Maryland is lifting its mask mandate. That announcement came Friday from Governor Larry Hogan. Masks will still be required in schools, on public transit and in the healthcare industry. The CDC announced Thursday that vaccinated people could go anywhere, indoors and outdoors, without a mask. Hogan said people who are not vaccinated should get vaccinated immediately and should wear a mask. Individual businesses can still require masks and local jurisdictions can also keep stricter restrictions. Hogan has announced last Wednesday that he would lift all capacity restrictions at businesses around the state beginning this weekend but said the indoor mask…

 Federal benefits for those now on unemployment in West Virginia will end June 19, and as another incentive for people to return to work a bonus that could total $1,000 is also being considered. Gov. Jim Justice said Friday the $300 a week will stop as a way to urge people to go back to work. Any weeks applied for prior to June 19 that are eligible under the federal requirements will be processed, he added, but not after that. Justice said the state is also looking at a bonus to help incentivize people to go back to work, with…

The Allegany County Health Department reports that 23,526 Allegany County residents have received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine against COVID-19 (33.4% of the population), with 19,632 of those individuals now fully vaccinated with their second dose (27.9 % of the population).  The number of residents who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is 2,294 (3.3 %).   By comparison, the state reported that 48.8% of all Marylanders had received their first dose of a two-dose vaccine, with 37.9% having had both doses and 3.5% vaccinated with the single-dose vaccine.   Allegany County COVID-19 Case Statistics…

The Pittsburgh Pirates said on Friday that they will no longer require fans who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a facemask while at PNC Park. Fans who are not yet fully vaccinated must continue to wear a facemask while at PNC Park as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Next week, the Pirates said they plan to announce details regarding capacity increases for the remainder of the season and further adjustments to the health and safety protocols at PNC Park. “We are excited to be able to quickly adjust our facemask policy, consistent with the Department…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports the 700 block of Hill Top Drive is closed as a result of police activity. Indications are an individual is refusing to reply with police orders to come outside of the home. 

ACPS Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Jeff Blank, has announced the appointment of Mr. Glenn Rice as the new Supervisor of Human Resources effective July 1, 2021. Rice is currently an assistant principal at Fort Hill High School.             "I am honored and eager for the opportunity to work with Mr. Wilson and staff in Human Resources,” said Rice. “I have enjoyed my journey as a teacher, coach, and administrator, and I am looking forward to serving people in my new role with fidelity."               Glenn earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Middle School Education and his Master…

WEEKLY COVID UPDATE: For the week of May 10-14, 2021, ACPS reports zero cases of COVID-19 in staff members, and six cases of COVID-19 in students who were within an Allegany County Public School.  These individuals will complete the required isolation period before returning to their school buildings. Close contacts at school were identified in five of the cases. Those identified close contacts will complete a ten-day quarantine before returning to the school building. Parents were notified through the ACPS Blackboard notification system if there was a positive case in their child's school building or on their child's bus. In addition, there were…

There will be a vaccine kick-off event targeting high school students on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at Greenway Avenue Stadium. The clinic will be held from 1-6 p.m. Parents can register their child using the link that was provided by their child's school. This clinic will be by appointment only and will be available to the first 100 people who register.  Any student under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian to accompany them to the clinic.  Families with youth as young as 12 years old can be accommodated as appointments are available. Parking for the clinic…

Mountain Laurel Medical Center, a federally qualified health center, this morning unveilsd a new community outreach van. The van will be utilized in Allegany and Garrett Counties, as well as neighboring counties in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  It will be used to do health assessments, and staff will be able to put residents in touch with community services. Mountain Laurel has facilities in Westernport, Grantsville and Oakland.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut down the state- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is scheduled to visit Cumberland. While full details of the governor’s itinerary are still being finalized- it has been confirmed that he will be making a stop at a planned youth COVID-19 vaccination clinic to be held at Greenway Avenue Stadium this coming Wednesday, May 19th..  The youth vaccination clinic is being coordinated through the Allegany County Health Department.