Marylanders Can Order Free COVID Tests to Be Sent Via Mail

Marylanders can now order another round of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests that will be delivered directly to their homes. Each household can get four tests through COVIDtests.gov.

Already have some at home? Check here to see if your tests' expiration dates have been extended.

Forms to apply for the kits can be accessed at this link.

Updated rapid tests are expected to be able to detect newer variants just as a new COVID variant, XEC, arrives in Maryland. It is a member of the Omicron family.

The availability of free at-home tests comes just after the Food and Drug Administration approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging everyone 6 months or older to get a new shot this fall since last year's shots were geared toward a strain that is no longer around.

As flu and RSV season approaches, health officials recommend residents stock up on tests and update all vaccinations.

CDC Issues New Guidance for COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illness Prevention

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance on protection for common respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, flu and RSV.

The nation is in a better place than it was in the early months of the COVID-19 health crisis. There are effective vaccines and new treatment options that lessen the severity of illness. More than 98 percent of the U.S. population now has some protective immunity from vaccination, prior infection or both.

With vaccines and treatment options, the nation is entering a new phase for COVID-19. It continues to circulate in the community, but hospitalization and death rates have decreased.

The CDC is now recommending the following prevention strategies for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses such as flu and RSV:

• Stay up to date on vaccinations, including an annual flu shot, RSV vaccine for certain age groups and the latest COVID-19 shots.
• Practice good hygiene habits, including regular hand washing and covering a cough.
• If you do test positive for COVID-19 or flu, get treatment that will lessen the duration and severity of illness.
• If sick, stay home and away from others. This goes for COVID-19, as well as other respiratory viruses. Stay home and isolate from others until symptoms are getting better and you are fever-free for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medication).
• When leaving isolation, resume normal activities, but continue taking precautions for the next five days when around others indoors. This includes:
• Masking
• Physical distancing
• Take steps for cleaner air such as opening a window
• Testing
• If you test positive for a respiratory illness such as COVID-19, but do not have any symptoms, take precautions for the next five days.

The prevention strategies can be especially helpful if respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in the community.

Montgomery County libraries are receiving new supplies of COVID-19 test kits over the next few weeks that will be available for free to residents.

Visit the County’s COVID-19website for additional information and for links to more detailed information from the CDC.

Four Free COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits Now Available by Mail

Every U.S. household can place an order to receive four free COVID-⁠19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home from the U.S. Government.

A simple application to receive the tests is available at COVIDTests.gov.

Residents needing assistance to place an order can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

The U.S. government will continue to make COVID-⁠19 tests available to uninsured individuals and underserved communities through existing outreach programs. Contact a HRSA health center, Test to Treat site or ICATT location to learn how to access low- or no-cost COVID-⁠19 tests provided by the Federal Government.

Most Montgomery County Public Libraries also are distributing free test kits provided by the County. Check with your local library to see if it has test kits available. 

New COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Available Soon

A new COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new vaccine and the advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control recommended that anyone age 6 months and older get vaccinated. The new vaccines are a much closer match to currently circulating variants. They are updated versions of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

The vaccine is scheduled to be distributed to health care providers and pharmacies across the U.S. very soon.

Insurance companies will pay for vaccinations and shots that will primarily be available through private physicians’ offices and local pharmacies. The County’s Department of Health and Human Services will be working with Montgomery Cares clinics to provide doses to their clients without insurance.

There will be a limited number of County-sponsored clinics distributing the new vaccines, but they will be for residents who are uninsured. Information about those clinics will be available when vaccine is available.

For more information about the vaccine and how to obtain them, residents should call their health care provider or visit vaccines.gov. The website will provide information on local pharmacies offering the vaccinations by zip codes.

‘La Abuelina’ COVID-19 Prevention Campaign Focused on Keeping Latino Community Healthy Receives Emmy for Third Consecutive Year

The “La Abuelina” communications campaign Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (For Our Health and Wellbeing) produced by Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received a local Emmy Award from the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for the third consecutive year.

"Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar - La Abuelina Family and the COVID-19 Vaccine" was presented an Emmy for best public service campaign (single spot) during the 65th National Capital Emmys Award ceremonies held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. La Abuelina was produced to encourage Latinos to take charge of their health and make well-informed decisions in response to COVID-19.

The video public service announcement (PSA) was created in conjunction with related campaign TV PSAs that have garnered more than 10 million views in the Greater Washington area since first airing during the fall 2020.

NATAS highlights content and performance excellence in the television industry. The Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar nomination for a single PSA placed it in direct competition among the best video work in its category in the Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia region. 

La Abuelina Family and the COVID-19 Vaccine was produced by Communications Shop, which serves as Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar’s communications and media firm. The County’s Latino Health Initiative is a program of DHHS.

“I want to congratulate the Communications Shop and our DHHS’ Latino Health Initiative for their successful outreach and communication efforts in educating and encouraging our Latino families to remain healthy and safe as we continue to stay vigilant against the virus,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are committed to unwavering support for our community, and creative campaigns such as this one are at the core of our mission to evoke action and eradicate social indifference.”

Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar focuses on curbing COVID-19 infections among the Latino community, which was among the hardest-hit communities in the area. The initiative provides testing, vaccination and other services and resources in a linguistically and culturally competent manner to the Latino community of Montgomery County, thereby helping them address and cope with the impact caused by the pandemic.

The Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar initiative is a public-private partnership created under the leadership of County Executive Elrich, County Councilmember Gabriel Albornoz and former Councilmember Nancy Navarro. The County’s Latino Health Initiative has led Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar in partnership with seven community-based organizations: Care For Your Health, CASA, Identity, Inc., Mary’s Center, Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic, Proyecto Salud Clinic and the Up County Hub.

The PSA features the animated characters “La Abuelina” and her family members as the spokespersons for the campaign. The creation of ‘La Abuelina’ was a collaborative process rooted in the realities, input and direct feedback from the local Latino community.

The PSA speaks directly to the Latino community, delivering timely, accurate and culturally competent Spanish-language COVID-19 messages. The PSA has been featured on diverse social and digital media and traditional communications platforms to encourage Latinos to take charge of their health and make well-informed decisions in response to COVID-19.

Holiday Schedule Changes for County-operated COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Clinics

The COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics operated by Montgomery County will have several schedule changes during the upcoming New Year’s holiday.

All County testing and vaccination sites will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 31, and Sunday, Jan. 1. The Montgomery College campus sites in Rockville and Germantown also will be closed through Tuesday, Jan. 2.

There will be three testing and vaccination sites open on Monday, Jan. 2:

• Dennis Avenue Health Center
  2000 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring
  10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• East County Regional Service Center
  3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring
  9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Upcounty Regional Services Center
  12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown
  10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Take-home rapid test kits and masks provided at libraries will not be available when libraries are closed Jan. 1 and 2.

Beginning on Dec. 30, County testing clinics will be walk-in only, unless otherwise stated, and no appointments will be needed.

The County’s COVID-19 email box (c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov) will be discontinued as of Dec. 30. If anyone has a question about COVID-19, they can call the COVID-19 call center at 240-777-2982.

Find out more information on COVID-19 testing and vaccination on the County’s COVID-19 website.

With COVID Cases Rising Again, County Recommends Precautionary Measures to Protect Against Greater Community Spread of Virus

With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the National Capitol Region, Montgomery County officials are offering precautionary recommendations to prevent further community spread of the virus. The County’s COVID-19 case rate has risen steadily over the last month and is now more than double the recent rate low on Nov. 28.   

The increase in transmission has occurred both in the County and in other jurisdictions around the region. Combined with influenza cases and other significant respiratory disease, emergency department visits and hospitalization rates have increased as well.

“Our current surge in cases is coming right before the holidays and with increased travel and gatherings, there is concern that transmission may increase and strain the health care system,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I encourage all residents to take extra precautions and to make sure they are up to date on vaccinations, including getting a flu vaccine. We want people to enjoy being with family and friends, but we want to do it safely.”

Although the County is currently an area of low-level community transmission as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the case rate is quickly approaching medium-level community transmission.

