Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community
Dr. Fredia Wadley, Talbot County’s health officer, explained COVID-19 trends and discussed future planning for the ongoing pandemic.
Wadley spoke Tuesday night to the Talbot County Council, which was sitting as the county’s Board of Health.
This video is about 33 minutes long.
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Individuals and businesses violating COVID-19 restrictions in Talbot County may face additional civil fines up to $1,000 per violation.
The Talbot County Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to adopt an emergency resolution that sets civil fines for violations of the governor’s executive orders on COVID-19.
The discussion Tuesday night and at a previous meeting focused on concerns about businesses, particularly a few restaurants with bar areas, that have not been requiring customers to comply with Gov. Hogan’s orders.
In an executive order allowing certain businesses and facilities to open with 50% indoor capacity, restaurants are only allowed to serve customers who are seated.
While the governor’s executive orders allow for businesses and individuals to be charged with a misdemeanor offense and face a fine up a year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine, Talbot officials wanted the ability to impose civil, rather than criminal, penalties.
The civil fines may be imposed on businesses that violate the governor’s directives on how to safely open for the public, as well as individuals who fail to follow the order requiring facial coverings.
“These measures take effect immediately,” Council President Corey Pack said in a statement. “We are working to keep everyone as safe as possible and are continuing to closely follow the governor’s Maryland Strong Roadmap to Recovery.”
The draft of the emergency resolution is below:
Emergency Resolution – COVID Enforcement - as approved on 7-28-20The resolution refers to two orders issued by Gov. Larry Hogan.
Order 20-04-15-01 requires face coverings on public transportation and in retail and food service establishments. The order also requires stores to sanitize carts and baskets and designate at least 6-foot spacing between customers waiting in line.
Masks-and-Physical-Distancing-4.15.20Order 20-06-10-01 largely allows various businesses and facilities to open up at 50% capacity indoors and allowed restaurants to serve food and drinks indoors to customers seated at tables, but not at bar/counter areas.
Gatherings-NINTH-AMENDED-June-10Dr. Fredia Wadley, the county’s health officer, also had recommended that the council consider limiting the number of people allowed at both indoor and outdoor gatherings, and empowering the county liquor board to suspend the liquor license of violators.
As health officer, Wadley has the authority from the state health secretary to suspend the food service license of any establishment that is operating in an unsafe manner.
The council plans to discuss restrictions on outdoor gatherings during its Aug. 11 meeting.
“When you are talking about a virus like COVID-19, there is no safe number,” Wadley told the council. “It’s where do you want to set the number?”
During Tuesday night’s meeting, Wadley also outlined the recent COVID-19 trends in Talbot County and the state.
“In Talbot County, we had the first good day for a long time and I never thought I’d say six new cases is a good day, but it’s better than 10 which is what we’ve been having,” she said.
The county’s 7-day average for new daily cases had hit a peak of 10 on July 20 and 21 before dropping back to the single digits.
From the county’s first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 16 through July 10, the 7-day average had not gone higher than three.
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With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Talbot County, the county’s health officer is warning local restaurants refusing to comply with state and county directives that their food service licenses are on the line.
In a July 14 letter and in a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Gov. Larry Hogan urged local officials to take action against non-compliant businesses.
The letter specifically noted reckless behavior at some of the state’s bars and restaurants and expressed concern that cases in the 20- to 40-year-old age group are rising even as Maryland’s COVID-19 metrics have stabilized.
“This tends to be the age of people who have to go to work every day,” Talbot County Health Officer Dr. Fredia Wadley said Wednesday in a statement. “They are often on the front lines, working in positions where they come into contact with the public, and they are more likely to be out socializing after hours and on weekends.”
Wadley met Tuesday with the Talbot County Council, which was sitting as the county’s Board of Health.
She asked elected officials to consider a local mandate to limit the size of gatherings, to require facial coverings for people inside public and retail facilities, and to impose civil penalties on those cited for violations.
Wadley told the board that at least one restaurant has been warned four times about violating the state restrictions.
“We have to recognize that we only have social distancing, facial coverings and hand hygiene to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Wadley said in the statement. “And to ignore these proven practices while this pandemic burns through our country with higher rates every day would be a sign of negligence on the part of any health officer.”
The council voted to have the county attorney draft emergency legislation to provide civil penalties against businesses that fail to comply with COVID-19 orders. That legislation is expected to be considered at the council’s July 28 meeting.
“We are not trying to hurt the business community, but we’re trying to keep people safe,” Council President Corey Pack said in the statement. “Many businesses are operating appropriately, and we want to continue to encourage and work with them. Unfortunately, there are some businesses that are not doing all they can, and we are going to have to address those businesses.”
