigby Councilwoman, District 3

‌ March 15, 2020

Howard County Government No out-of-state travel for County employees for 45 days Teleworking required for all non-essential County employees. County events targeting at-risk populations (older adults, residents with chronic illness, etc.) are cancelled. All residents should avoid private events and public gatherings.

Howard County Council March 16: Legislative Public Hearing is POSTPONED. Notice of the rescheduled date will be provided at a later time. March 16: Monthly Meeting will be available through streaming here and on Channel 99 (Comcast) & Channel 44 (Verizon).  March 16: The Board of License Commissioners meeting will be available through streaming here and on Channel 99 (Comcast) &Channel 44 (Verizon). The County Council strongly requests that the general public refrain from attending its meetings. Updates on Council actions and future meetings is available here.

Howard County Health Department The Health Department has established a COVID-19 telephone information line: 410-313-6284, staffed by nurses from 8am-8pm, every day of the week. Fill up on essentials, especially prescription medications and non-perishable food items. All families are encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19. You can find the latest information on Howard County's COVID-19 information and response here.

Housing and Utilities The Howard County Sheriff's office is staying all eviction orders for an initial period of 15 days. Our office is closely monitoring the evictions process and will be advocating that no residents are displaced during this crisis. Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is suspending service disconnections and waiving late fees until May 1. The Howard County Food Bank will remain open at this point in time.

Department of Recreation and Parks All scheduled special events, programs, classes, and facility rentals through the Department of Recreation & Parks are cancelled through March 29. All Recreation & Parks facilities will remain closed through March 29. All large events and gatherings are closed through the month of April. Parks will remain open.

Department of Community Resources and Services All activities, classes, and programs scheduled for 50+ Centers are suspended. All Social Day programs for our most vulnerable members and members with special needs are also suspended. Effective Monday, March 16, all 50+ Centers will be closed in accordance with guidance from the State through the duration of the State of Emergency. Scheduled meal programs will be held at the following centers: Bain, Ellicott City, and North Laurel. DCRS is preparing to have other food access options in additional DCRS locations for those who need it. Essential services will remain available by appointment for residents who express need for consultation. These services will be provided by phone, and via the web wherever possible. All home visits and center or facility-based visits are suspended both for our older adult population and for our children and families.

Howard County Public School System All schools closed through March 29, in accordance with state guidance. HCPSS will provide optional instructional resources for students for use at home. Starting March 17, HCPSS will provide free breakfast & lunch "Grab-N-Go" meals to any children under age 18 at four school sites & five mobile sites. More info here. Deep cleaning and sanitizing will take place at all HCPSS school buildings over the next 2 weeks.

Howard Community College HCC staff and instructors are preparing to transition classes to online instruction. All College sponsored out-of-state and international travel is suspended, including sports teams. Spring Break is being moved to March 15 through March 22 (no longer from April 6 through April 12). All credit and noncredit classes are canceled from March 23 through March 29.

Howard County Library System All Howard County Library System branches will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. All late fees and due dates will be waived during this period of time. Battle of the Books will be canceled this year. The Library has free services online for residents who would like access to books, media, and movies. Learn more here.

Howard County Detention Center The Detention Center is taking the temperatures of all new intakes into CBF and the Detention Center. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, as well as anyone who may have visited a “hot spot,” is to be placed in the quarantine housing unit until followed up and cleared by medical staff. A facility wide special sanitizing of the Detention Center and CBF took place last Friday and will occur every Friday. This is in addition to the Detention Center's daily cleaning regimen. A Strike Team was created to frequently clean all common areas – visiting room, medical unit, library, program rooms etc. (2 times per shift). All departmental vehicles are being sanitized daily. Messaging is sent out over the inmate television system of the importance of hand washing and cleaning. Every inmate gets a bar of soap weekly. Additional hand sanitizers were added in the visiting room and other areas. The Detention Center is waiving sick call fees (even though required by statute) due to the nature of the current virus situation.

Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) of Central MD RTA has been advising operators on precautions for themselves for the past month and posting the same info available to County employees within the RTA buildings. RTA has started nightly cleaning of all vehicles with a Lysol type disinfectant. All operators are supplied with gloves (for themselves) and hand sanitizer bottles. RTA is working on placing larger hand sanitizer bottles on each bus. Para-Transit Contracted Cab: Cabs are using Lysol spray on a daily basis after each passenger, and using hand sanitizer.

Columbia Association Effective 6:00pm on March 15, all Columbia Association facilities will be closed through March 29, including all sport & fitness facilities and all Community Services facilities. Additionally, all CA public programs, classes and events are canceled through Sunday, March 29.

Business Resources and Assistance Maryland Department of Commerce has been working with other State Agencies to provide information on resources available to Maryland businesses and employers. Resources include information on Worker & Employer Assistance, Financial Assistance & Taxes, and Licensing & Permitting. You can find the full info regarding state & federal resources for businesses here.

Unemployment Resources and Healthcare Coverage The United States Department of Labor has increased flexibility to state governments to provide unemployment assistance to residents who lose their employment due to COVID-19. You can find information apply for Maryland Unemployment Insurance here. In response to COVID-19, Maryland Health Connection has opened a new healthcare enrollment period for uninsured Marylanders. The enrollment period begins Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, April 15. Healthcare coverage will begin on April 1, 2020. Find more information here.

What Can You Do?

Telework from Home The CDC has provided resources and guidance to businesses and employees regarding teleworking and a COVID-19 response plan. You can read the CDC's guidance here. All Howard County residents who have to ability to telework are strongly encouraged to do so. If you are in need of food or services, please contact our office, and will work to connect you with the available resources.

Donate to Community Service Organizations Our community service organizations will be working through this crisis to ensure that Howard County residents have access to food, shelter, and services when needed. Please consider donating to the Community Action Council, which runs Howard County's Food Bank and provides food to thousands of our neighbors-in-need. Donate here. Please consider donating to Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, which provides assistance with a personal, mental health, family, or shelter crisis in Howard County. Donate here.

Request an Absentee Ballot Request an Absentee Ballot for Maryland's upcoming primary election on Tuesday, April 28th. Absentee ballots are easy to request and fill out. Visit the Maryland State Board of Election's website here to request an absentee ballot by Tuesday, April 21.

Fill Out the 2020 Census As Marylanders stay home over the next several weeks, now is a great time to fill out the 2020 Census, which is incredibly important for receiving federal resources. From March 12 - March 20, every household will receive a mailing from the U.S. Census Bureau with instructions on how to complete the Census. Learn more here.

Want to Get in Touch?

Christiana Rigby Councilwoman, District 3 crigby@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-2001

Colette Gelwicks Special Assistant cgelwicks@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-2421

Felix Facchine District Aide ffacchine@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-3108

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