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November 5, 2024

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

2 News Homepage News COVID-19

Talbot County Strongly Encourages Those Unvaccinated to Continue to Wear a Mask

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Governor Larry Hogan announced on May 14 the end of the statewide mask mandate, except while in healthcare facilities, childcare facilities and schools, and on public transportation.

The Talbot County Health Department is closely following the CDC guidance at this time, which strongly recommends those who are unvaccinated continue to wear a mask.

Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except those required by federal, state, or local law and rules, including local business and workplace guidance.

In Maryland, the current executive order requires everyone wear a mask in four types of settings: public transportation, healthcare facilities, childcare facilities, and schools.

Although there is no executive order requiring unvaccinated people to wear a mask, Dr. Maria Maguire, Talbot County Health Officer, strongly recommends everyone follows the CDC’s guidance that people who are not yet fully vaccinated still take all precautions, including wearing a mask.

Some fully vaccinated residents and visitors may choose to wear a mask because they feel more comfortable or continue to be cautious of their own personal risks, such as those who are immunocompromised.

“Those who are not fully vaccinated, including people who are partially vaccinated and not yet two weeks past their final vaccine shot, still need to wear a mask in many settings,” Maguire said. “Where there are other unvaccinated people around, whether that be indoors, at outdoor gatherings, at live performances, festivals, or at sporting events, it is imperative you take all precautions to ensure the safety of both yourselves and others.”

As of May 21, 49% of Talbot County residents are not fully vaccinated, meaning they should continue to wear their masks until they are at least two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose.

“To avoid the confusion about masks, just get vaxxed!,” Maguire said.

“Widespread vaccination is the best and fastest way to end the pandemic and return toward a normal life,” Chuck Callahan, Talbot County Council president, said. “We are gaining ground on the race between vaccination and new variants of this virus. Getting as many people vaccinated will allow us to enjoy our summer together.”

The more people who are vaccinated, the less chance there is of spreading new variants of this virus in the months to come. Further benefits of receiving the vaccine include:

• not needing to wear a mask in nearly every setting

• not needing to quarantine if you are exposed

• not needing to be tested for COVID following a known exposure under most circumstances.

“As a community, Talbot County continues to pull together to address the needs of others as we navigate the various impacts of this pandemic,” said Clay Stamp, Talbot County manager. “Right now, we must continue to rally around those in need and promote vaccination as we are in a race to immunity with this stubborn virus.”

If you wish to be vaccinated, you can call the Talbot County Vaccine Helpline at 410-819-5641. Talbot County is offering Moderna, J&J, and Pfizer vaccines throughout the coming months in hopes of vaccinating as many individuals as possible at their convenience.

As of May 12, Pfizer is officially approved for anyone 12 years old and older. At this time, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines may be administered to people 18 years and older.

For more information and resources about Talbot County’s response to COVID-19 and how to receive vaccine, please visit talbotcovid19.org and talbothealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Talbot Health Provides New Guidance for Event Planners

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The Talbot County Health Department has launched a dedicated webpage to ensure large events occurring in Talbot County are conducted in a safe manner and in compliance with the governor’s executive orders.

The new webpage is accessible at bitly.com/talbotcovideventplanning and provides guidance during COVID for organizations and entities planning large events, gatherings, and social activities in Talbot County.

“We are all eager to have normalcy return to our lives, including the events we love in Talbot County,” says Talbot County Health Officer Dr. Maria Maguire. “We’re providing this resource to event planners so that precautions and safety measures are in place as we continue navigating toward the COVID-19 pandemic’s end.”

The webpage includes an online application for event planners to request Talbot County Health Department’s review of their COVID-19 safety plans for indoor and outdoor events, gatherings, and activities in Talbot County.

Organizers are asked to complete the application at least 30 days prior to the start of an event, gathering, or social activity for review and approval by the Talbot County Health Department.