Based on the advice of Montgomery County Health Officer Kisha Davis, it is strongly recommended that people voluntarily engage in the following precautionary measures to slow transmission, protect most vulnerable populations and keep hospitalizations down:

• Use a well-fitting face covering during visits to congregate places and indoor spaces with limited social distancing.
• Use testing and test-to-treat antiviral medication after returning from travel or gatherings.
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster-shots.

The County continues to offer free at-home rapid test kits and N-95 masks at libraries.

Visit the County’s COVID-19 data dashboard to review the latest metrics and key indicators. Find additional information on masks and transmission levels on the COVID-19 website.

Information on free vaccination clinics is available at www.GoVAXMoCo.com.

Anyone who feels sick or thinks they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested. Information on free testing clinics can be found at www.MoCoCOVIDtesting.org.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website.

Free Flu and COVID Booster Shots to be Provided for Anyone 5 and Older During ‘Boosterama’ on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Westfield Wheaton

As the holiday season coincides with a rise in respiratory virus cases, Montgomery County, in partnership with Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar and Westfield Wheaton, will provide free COVID bivalent boosters and flu shots during the second holiday “Boosterama” vaccine event. COVID booster shots will be available to anyone age 5 and older who had their last dose at least two months ago.  The event will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at Westfield Wheaton mall.

Boosterama will be held outside of Carter’s on the second floor of Westfield Wheaton. No appointment is needed. Pediatric booster shots will not be available at the event. Individuals who receive their COVID booster or a flu shot at the event will be eligible to win one of eight gift cards that can be used throughout Westfield Wheaton’s wide variety of retailers.

Respiratory illnesses such as RSV, flu and COVID are currently on the rise. While there is no vaccination for RSV, there are vaccinations available for flu and COVID. Boosterama events are part of a broader effort by the County to encourage residents to use common sense health measures, including staying up to date on vaccinations.

“The holiday season can be stressful for a variety of reasons,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This year, give yourself the gift of health. Boosterama is a convenient way you can receive the COVID booster and flu shot, saving you time and keeping you and your family safe. It is easy and helps to ensure your holidays remain free of respiratory viruses.”

To date, nearly 37 percent of County residents aged 50 and older have received the bivalent booster shot and nearly 21 percent of all residents have received the bivalent booster shot.  If it has been at least two months since completing your primary series of COVID shots, you are eligible for a bivalent booster.

“The health and safety of our guests and staff is priority No. 1,” said Stuart Amos, senior general manager of Westfield Wheaton. “Boosterama is a free and convenient way to keep ourselves and community safe from the spread of respiratory viruses this holiday season. We are grateful for our partnership with Montgomery County in hosting this event.”   

In addition to Boosterama, flu or COVID booster shots are widely available at locations throughout the community. Make an appointment or find other locations at GoVaxMoco.com.

The County continues to provide free N-95 masks and rapid COVID test kits at multiple locations. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services also offers tips to keep you and your family ‘COVID-Prepared’ this holiday season.

For more information about Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar, visit its website.

Be COVID-Prepared for the Upcoming Holiday Season

The third holiday season with COVID-19 is underway, and everyone agrees that COVID fatigue exists. A few simple steps of caution can make being with family and friends enjoyable while reducing the risk of illness from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu.

Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services offers the following things to keep in mind when planning for family gatherings:

