The Allegany County Health Department reports that Allegany County’s cumulative COVID-19 case count is now at 5,071, with 143 deaths.  The current case rate in Allegany County is 88.86 cases per 100,000 population, while Maryland’s state average is currently 38.19 cases per 100,000 population.  Allegany’s positivity rate is now at 14.28%, while the statewide average is 7.72%.    Beginning Monday, December 21, individuals tested at the Allegany County Fairgrounds drive-thru clinics will have their tests processed by MAKO Medical laboratory.  Results will be available in two to four days through a web-based patient portal, providing faster results which patients can…

There is  liberal leave for Allegany and Garrett Counties beginning at 6 am through the end of the day shift on December 22, 2020 for State employees Allegany and Garrett. Emergency Essential Employees should report as scheduled. Non-emergency essential employees who report to the office to work may use liberal leave upon notification to the employee’s supervisor. Teleworkers should work as scheduled unless leave is granted.

Late Monday night emergency crews were dispatched to North Mechanic Street for the odor of natural gas in a building. The area of Market Street and Mechanic Streets were shut down while crews cleared the scene. No injuries were reported. 

Top Capitol Hill negotiators sealed a deal on a $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package, finally delivering long-awaited help to businesses and individuals and providing money to deliver vaccines to a nation eager to receive them. The package will establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction. Democrats acknowledged it wasn’t as robust a relief package as they initially sought or, they say, the country needs. Maryland U.S. Senator Ben Cardin…

Allegany County’s first COVID-19 vaccines were received on Monday morning with UPMC Western Maryland staff receiving vaccinations in the afternoon. While the arrival of the vaccine to the local area was hailed as great new,  it came a week late according to some area elected officials. Delegate Mike McKay, appearing on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show," said he was incensed to learn that the state of Maryland – after bypassing Allegany and Garrett counties from the initial vaccine distributions –  opted to donate some of the state supply to Washington D.C…  

Marshall Weston, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, said this week that restaurants can't take much more pain. Weston referring to the economic distress caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. WBAL reports the group is filing a lawsuit to block indoor dining bans in some parts of the state, and if local jurisdictions implement similar bans, they can choose to become part of the suit. The association previously reported the industry lost about $1.4 billion in sales during the pandemic, and that about 40% of all restaurants in the state may close without a new financial aid package. He said that…

32 of West Virginia’s 55 counties were in the red category Monday on the county alert system map as the Christmas holiday approaches. West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ officials posted the map Monday based on Sunday’s data.  All local counties currently are in the red zone including Mineral, Grant, Hampshire and Hardy. While the surge of COVID cases is continuing statewide, Governor Jim Justice says he is still consulting with health and education officials in an effort to see kids return to the classroom for in-person instruction. One plan would have teachers and staff be among the first to receive…

Monday morning at approximately 8:30 a.m., 500 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived at UPMC Western Maryland. Initial vaccinations of prioritized frontline staff began immediately. 1,400 more doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected to arrive at UPMC Western Maryland mid-week – enough to vaccinate every frontline employee who opts in. If a health care worker opts not to receive the vaccine now, they will quickly be rescheduled to receive it if and when they decide to.  Vaccinations of frontline staff will continue to run until all frontline staff wishing to get the vaccine have been accommodated, which should…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland will provide COVID-19 vaccine doses for front line clinical healthcare workers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda. Led by Dr. Francis S. Collins, NIH is the largest biomedical research agency in the world. Its clinical center is the world’s largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci serves as director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “Maryland is proud to be home to some of the world’s leading health systems and medical research institutions, including NIH,” said Governor Hogan. “With our…

Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has begun shipping to Maryland. The state expects to receive 104,300 doses of the vaccine, for which the Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency use authorization on Friday. Including the Pfizer vaccine, the state has been allotted 191,075 doses of vaccines. Phase 1A of the state's vaccination plan focuses on first responders, front-line health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities. “As laid out in our statewide vaccination plan, our earliest vaccinations are focused on our front-line health care workers, the residents and staff of our nursing homes,” Hogan…