Education has been the Talbot County Health Department’s first line of defense, according to the Wednesday statement. But as the summer heats up and people become weary of the measures used to curtail the spread of the virus, officials are beginning to consider more stringent measures.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased dramatically since the Independence Day holiday. For several days last week, Talbot County led the state with a positivity rate over 8%, a number that indicates the percentage of the total number of people who were tested and found to be positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Wadley, in the Wednesday statement, noted she has the authority to suspend food licenses of any business with conditions deemed an immediate health threat.
She said restaurants not complying with the governor’s executive order will get a compliance letter warning of a food license suspension.
The order says no one can be served at a bar, patrons must be seated to receive service, and six-foot distancing is required.
Restaurants that continue to violate the order would then have the license suspended.
“We have worked with a number of restaurant owners who are trying to do the right thing,” Wadley said in the statement. “But we still see people standing shoulder to shoulder in bar areas, tables packed with customers, and people refusing, or simply forgetting, to wear masks.”
Wadley and a team of interagency partners have come together to examine the problem and consider what tools they currently have to address ongoing problems.
The Maryland Code authorizes the local health officers, with authority delegated by the Secretary of Health, to suspend the food license of a facility that has conditions that offer an immediate health threat.
The Maryland Department of Health has encouraged local health officers to have their restaurant inspectors use a COVID-19 checklist on their routine inspections and when they investigate restaurant complaints.
Restaurants that are not in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order concerning restaurants and bars will receive a compliance letter notifying them that if they do not come into compliance that their food license will be suspended.
The COVID-19 checklist provided by the state will be placed on the Talbot County Health Department website as well as the Talbot COVID 19 website.
Public events that require a temporary license agreement must also be approved by the county health officer.
While outdoor events are 18 times safer than those held indoors, Wadley said, allowing large crowds to gather where social distancing is impossible or unlikely will contribute to the spread of the virus.
The third option for action is that when complaints are received by the county liquor board and the liquor board inspector finds that bars are not following the governor’s executive order, the liquor board could consider suspending the facility’s liquor license.
Emergency Services Director Clay Stamp agrees that it is time to take action.
“Your Emergency Operations Center opened in response to this virus in March, and we have seen amazing things from this community in the face of this public health emergency,” he said in the statement. “But we also recognize that there is an economic component to this problem, and we needed to get our businesses open.
“We want our businesses to be successful. We need them to be successful,” Stamp said. “No one is interested in shutting businesses down, but the fact is we have some businesses that are not in compliance. We need to step forward in a unified way and make some adjustments to maintain a balance between public safety and economic stability.”
For more information about Talbot County’s COVID-19 response, visit talbotcovid19.org.
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There is a glimmer of hope in today’s COVID-19 numbers, say Dr. Fredia Wadley, Health Officer for Talbot
County.
“The numbers for hospitalizations are holding steady, and the number of deaths from COVID-19 have decreased slightly,” she notes. “Only two new cases were reported in the poultry industry over the weekend. These numbers are encouraging.”
Still, law enforcement officials report an increasing volume in the number of complaints about those who are violating the governor’s orders. The lure to be outside in the warm spring weather is more than some people can resist.
“We all want to get out of the house, but the governor’s stay-at-home order is still in effect,” Dr. Wadley notes. “And while the numbers are encouraging, we have not fully stopped the spread of the COVID-19 virus. If you have to be out and about, we urge you to use all of the recommended precautions, including wearing a mask. It’s the smart thing to do.”
Talbot County is beginning to develop its recovery plan, says County Council President Corey Pack, but he too urges caution.
“We are asking people to hold the line for a little bit longer,” he says. “We don’t want to see a spike in cases that will delay reopening and overwhelm our healthcare system.”
It’s important to take this time to make a plan for how we will implement the measures that we know keep people safe, says Director of Emergency Services Clay Stamp. “In Emergency Management, we have an old saying: ‘Make the plan, work the plan.’
“This is the perfect opportunity for us to work together to figure out how to implement the things we’ve learned about social distancing and other preventive measures,” he continues. “The time we spend now will determine how successful we are together and individually at protecting the health and safety of Talbot County and its residents.”
Talbot County Public Schools
TCPS meals will be distributed Tuesday, May 5 and Friday, May 8 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at all school sites.
Sodexo is now providing frozen food items that require refrigerated storage and reheating. If you are unable
to pick up meals and need emergency delivery, please call Crystal Miller at 443-432-5091.