• Make plans with the highest-risk person in the family and friends group in mind. Talk to family members ahead of time to figure out the plan. Encourage everyone to take additional precautions if a high-risk family member is attending. This means being up to date on all vaccinations and could include limiting the number of people invited. If the weather cooperates, think about moving meals outdoors.
• Get the new bivalent COVID-19 booster. Everyone who is eligible (ages 5 and up at least two months after their latest dose) should get the new booster to add an extra layer of protection. There are County-operated clinics and private providers offering both the Moderna and Pfizer bivalent boosters. Visit GoVaxMoco.com to see dates, times and locations.
• Pay attention to symptoms. In the days before the event, and especially the day of, watch out for COVID symptoms: sore throat, congestion, coughing, fatigue, headaches and muscle pain. People infected with BA.5, the dominant variant, are less likely to report losing their sense of taste and smell. If you feel sick, stay home—even if you have a negative rapid test.
• Test wisely. Everyone should test before a family gathering—the question is when to test and how many times. There are differing opinions on the exact timing and combination of tests that should be taken, but for the most accurate measure of whether or not you are contagious, take an at-home rapid test immediately before an event. If you have been wearing masks regularly, limiting contact and do not have symptoms, a negative test is a good measure. If you wake up with a scratchy throat and have interacted with someone who tested positive, consider staying home even if the tests are negative.
• Consider a mini-quarantine before a holiday gathering. Wear a mask in public indoor spaces and limit the time spent around crowds—for example, time trips to the grocery store for when they are not overwhelmingly packed. If traveling, check case counts for the area you are visiting.
• Mask up when traveling. Whether taking a plane, bus or train, make sure to wear a mask.
• Ventilate your space. If holding an event outside is not an option, increase air circulation and reduce the risk of trapping and transmitting the virus. Portable air purifiers with HEPA filters can be expensive, but even opening windows slightly can improve air flow.

The County continues to provide free N-95 masks and rapid test kits at multiple locations.

Be COVID-Prepared for the Upcoming Holiday Season

The third holiday season with COVID-19 is approaching, and everyone agrees that COVID fatigue exists. A few simple steps of caution can make being with family and friends enjoyable while reducing the risk of illness from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu.

Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services offers the following things to keep in mind when planning for family gatherings:

• Make plans with the highest-risk person in the family and friends group in mind. Talk to family members ahead of time to figure out the plan. Encourage everyone to take additional precautions if a high-risk family member is attending. This means being up to date on all vaccinations and could include limiting the number of people invited. If the weather cooperates, think about moving meals outdoors.
• Get the new bivalent COVID-19 booster. Everyone who is eligible (ages 5 and up at least two months after their latest dose) should get the new booster to add an extra layer of protection. There are County-operated clinics and private providers offering both the Moderna and Pfizer bivalent boosters. Visit GoVaxMoco.com to see dates, times and locations.
• Pay attention to symptoms. In the days before the event, and especially the day of, watch out for COVID symptoms: sore throat, congestion, coughing, fatigue, headaches and muscle pain. People infected with BA.5, the dominant variant, are less likely to report losing their sense of taste and smell. If you feel sick, stay home—even if you have a negative rapid test.
• Test wisely. Everyone should test before a family gathering—the question is when to test and how many times. There are differing opinions on the exact timing and combination of tests that should be taken, but for the most accurate measure of whether or not you are contagious, take an at-home rapid test immediately before an event. If you have been wearing masks regularly, limiting contact and do not have symptoms, a negative test is a good measure. If you wake up with a scratchy throat and have interacted with someone who tested positive, consider staying home even if the tests are negative.
• Consider a mini-quarantine before a holiday gathering. Wear a mask in public indoor spaces and limit the time spent around crowds—for example, time trips to the grocery store for when they are not overwhelmingly packed. If traveling, check case counts for the area you are visiting.
• Mask up when traveling. Whether taking a plane, bus or train, make sure to wear a mask.
• Ventilate your space. If holding an event outside is not an option, increase air circulation and reduce the risk of trapping and transmitting the virus. Portable air purifiers with HEPA filters can be expensive, but even opening windows slightly can improve air flow.

The County continues to provide free N-95 masks and rapid test kits at multiple locations.

Montgomery County Health Officials Launch COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Project

Montgomery County health officials, in partnership with the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland-College Park (UMD), recently launched wastewater surveillance to detect COVID-19 circulating in the community. Wastewater surveillance provides an accurate way to detect illness-causing viruses and bacteria, such as SARS-CoV-2.

Water samples will be collected bi-weekly at five sites in the County and sent to UMD for analysis. Data and results will be posted on the County’s COVID-19 website and the information will be updated weekly.

“Wastewater surveillance will be a game changer for our efforts to better predict outbreaks and prevent them from happening,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The partnership between our Department of Health and Human Services, the Maryland Department of Health, the University of Maryland and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is an important tool to help us protect the health of our residents. With winter around the corner, we want to be prepared if there is another surge in COVID-19 cases and this surveillance system helps us do that.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people infected with SARS-CoV-2 can shed the virus in their feces, even if they do not have symptoms. The virus can then be detected in wastewater, enabling wastewater surveillance to capture the presence of SARS-CoV-2 shed by people with and without symptoms. This means wastewater surveillance can serve as an early warning that COVID-19 is spreading in a community.

