But residents are still urged to precautions, get tested.
Frederick, Md (KM) Frederick County is making progress in fighting the coronavirus. During her public information briefing on Thursday, County Executive Jan Gardner said smaller numbers of people are being hospitalized for COVID-19, and there fewer coronavirus patients being transported to Frederick Health Hospital by emergency services Personnel.
In addition, she says the county is getting a handle on nursing homes, where some of the highest cases of COVID-19 have been detected. Gardner says residents and staff have been tested, and staff will continue to be tested,
The Maryland Department of Health has eased some restrictions on nursing homes when it comes to visits. Gardner says some outdoor visitations can take place,along with small gatherings. “Now in order for a nursing home to qualify for these outdoor visitations and small congregate gatherings, the nursing must not have any confirmed cases of coronavirus for the last 14 days; and they must attest to that fact to the local health department,” she says.
The County Executive says there are some local nursing homes which meet those requirements. “Two of our nine nursing homes are eligible, and one of those has submitted the necessary forms. And that is St. Joseph’s Place in Emmitsburg which many of of us formally know better as St. Catherine Nursing Center,” says Gardner.
Also during her public information briefing, County Executive Gardner continued to encourage citizens to get tested for COVID-19. She says there are several sites around the county where testing is free and open to the public with no doctor’s order needed.
Governor Larry Hogan has set a goal for the counties to test 10% or more of their populations. Gardner says Frederick County has tested 9% of its population. “And that keeps us ahead of many of our other larger population counties. So, again I want to encourage people to get tested,” she says.
As part of her update on the COVID-19 virus, Gardner said two Frederick County companies which have adjusted their operations to manufacture personal protective equipment have received up to $100,000 from the Maryland Department of Commerce. “The Frederick County businesses that were awarded grants are the bio-science firm Integrated Pharma-Services, which will be making surgical masks; and Patriot Technology, the high tech company offering high tech hardware and software solutions, who will be manufacturing face shields,” she says.
As of Thursday afternoon, the County Health Department reports 2,441 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The number of deaths remains at 109, where it’s stood for the past few days. The seven-day positivity rate stands at 4.3%. That’s the percentages of positive tests out of all of the tests conducted on patients for COVID-19 over the past seven days.
By Kevin McMfanus.