The county’s Department of Health and Human Services is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for the FY22 Community Services Grants Program, officials announced. The one-time grants of up to $10,000 are available “to support health and human service projects that promote a safe, healthy, and self-sufficient community.”
The County Council, acting as the Board of Health, yesterday unanimously approved a regulation loosening many of the COVID–19 restrictions that were in place. During the discussion, council members made it clear they felt pressured to do so after Gov. Larry Hogan surprised officials with a March 9 announcement that lifted many statewide COVID-19 restrictions as of 5 p.m. Friday, March 12.
The County Council is set to meet this afternoon for a public hearing and vote on revisions County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed to his executive orders implementing certain pandemic-related restrictions in the county.
The Montgomery County Food Council has added surveys in three additional languages as it seeks resident input regarding 2021 food security initiatives. The survey, which launched in January, is now available in French, Amharic and Mandarin in addition to English and Spanish.
The African American Health Program has expanded its effort to encourage the county’s Black residents to get tested for the COVID-19 virus. The organization is partnering with Black faith organizations such as the Islamic Society of the Washington Area and Black Greek letter organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity to help reach the targeted communities.
The county’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics have expanded their service and begun vaccinating people between the ages of 65 and 74, as well as essential workers and individuals with developmental disabilities, the Department of Health and Human Services announced. “Essential workers” include transit workers, teachers, and childcare workers.
Two groups of local elected officials have written to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) urging him to address availability and racial equity issues with the COVID-19 vaccines in Montgomery County. All nine County Council members signed on to a letter sent Wednesday asking the governor to specifically address racial inequity in both the vaccine distribution and the pre-registration system.
CBS Sports anchor James Brown has shot a public service announcement as part of a local nonprofit’s campaign to urge the county’s Black residents to take a COVID-19 test.“ As you know, coronavirus infection rates have risen in the Black community. As a Maryland resident, I am happy to share that the African American Health Program is hosting free COVID-19 testing sites in Montgomery County,” Brown says in the PSA.
The county’s Recreation department plans to reopen eight community recreation centers for limited, scheduled activities on Monday, March 1, officials announced. Individuals or households will be able to schedule a time to use the fitness room, gymnasiums, and other rooms without attending a class, as was necessary when the department opened RecFit programs two weeks ago.