Unlike clinical testing where only a subgroup of individuals is tested, wastewater surveillance is non-invasive and all residents in a community contributing to a sewage collection system can be tested at once. It can be implemented throughout communities in Montgomery County as most of them are served by municipal wastewater collection systems. Rapid self-testing is increasingly popular, but many of the results are not reported, leaving health officials with only a partial overview of community infection.

Wastewater surveillance provides supplemental data, when used along with other surveillance data and serves as an early detection/ warning for increasing level of community transmission and surge of COVID-19 and other infections/emerging diseases.

More info and data can be found on the County’s COVID-19 website.

Halloween 'BOO!sterama' to Be Held Saturday, Oct. 29, at Westfield Wheaton Mall; County Encourages Updated Boosters as COVID-19 Virus Continues

The County, in partnership with Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar, Proyecto Salud and Westfield Wheaton, will host a “BOO!sterama” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, to provide the new bivalent COVID-19 boosters to anyone age 5 and older who had their last vaccination at least two months ago. The shots are free and no appointment is needed.

The new Pfizer bivalent booster is approved for anyone 5 and older and the updated Moderna bivalent booster is approved for anyone 6 and older.

The event will be held at Westfield Wheaton Mall, outside of the Carter’s store on the second floor. Individuals who receive their booster at the event will be entered into a drawing to receive one of five $50 gift cards that can be used throughout Westfield Wheaton’s variety of retailers.

“Health officials continue to recommend the updated COVID-19 booster as a way of protecting people from the risk of serious illness from COVID-19,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I am grateful and appreciative of our partnership with Westfield Wheaton to provide space, incentives and access to get our vaccines directly in front of potential recipients.”

In addition to the BOO!sterama event, the new bivalent booster shots are widely available at locations throughout the community. Make an appointment for the new bivalent booster shot or find other locations at GoVaxMoco.com.

For more information about Por Nuestra Salud Y Bienestar, visit its website.

COVID-19 Remains a Community Concern and County Continues to Distribute Free Vaccines, Rapid Test Kits and Masks

Montgomery County continues to be in the “low” community transmission rate for COVID-19. However, COVID remains a concern as new strains become prevalent. Updated vaccines are now available as boosters.

Montgomery County has done very well in terms of the number of residents vaccinated, but there is still work to do on getting every eligible resident to get the latest booster vaccines. Those who have stopped at just the first two doses are two and a half times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than people who have received booster shots.

County-sponsored clinics have the vaccine, as do many pharmacies and retailers. Anyone 12 and older who had their last vaccine dose at least two months ago should get the booster shot. Make an appointment for a County-sponsored clinic at www.GoVaxMoco.com.  Maryland’s vaccine locator shows other sites in the community offering the vaccine.  

The County Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following:       

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.       
• Get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed.       

The County continues to provide free rapid tests and N-95 masks at many library locations.  

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website.   
   

Applications Can Be Submitted for Retail Business Rental Assistance Grants Through Sept. 30

A new $2 million Small Business Rental Assistance (SBRA) grant program for Montgomery County retail service establishments is accepting applications through Sept. 30. The program can provide each eligible business with a grant of up to three months of rent based on its current lease or $10,000, whichever is less.  

A business could be eligible to receive assistance from this program if it:   

• Has its physical location(s) only in the County, or its County-based locations account for more than 50 percent of the business’s total number of employees or 50 percent of the business’s gross sales.  
• Received $500,000 or less in annual revenue prior to the COVID-19 health crisis.   
• Is classified as a retail or service-related business, but is not a restaurant or food service business, medical practice, professional services business, religious organization or licensed childcare program.   
• Has a commercial lease in the County.  
• Can demonstrate a revenue loss due to the health crisis.   

The SBRA program application, eligibility requirements and frequently asked are available at Montgomery County Small Business Rental Assistance Program - Phase 2.   

