The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has updated Coronavirus numbers at local state prisons. At NBCI, staff members have had 113 positive tests and 84 recoveries, while inmates there have had 250 positive tests and 226 recoveries. At WCI, 104 staff have tested positive, and 77 recovered, while 119 inmates have tested positive for the virus, with 66 listed as recovered. At FCI Cumberland…the federal prison at Mexico Farms, the latest numbers show 221 imates and 14 staff with COVID-19. The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not do a breakdown of the numbers like the state does.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan did not announce any new pandemic-related restrictions this week, leaving it up to local jurisdictions to decide what’s best for their residents. Some of those restrictions being put into place across Maryland include: Baltimore City has closed indoor and outdoor dining, capped indoor social gatherings to 10 people and limited capacity to religious facilities, among other measures. On Friday, Frederick County will limit indoor gatherings to no more than 15 people and introduce a lower cap for indoor recreation facilities. Montgomery County  County Executive Marc Elrich proposed new restrictions to the county council that would go into effect Tuesday at 5…

After learning that UPMC Western Maryland was one of 22 hospitals in the state omitted from receiving the COVID vaccine in the first round of allocation scheduled for this week, local elected officials reacted strongly, blasting the state for bypassing one of the hardest hit regions in the nation. UPMC Western Maryland President Barry Ronan issued a statement Friday in response, saying that there have been assurances that the local health system will be a priority in the second distribution which is expected a few days after the initial doses are allocated.  In an update of this story, Maryland Health Secretary…

On The Cumberland City Police is investigating multiple thefts of various garden ornaments and holiday decorations in South Cumberland. Furthermore, investigating officers believed this occurred in and around Memorial Avenue, Second Street, and First Street areas. If you believe you may have been a victim, please contact the Cumberland City Police at 301-777-1600.      

The Allegany County Health Department reports that Allegany County’s cumulative COVID-19 case count is now at 4,441, with 114 deaths.  The current case rate in Allegany County is 158.45 cases per 100,000 population, well above the state of Maryland case rate of 48.34 cases per 100,000 population.  Allegany’s positivity rate is now at 13.69%, while the statewide average is 7.49%.  The rate of new cases in Allegany County will slow if we all do our part.  Avoid social gatherings and opt for celebrating the holidays at home with your immediate family, or via phone call or video chat.  Stay home…

The Cumberland Times News reports nine more deaths attributed to COVID-19 were reported in less than 24 hours in Mineral County. The rash of deaths raises the county's toll to 47. Health officials reported four of those on Thursday night, and another five Friday afternoon.  Six of the deceased were residents of Piney Valley nursing home in Keyser, according to the county health department. An ongoing outbreak there has infected 65 employees and 96 residents. Twenty-five residents have died.   Another resident death and additional cases connected to employees of the Dawnview Center in Fort Ashby were also reported. An ongoing…

For the week of December 5 – 12, 2020, ACPS reports 7 individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 who were within an Allegany County Public School.  These individuals will complete the required isolation period.  Contact tracing in 3 of these cases indicated no close contacts, and no need to quarantine any individuals.  In the remaining 4 cases, close contacts were identified, and those individuals will complete a 14-day quarantine period. Notification was sent out if there was a positive case in a building.  

The Allegany County Board of Education has released the following statement to clarify information presented during this weeks meeting.  It has come to our attention that some individuals may have misunderstood the information presented at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday on the results of the grade transcripts for the first marking period.  The data DOES NOT reflect a percent for individual student failures for the first marking period, but only course failures at the three levels: elementary, middle, and high.  The grade transcripts for marking period 1 (MP1) were sorted to review the percent of course transcripts with an F…

UPMC Western Maryland President Barry Ronan has issued the following statement regarding the state's plans to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine: "UPMC Western Maryland was one of 22 Maryland hospitals omitted from receiving the COVID vaccine in the first round of allocation. We have been assured that we will be a priority in the second distribution which is expected to be days later. UPMC Western Maryland is eager to begin vaccinating our frontline health care workers as soon as we receive the first doses as directed by the state. UPMC has a capable team coordinating the logistics of vaccine receiving, storage, distribution, and immunization. We…

On Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:55p.m., Allegany County Emergency crews were dispatched to Interstate 68 near the Seton Drive exit for a reported vehicle accident involving a motorcycle. There was one medical transport reported from the scene. Crews were able to clear the scene and open up traffic after a slowdown. Maryland State Police is investigating.