“This new resource will help lower the risk of event staff, attendees, and Talbot residents contracting and spreading COVID-19 during events,” says Dr. Maguire. “This is an additional level of assurance to the public as we move forward as the weather warms, and events are being planned.”

Dr. Maguire says the Health Department’s review of COVID-19 safety plans does not negate the organization’s need to obtain any other governmental approval authorizing the event to occur.

The site provides CDC event guidance links and a list of local municipal and county personnel responsible for providing guidance on conducting events, gatherings, and activities within their jurisdictions.

More information and resources about Talbot County’s response to COVID-19 is at talbotcovid19.org and talbothealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions Begins Tonight; Talbot Follows Hogan’s Lead

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Gov. Larry Hogan announced the removal of many of the restrictions imposed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Talbot County is following suit.

Citing improving public health metrics, Hogan lifted capacity limits on indoor and outdoor dining, retail stores, religious facilities, fitness centers, personal services, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, and skating rinks. The removal of restrictions begins at 5 p.m. Friday, March 12.

Key Points

  • Capacity limits on indoor and outdoor dining, retail stores, religious facilities, fitness centers, personal services, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, and skating rinks will be lifted effective 5 p.m. today.
  • Restaurants and bars remain limited to seated and distanced (six-foot distancing) service only.
  • Large indoor and outdoor venues may begin operating at 50% capacity, which includes conference and wedding venues, concert venues, conventions, theaters, racing facilities and sporting venues.
  • Medical adult day care centers may reopen at facilities able to set restrictions and safety measures.
  • Maryland residents who travel out of state are no longer required to quarantine upon return, though the Maryland Department of Health continues to advise getting tested upon return.
  • A statewide mask mandate remains in place.
  • All licenses, permits, and registrations issued by Talbot County that would have expired during the Governor’s State of Emergency prior to June 30 are automatically extended through June 30, 2021.

The statewide order to wear masks remains in place, as do physical distancing requirements and other safety protocols for indoor and outdoor businesses and venues where groups may gather.

“We will follow the governor’s orders,” Talbot County Council President Chuck Callahan said. “But we want to remind people that the pandemic is not over yet, and people should continue to use safe practices.”

Talb0t County’s case numbers are now at the lowest rate since mid-November and the vaccine rollout is continuing. County Health Officer Dr. Maria Maguire said Talbot County residents have been eager to receive the vaccine, which is very encouraging. Some 25.8% of the county’s population has received the first dose of the vaccine, currently the highest percentage in the state, and 15.8% are fully vaccinated.

“The decrease in case rates we’re currently seeing and the high vaccination rates in our county residents is very good news, but we are not out of the woods yet,” Maguire said.

“We continue to monitor for the more dangerous genetic variants of the virus and strongly recommend mask wearing and social distancing, even for those who have been fully vaccinated,” she said. “The removal of some restrictions makes it even more important to be diligent about following these protective measures so that we continue the encouraging trajectory we are now on.”

Especially important to businesses is the governor’s amended order on licensing. All licenses, permits, and registrations issued by Talbot County that would have expired prior to June 30 are automatically extended through June 30, 2021.

“The county intends to follow the governor’s order and will process license renewals with June 30, 2021, as the date by which an affected license must be renewed,” says Acting County Attorney Anthony Kupersmith. “Deadlines governing license renewal applications set forth in the Talbot County Code will be adjusted to coincide with the June 30, 2021, expiration date.”

For additional details about your particular license, contact the county office that issued the license.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Talbot Co. Health Officer Gives COVID-19 Update; Dept. Launches Call Center for Vaccination Info

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Talbot County’s acting health officer gave an update Tuesday afternoon on the county’s COVID-19 statistics and vaccination progress and announced the county’s new call center for vaccine information.

Anyone with questions about the vaccination program in Talbot County may call 410-819-5641. The call center will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.

“This is a call center that we’ve set up purely for vaccination questions,” Dr. Maria Maguire, Talbot’s acting health officer, said in a call with business leaders and the public.

