COVID-19 Information Portal Has Statistics on the Virus Including Infections and Vaccinations Given by Zip Codes

Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics are updated to reflect the most recent reports during the health crisis. Among the information available is how many positive cases have been reported in each zip code in the County and how many vaccinations have been given by zip code.    

To find the recent trend in vaccinations by zip code, go to https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#cases-zip.         

To find the trend on where vaccinations are being given by zip code, go to https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#vaccine-zip. 

Other breakdowns on the COVID-19 Information Portal include:         

• Confirmed Cases         
• Confirmed Cases by Age and Month of Specimen Collection
• Cases by ZIP Code
• Vaccinations given by zip code
• Deaths by Age and Gender         
• Deaths by Demographics         
• Deaths by ZIP Code         
• Nursing Home Cases and Deaths         
• Rt graph (time-varying reproduction number)         
• Montgomery County Employee Cases         

15 Pit Stops for Regional ‘Bike to Work Day’ on Friday, May 21, Will Be Sponsored by Montgomery County; Telecommuters Encouraged to Participate

Fifteen pit stops sponsored by Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will be part of the annual region-wide celebration of “Bike to Work Day” on Friday, May 21. Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association will host the free event that offers the first 15,000 bikers to register and participate a free 20th anniversary commemorative tee shirt.

All participants who register for Bike to Work Day 2021 are entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike. This year, BicycleSPACE will donate bicycles from the Brooklyn Bicycle Company, All-City and Brompton. Winners need not be present when the names are drawn.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, this year's celebration will feature non-traditional pit stops throughout the County. Telecommuters can bike to pick up free BTWD tee shirts at a pit stop. People biking to work can continue to their place of business and telecommuters are encouraged to bike a “fake commute” or take a break during their workday.

“For 20 years, Montgomery County has been celebrating Bike to Work Day and has aggressively directed policy efforts, budgetary investments and communication to support bicycling safety,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We have worked toward better access and infrastructure, and we will continue to create more opportunities and improved safety for bicyclists. Bicycling is good for the health of our residents and our environment. We encourage bicycling for commuting, exercise and as a great way to get around Montgomery County.”

The County has increased the number of pit stops it sponsors to encourage teleworkers to participate. Those working at home can get exercise and bike to a tee shirt pickup point (pit stop) and then head back home to work for the day.

To register for the event, participants should visit the Find Your Pit Stop map to plan a route for the day of the event.

• The MCDOT-sponsored pit stops will be at:
• All American Bicycle Center, Damascus
• Andes Bike Shop, Gaithersburg
• Bike Center Ltd., Gaithersburg
• Chevy Chase Athletic Club, Chevy Chase
• Germantown Cycles, Germantown
• Griffin Cycle, Bethesda
• Just Riding Along Bike Shop, Laytonsville
• MCDOT Mobile Commuter Store, Silver Spring (Briggs Chaney Park and Ride lot)
• MCDOT Mobile Commuter Store, Germantown (Walmart Service Center)
• MCDOT TRiPS Store, Silver Spring (Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center, second floor)
• REI Store, Bethesda
• Silver Cycles, Silver Spring
• Terrapin Cycles, Bethesda
• TREK Bicycle, Rockville
• Takoma Bicycle, Takoma Park

Riders should check the time of operation for a pit stop at which they plan to stop. Pit stops will be operating at various hours.

MCDOT also has announced a “Bicycle Swag Bag Contest” to promote Bike to Work Day.

Through May 30, MCDOT encourages bike riders to show their favorite commute to work or place to bike on a recreational bike trail/path in Montgomery County. Bike riders are asked to submit a favorite picture of themselves enjoying their ride along any bike path or trail in the County and to tag @mococommuter and #MoCobikes on Twitter and Instagram or by e-mail to commuter.services@montgomerycountymd.gov to be entered into a weekly drawing.

Winners have previously been selected for submitting photos from the Capital Crescent, Sligo Creek, Carl Henn Millennium, Matthew Henson, Bethesda Trolley and Rock Creek trails. For more information on the contest and future locations can be found at website.

A Spring Adventure: One Acre Farm in Dickerson Will Host a Farm Tour on Sunday, May 23

The easing of COVID-19 safety restrictions has many people anxious to find ways to again explore Montgomery County. One family adventure will take place on Sunday, May 23, when One Acre Farm in Dickerson opens for its Spring Farm Tour.

One Acre Farm—which is actually 34 acres—will be open to the public for this one-day tour starting at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday. The farm is located at 18608 Wasche Road in Dickerson.

Visitors can meet Farmer Mike and the farm team, who will talk about how One Acre Farm grows vegetables and maintains the health and resilience of the farm's soil. Visitors also will learn about how the farm produces fresh produce.