On Friday, May 1, TCPS distributed 7,872 meals and snacks (food for 2 days for 896 children) and 375 CarePacks.
The TCPS Instructional Technology Help Desk will be open on Tuesday, May 5 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Friday, May 8 from noon – 3:00 p.m. at Easton High School and St. Michaels Elementary School. Please send an email to [email protected] for virtual support or to schedule a help desk appointment for iPads or laptops. TCPS encourages parents to wear masks/cloth face coverings during meal pickups or IT Help Desk visits to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
Help us celebrate the Class of 2020! We are asking our seniors and their families to share photos of themselves wearing gear and/or holding signs to celebrate their commitments to college, career, or the military to post on the TCPS Facebook page. Please email photos to [email protected].
Later this week our graduating Seniors will be picking up their caps and gowns at their respective schools. This is a drive through pick up so families are asked to remember and respect the social distancing order. The high school administrators have sent detailed plans to the seniors and their families for next week’s graduation filming and we look forward to this innovative recognition for our graduates.
Help us celebrate the Class of 2020! Please continue to share photos of graduating seniors wearing gear
and/or holding signs to celebrate their commitments to college, career, or the military by emailing them to
their guidance counselors or to [email protected].
This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week, and we are so grateful to our teachers for their flexibility, creativity and determination during this very challenging time.
“Throughout the week our Leadership Team is delivering yard signs that say ‘Teaching Rockstar’ to every teacher, because that’s what they really are,” said Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent. “Many of them are teaching their own children while they are teaching everyone else’s. We are committed to celebrating our profession and working to keep spirits high during this difficult time. If you are able to, please take a moment to thank our teachers for all that they do.”
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Dr. Fredia S. Wadley, Talbot County’s health officer, outlined common precautions to take and exposed some misconceptions about coronavirus during a Monday afternoon briefing at the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services.
She noted that flu deaths in the U.S. had totaled 14,0oo as of Friday, with 310,000 hospitalizations for the virus. Among 40-plus countries with reported cases of coronavirus, there may have been 3,000 deaths.
“The flu will end up being far worse than coronavirus,” Wadley said. “The coronavirus, on one hand, is your common cold. Viruses mutate.”
“This is a panic,” she said. “The reason for the panic is number one, it’s new. And the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know. When we say we don’t know everything about it, then people go a little bit crazy.”
Wadley also noted that it’s an election year “and both sides are saying ‘I can be a better leader’ and they’re more worried about public image than they are public health.”
“I’m not saying this to say that there’s not a concern about a coronavirus, it’s a new virus,” she said. “One reason for really trying to contain it and keep it in China is if you can get it not so widespread, you may not get it seasonally next year and flare up again.
“Needless to say, it hasn’t been contained but that still doesn’t mean we have any reason to panic,” Wadley said.
Another factor in the panic is that “nobody really believes the government anymore … there’s always a conspiracy theory.
“I’ve said all along there’s no way you win in a public health scenario like this,” Wadley said, citing her 33 years of experience. “If you jump in immediately, you’re causing panic. If you wait to see what the virus is about, then you’re waiting too late.
“So what you try to do is stay down the middle of the road, use the facts that you know, when you know them, (and) tell the people,” she said.
Wadley said the same precautions against the flu work for the coronavirus:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid crowds when the virus is known to be spreading.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough/sneeze into your bent arm.
• Soiled tissues can transmit the flu or this virus, so dispose of the tissues in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and objects in your home and at work.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
This video is approximately twelve minutes in length
What You Need To Know
• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses common in many different species. There are many strains of coronavirus which affect humans, some of which cause mild illness such as the “common cold” and others cause more severe illness, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus that had not caused illness in humans before December 2019.
• The virus spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets (in coughs, sneezes, or regular breathing or talking), so close contact of six feet or less increases the risk of transmitting the infection.
• Symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.
• Currently, individuals at risk of infection are people who have recently traveled to China; have close, personal contact with those recent travelers; or have close, personal contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
• The severity of illness can range from mild to severe respiratory difficulty and even death; some individuals may experience no symptoms. Most people recover from the infections, with close to 80% of those infected experiencing mild or moderate symptoms. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
• Elderly individuals and people with chronic illnesses have greater risk for severe illness. Examples of such chronic illnesses include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and conditions impacting the immune system’s ability to fight germs.
• Current treatment for the disease, when needed, is supportive care to relieve symptoms. A subset of cases may need to be hospitalized.
• There is a push for rapid vaccine development but no vaccine is available at this time. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure to the virus by taking everyday preventive precautions.
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