Today marks the start of the new school year in Allegany County- and with COVID-19 cases spiking- a mask mandate will be in effect. Much like the end of the last school year- the COVID pandemic is expected to dominate much of the early activites while health and safety protocols are expected to be fluid. Allegany County Board of Education President Crystal Bender tells WCBC News that face coverings and social distancing will all be required as the new semester gets underway… With about 80% of faculty and staff vaccinated- she says there have been no discussions about a vaccine…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice began his regular COVID-19 briefing with some startling statistics. Nearly 2,500 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Friday, with now more than 10,000 cases in the state. There are no longer any green counties on the state’s map. Also, over the last eight weeks, health officials have seen a 26% increase in cases among fully vaccinated residents, a 21% increase, among the vaccinated, in cases requiring hospitalizations and a 25% increase in deaths among those who have gotten their shots. If the trends continue Justice says everything will be on the table for consideration…

Although Allegany County’s COVID-19 numbers are spiking dramatically- and the vaccination rates are among the lowest in the state- Commissioner Jake Shade tells WCBC News there are no plans to consider a vaccination mandate. The state has implemented mandates for some state employees and health care workers; and many private businesses are moving in that direction. Allegany County’s vaccination rate of just over 41% is nearly 20 points behind the rest of the state. Shade said that is a concern- but the commissioners aren’t supportive of a county wide mandate…

Allegany College of Maryland will be the site for the first in a series of town halls being held across the state to discuss the continuing opioid and overdose crisis. The town hall, which will run from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 26, is the first of a planned statewide series organized as part of the Maryland Stop Overdose Strategy, or Maryland SOS, a campaign launched in June to combat the wave of substance abuse disorder that worsened with COVID-19. Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford will be joined by officials from the Maryland Department of Health and the state Opioid…

A caller to WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Tuesday morning expressing concern that the latest COVID-19 spike has created an overflow situation at UPMC Western Maryland. Health system officials released a statement indicating that is not the case: “UPMC Western Maryland does not have a shortage of beds and is not at capacity. Because of UPMC's extensive planning and preparation, all facilities are well-equipped and able to provide care to any patient with a medical need. All UPMC facilities are open, operating normally and ready to provide care for all. As the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, UPMC is committed to making vaccines accessible for…

Allegany College of Maryland recognized 93 graduates earning a total of 100 associate degrees and certificates at the conclusion of the summer 2020 session. Graduates and the degree or certificate they received are listed below according to residence. The awards refer to degrees unless otherwise noted.   District of Columbia – Destynee N. Louallen, General Studies.   Maryland Accident – Samantha N. Beachy, Practical Nursing Certificate; Mary Ann Elizabeth Roberts, Practical Nursing Certificate. Brunswick – Jeremy Tyler Warrenfeltz, Automotive Technology. Crisfield – Kyra Rittenhouse, Respiratory Therapist. Cumberland – Deshawn Barmore, General Studies; Jennifer S. Davis, Practical Nursing Certificate; Thaddeus Glenn…

The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism will celebrate Governor Hogan’s “Volunteer Recognition Day” at the Maryland State Fair with giveaways, a “service wall,” and on-stage Governor’s Volunteer Certificate presentations.  “We are excited to celebrate the incredible volunteerism that Maryland has seen over the past years, and also recruit new volunteers to enter into the joy of serving in their communities,” said Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism Director Nicki Fiocco. “If you are an organization with members attending the fair, we want to honor your team from the stage in front of all of their friends, family, and fairgoers.” …

More than 200,000 Maryland residents have gained health insurance coverage during a coronavirus special enrollment period. Maryland Health Connection announced Tuesday that a total of 201,141 people had enrolled since March 2020. The 17-month special enrollment in response to the pandemic was one of the longest of any state in the country. It was extended several times as the emergency continued and ended Aug. 15. Maryland Health Connection is administered by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. More than 1.3 million Marylanders are currently covered through Maryland Health Connection – about 1.2 million in Medicaid and more than 165,000 in private coverage with nearly 80%…

Garrett County has Maryland's highest COVID-19 case rate, and one of the state's lowest number of vaccinated residents. Garrett County Health Department Public Information Officer Diane Lee reported Garrett County’s seven-day positivity percentage is 13.85% compared to the state’s 4.89%. The county is also currently third highest at 37.42 for seven-day case rate per 100,000 people, compared to the state average of 16.9. The Cumberland Times News reports in Mineral County,  health Administrator A.Jay Root urged residents Monday to treat the continuing threat of the virus seriously. As of Aug. 11, Root, the county had 23 active cases. But by…

In reponse to community rumors UPMC Western Maryland has issued the following statement: UPMC Western Maryland does not have a shortage of beds and is not at capacity. Because of UPMC's extensive planning and preparation, all our facilities are well-equipped and able to provide care to any patient with a medical need. All UPMC facilities are open, operating normally and ready to provide care for all. As the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, UPMC is committed to making vaccines accessible for all and encourages everyone who is eligible to receive their vaccine to do so. For more information on vaccine availability, visit UPMCWesternMaryland.com.