The county is now offering no-cost, in-home COVID-19 testing for eligible residents who live in area zip codes most affected by the coronavirus. A response team of a health worker and a human services worker will provide temperature checks, monitor vital signs and give COVID-19 saliva tests to all household members who give consent.
The county’s Department of Health and Human Services closed two more Georgia Avenue businesses in Silver Spring for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. Society Lounge at 8229 Georgia Ave. and Republic Garden at 8402 Georgia were both shut down on Sunday July 12, both for not maintaining social distancing. In addition, both businesses had their licenses suspended.
Service on Metro’s Red Line was interrupted by a derailment at the Silver Spring station shortly before 11:30 a.m. A statement posted by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, posted on the organization’s Twitter page, reads, “Preliminary information suggests the eight-car train passed a red signal prior to the derailment.”
The county’s Planning Department has released a report that analyzed and made recommendations concerning the level of comfort for pedestrians walking to future Purple Line stations. The Purple Line report focuses specifically on the comfort level for pedestrians walking within a half-mile of each station.
Montgomery County police officers are now required to intervene when they witness excessive force being used by other officers under a new policy announced yesterday. In addition, the County Council introduced a bill that would codify additional curbs on police use of excessive force.
The County Council looking for applicants to fill its positions on the Policing Advisory Commission created late last year. The commission’s 13 members would be charged with improving council oversight of the county’s police department. In addition, it’s intended to increase the community’s trust in police.
COVID-19 restrictions will force area pools to miss the traditional Memorial Day weekend opening. The order applies to all county-operated pools as well as those run by apartments and condominium buildings, homeowner associations and private swim clubs.
County Executive Marc Elrich will issue an order today extending the county’s stay-at-home restrictions indefinitely, while Gov. Larry Hogan eases statewide constraints. The governor announced earlier this week that the state would begin stage one of a recovery that changes the order from “stay at home” to “safer at home.” The order will be effective at 5 p.m. today, Friday, May 15.
Editor’s note: This guest post and photo is from Jonna Huseman, who began the Voices project to document the lives of friends and neighbors in Silver Spring and Takoma Park and how they may have changed since the shelter in place order. It originally appeared on her blog, The Sligo Creek Photographer.