The health department is being assisted with the call center by the Avalon Foundation and Easton Utilities.

“We have never operated a call center on this scale before,” Maguire said, and the center already has been getting a large number of calls. She recommended that callers try again later if they get a busy signal or hold message.

In addition to the call center, the health department’s website has forms eligible residents interested in getting a vaccine may fill out.

Emergency personnel or licensed medical professionals who work in Talbot County and have not yet scheduled a vaccination appointment, may use this healthcare form to sign up now.

The county currently is in Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan, which includes residents 75 and older. Residents in that age group may express interest in getting a vaccine by clicking here: Interest form for residents 75 and older.

The next phase will be 1C, which will include those who are 65-74 years old. Residents in that age group may express interest in getting a vaccine by clicking here: Interest form for residents 65-74.

These interest forms are for planning purposes and help the health department gauge interest in the community. Only one submission is necessary. You will not receive an appointment after completing the survey. The health department will reach out when vaccine is available.

Additional interest forms will be added in the future for residents who will be eligible for vaccinations in other phases, such as childcare and essential workers. Go to https://talbotcovid19.org or talbothealth.org for the latest information.

For most of the past week, Talbot County has been the “most vaccinated” in the state, with more than 10% of the county’s population having received “at least the first dose of a COVID vaccine” as of Tuesday, Maguire said.

One reason for that is the large number of healthcare workers who live or work in the county, she noted. Those workers were included in the initial phase of vaccination (1A).

About 30% of the county’s population is 65 and older, Maguire said, and she estimated about 40% of Talbot’s residents are in Phase 1 of the state’s vaccination plan.

With a large percentage of residents who are 65 and older, Talbot also will administer a lot of  vaccines during Phases 1B, which includes those 75 and older, and 1C, which will include those 65-74.

Although the state has said counties are allowed to move to Phase 1C, Talbot and most other jurisdictions have been unable to do so due to the number of vaccine doses provided by the state.

About 5,000 Talbot residents who are 75 and older and 4,000 who are 65-74 have pre-registered to get the COVID vaccine, Maguire said.

Due to those high numbers and the low number of vaccines provided, Talbot may need to remain in Phase 1B for longer than other counties, as health officials work to vaccinate the residents who are at highest risk first.

“Our main hiccups are just that we simply do not have enough vaccine to meet demand. And unfortunately, we don’t have much control over the amount of vaccine we do receive,” Maguire said.

Talbot had been getting about 600 doses a week, but the county’s allocation was cut to 300 doses this week, curtailing plans to move the county to Phase 1C.

“(W)e need to make sure that the very high demand is met before we proceed to … Phase 1C,” she said.

With fewer doses, the county currently is prioritizing residents who are 85 and older.

“(T)hey are the highest risk among the 75 years and above … in terms of … mortality and hospitalization,” Maguire said. “And so that’s what we want to get to first and we will be proceeding through. So anyone who has already registered will get priority in terms of scheduling before we move on to the next phase.”

“Our goal is always to … administer vaccines as quickly as possible. We receive them on a Monday or Tuesday, and … more than 99% of them are gone by the end of the week.”

Maguire also outlined some positive news in terms of the county’s COVID-19 statistics.

“So our numbers are starting to go down a little bit from the holiday surge,” she said, noting the county’s case rate (the rate of cases per 100,000 population) had dropped significantly from its peak on Jan. 11.

Talbot’s positivity rate also has dropped from about 10% at the beginning of January to about 6% now.

“(T)hat’s really good because our goal is to get that number, that positivity rate, below 5%,” Maguire said.

Although there are positive trends, she urged residents to continue to follow safety precautions and not become complacent.

“(T)he only way we can get these numbers back down to where we want them is if people … continue to wear their masks and avoid the crowds and gatherings.”

Dr. Maguire had given the Talbot County Council, sitting as the county’s Board of Health, an update during the council’s Jan. 12 meeting. The video of that presentation is available below:

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.