“Our retail businesses were hit hard by the pandemic,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are fortunate to be able to access this Federal funding to provide support to these businesses that employ 12 percent of our County’s workforce. I encourage all eligible County retail service establishments to apply for this newest round of grants.”    

Montgomery County is working with one of its community resource partners, the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), to deliver the funding to eligible businesses. LEDC will be administering the program on behalf of Montgomery County, but the funds are available to all eligible businesses including those operated by Asian Americans, African Americans, Blacks, Latinos and others.  

"With the pandemic still hurting small businesses in Montgomery County and bearing witness to entrepreneurs draining their personal savings to keep their businesses afloat during the past two years, we are excited to collaborate with Montgomery County Government to help qualified businesses receive the assistance they need to keep their businesses operating within the county,” said LEDC Executive Director and CEO Emi Reyes.  

This is the second round of SBRA grants provided by the County using American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds provided by the Federal government.  To date, more than $910,000 has been distributed. Retail service establishments that received the business rental assistance in 2021 will not be eligible to receive more funding from the second round of the program.   

Businesses are encouraged to check their status with the State of Maryland before applying as awards cannot be made to businesses that are not in good standing.  

Informational webinars about the program are available online:

• English Webinar and PowerPoint slides
• Spanish Webinar and PowerPoint slides

Questions about the program should be sent to: sbra@ledcmetro.org or BusinessCenter@montgomerycountymd.gov.

County Offering COVID-19 Vaccines to Children 6 Months to 5 Years

Montgomery County continues to provide COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Parents are encouraged to protect their children and get them vaccinated.

The Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State of Maryland statistics estimate that there are more than 64,000 Montgomery County children in the age group of 6 months to 5 years old.

Multiple vaccination clinics are held weekly and appointments are encouraged, but not required. Learn about upcoming clinics and make an appointment at www.GoVaxMoCo.com.

The Maryland Department of Health also is providing vaccines to pediatricians and participating private local pharmacies.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website.

COVID-19 Remains a Community Concern and County Continues to Distribute Free Vaccines, Rapid Test Kits and Masks

Montgomery County had an average of about 50 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people at this time last year. For the last several weeks, the County is averaging slightly less than 200 reported cases per 100,000 residents. The County, like the national trend, is seeing reinfections in some residents and health officials say that natural immunity is not as strong as the immunity people get from vaccination and boosters.

A supply of the protein-based Novavax vaccine is now available to County residents. The technology has been used for decades to combat diseases such as hepatitis B and influenza. Clinical trials have shown the two-dose vaccine to have similar effectiveness as the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines at preventing and reducing illness from COVID-19.

The County’s Department of Health and Human Services is offering Novavax vaccines by appointment only. To indicate interest in an appointment, call the COVID-19 Call Center at 240-777-1982. To reduce waste of potential unused vaccines, Novavax vaccination clinics will be scheduled once there is a sense of demand.

The County Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
•  Wear a well-fitting face covering indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status.
• Get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed.

The County continues to provide free rapid tests and N-95 masks at many library locations. Vaccinations and boosters are available at multiple locations in Montgomery County.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the following advice regarding COVID-19:

“COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people—especially those who are boosted— from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized and even dying. As with other diseases, you are protected best from COVID-19 when you stay up to date with the recommended vaccines.”

County Returns to ‘High’ Community Level for COVID-19 According to CDC

Montgomery County has returned to the elevated to "high" community level of COVID-19, according to County data and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

COVID-19 cases also are increasing throughout the nation as Omicron’s BA.5 variant has become the predominant strain circulating. The BA.5 variant spreads easily, and while symptoms are generally not severe, it is still important to practice important COVID-19 prevention steps.

Based on high community level, the CDC recommends the following steps:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Wear a well-fitting face covering indoors in public, regardless of your vaccination status.
• Get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed.
• If you are high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions and whether you are a candidate for treatments.

Health Officials Urge Continued Prevention as New COVID-19 BA.5 Variant Is Now the Predominant Strain

COVID-19 cases are increasing in Montgomery County and throughout the nation as Omicron’s BA.5 variant has become the predominant strain circulating. The BA.5 variant spreads easily, and while symptoms are generally not severe, it is still important to practice recommended COVID-19 prevention steps.

Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services recommends residents follow these precautions:

• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster shots:
• Booster shots are the best way to minimize the risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
• Since January, people 50 years and older who were vaccinated—but not boosted—have been two to three times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than those who were fully boosted.
• Wear a well-fitting mask around others:
• If you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19.
• When on public transportation.
• As an additional precaution to protect yourself and others, during visits to congregate indoor spaces with limited social distancing and ventilation.
• Get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed:
• Consider rapid or PCR testing after returning from travel or large gatherings.
• If you test positive, let your recent close contacts know.
• If you are high risk for severe illness from COVID-19:
• Wear a mask indoors in public settings and talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions and whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies.

Free At-home COVID-19 PCR Test Kits Available at Multiple Locations, But Which COVID-19 Test is Right for You?

Montgomery County residents have several ways to get tested for COVID-19.

The options currently available include: 

• At-Home Rapid Antigen tests are recommended for those with COVID-19 symptoms. Results are available in 15 minutes. The County continues to provide free at-home rapid test kits at 19 library locations. Residents can pick up two free test kits and results can be reported online. Find information about test kits and where to pick them up at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html.
• At-Home PCR tests are available at six locations in the community. The self-tests are recommended for individuals with COVID-19 exposure, but who have no symptoms. They can also be used for those who need verified results for travel or work. Pick up a test at one of the six locations, complete the test at home, register online and return to a drop box located outside of each pickup site. If tests are dropped off by 5 p.m., results are typically emailed the next day. Residents may pick up one test kit. Additional information about where to pick up the tests and instructions on using them is available on the County’s website.

The number of new COVID-19 cases has increased in Montgomery for the past several weeks—even among vaccinated individuals.The County’s Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC recommend the following steps to help protect you and slow the spread of COVID-19:

• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster-shots
• Booster shots are the best way to minimize the risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
• Since January, people 50 and older who were vaccinated, but not boosted, were two to three times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than those who were fully boosted. 

• Wear a well-fitting mask around others
• If you have symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19.
• When on public transportation.
• As an additional precaution to protect yourself and others, during visits to congregate indoor spaces with limited social distancing and ventilation.

• Get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed
• Consider rapid or PCR testing after returning from travel or large gatherings.
• If you have a positive test result, let your recent close contacts know. 

Individuals who are high risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should wear a mask indoors in public settings. In addition, individuals should talk to their healthcare provider about additional precautions and whether they are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies.

MCEDC Congratulates Novavax for Gaining FDA Emergency Use Authorization of Its Protein-Based COVID-19 Vaccine in the United States

Gaithersburg-based Novavax has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to distribute its COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. It is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States. Once a policy recommendation is received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations with the Novavax vaccine can begin immediately for adults.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Department of Defense, announced earlier this week the purchase of an initial 3.2 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. The doses will be made available free to states, jurisdictions, federal pharmacy partners and federally qualified health centers.

The Novavax protein-based vaccine is already widely in use in more than 35 countries, having received approval from multiple regulatory agencies worldwide, including the European Commission and emergency use listing from the World Health Organization. The Novavax vaccine is designed and manufactured differently than the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine options. It offers a new option for those who may have an allergic reaction to mRNA vaccines or who have a personal preference for receiving a vaccine other than an mRNA-based vaccine.

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) said the latest Novavax news solidifies Montgomery County as the “Immunology Capital Next to the Nation’s Capital.”

Other global vaccine leaders with Montgomery County ties include BioNTech, which co-developed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which has been approved in 146 countries, and AstraZeneca, which has a COVID-19 vaccine that is approved in more than 140 countries.

These companies, along with dozens more in the County, have greatly contributed to global COVID-19 vaccine research, development and manufacturing, as well as testing and treatment options.

Scientific work developed in Montgomery County has supported the entire vaccine continuum across the globe. Companies in Montgomery County have received more than $5.5 billion in federal funding to fight COVID-19 around the world.

More information from Novavax on the FDA approval is available here.