“Our Agricultural Reserve is a precious resource and nationally recognized,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We protect our farmland unlike few other major metropolitan areas in the country, and we must continue to do so. Understanding how farming is important to our health, our environment, and our economy is best learned by exploring a farm firsthand. Visiting the One Acre Farm, which is located within the County’s Agriculture Reserve, provides educational experiences for residents of all ages. And by visiting the farms and buying their products, we can support the hard-working, dedicated people who help preserve our naturals resources.”

No reservations are needed to join the free outside tour. Visitors must wear masks, appropriate shoes and clothing. No dogs are permitted.

More information about the One Acre Farm open house is available at https://www.oneacrefarm.com/post/spring-farm-tour-at-one-acre-farm.

 
One Acre Farm participates in the County’s Farm to Foodbank program, working with the Manna Food Center to grow healthy food for County residents who do not have easy access to nutritious foods. Through the Farm to Foodbank initiative created in 2010, Manna provides fresh, locally and regionally grown produce to those experiencing hunger and food insecurity in the County by purchasing from neighboring farms throughout the growing season. In the past year, Manna purchased 125,209 pounds of regionally grown produce. More about the program can be found at https://www.mannafood.org/programs/farm-to-food-bank/

Traditionally, the County’s Office of Agriculture hosts its Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale every July. However, the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis forced cancellation of last year’s tour and this year’s tour. With restrictions easing, the Office of Agriculture is suggesting other ways residents can experience the unique Agricultural Reserve, which occupies about one-third of all land in the County.

Residents can explore farms open to the public and selling their produce via self-driving tours.

One of the experiences will be the “Revive the Sunday Drive” tour.

Since farm wineries and breweries have plenty of outdoor space for people to maintain CDC guidelines and safe distancing, another suggested tour is the “Grape & Grain” tour created to highlight farms that specialize in producing wines and spirits.

The “Farms2Feast” tour will challenge people to create a dinner from ingredients sourced completely from County farms that have on-farm markets.

Before heading to any County farm, visitors should check the farm’s operating hours.

For more information on the County’s Office of Agriculture and the programs it supports, go to https://montgomerycountymd.gov/agservices/.

More Financial Relief Available for County Restaurants Impacted by Health Crisis

Montgomery County restaurants impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis may be eligible for financial relief grants through an additional $3.8 million in funding that is now available. In this third round of restaurant relief, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will award grants of up to $10,000 to eligible restaurants and food establishments. 

Applications for grants must be submitted by Friday, May 28. Eligibility and details are in the press release and website.

Grant funds can be used for a wide range of pandemic related expenses including working capital such as rent, payroll and job training; purchase of equipment and services to expand outdoor dining such as tents and heaters; infrastructure improvements such as HVAC system upgrades; technology to support carry out and delivery; and purchase of PPE and disposable food containers and utensils.

The funding comes from the bipartisan RELIEF Act of 2021 that was approved by the Maryland General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan. The new funding, as part of the MoCo Restaurant Relief Fund, recognizes the continuing need to assist an industry that has been severely impacted by the economic devastation of the health crisis.

MCEDC is asking County residents and business owners to help spread the word of the new round of the Restaurant Relief Fund, especially to small eateries that may not have heard about the grant program in the earlier rounds. The grants have made a significant difference to local food and beverage businesses, including small, women- and minority-owned restaurants. To help support the continued priority, downloadable flyers translated to six languages can be found on the MoCo Restaurant Relief Fund webpage here.

The two previous MoCo Restaurant Relief Funds, which were administered between December and February, provided grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to approximately 900 restaurants. After the third round is completed, MCEDC will have provided more than $16.5 million in direct business assistance to eligible establishments over the past seven months.

Federal Regulations Continue to Require Face Coverings on Public Transportation—Including Taxis, Ride Sharing, Ride On, Ride On Extra and Flash Bus

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is reminding residents that Federal guidelines continue to require face coverings when traveling by public transportation. Local examples include County Ride On buses, Ride On extra, Flash, Metrobus, Metrorail and when taking taxis or on-demand car services. All MCDOT buses have a supply of face coverings for those who do not have their own. At this time, the Federal requirement is scheduled to remain in effect through Sept. 13.

New COVID-19 guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxing mask requirements for vaccinated individuals does not apply to airplanes, buses, trains and other public transportation. The new CDC guidance on mask requirements also does not apply to health care settings or where State or local restrictions still require masks.

All Ride On, Ride On extRa, and Flash buses remain free to all passengers through at least June 30. Fees were suspended during the health crisis.

MCDOT provides free special Ride On shuttle bus service between the Montgomery College Germantown Campus mass vaccination site and the Shady Grove Metro Station. The shuttle service is marked “Vaccine Shuttle” and operates Monday through Friday every 30 minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Bay H on the east side of the Shady Grove Metro Station. Pick-ups and drop-offs at the Germantown campus are in front of the Bioscience Education Center (see map). Saturday travel between the two sites is available on the Ride On Route 55.

Social distancing continues to be strongly recommended on board the buses and trains and at bus stops and shelters. Riders are asked to make their best effort to maintain maximum physical distance between themselves and other riders who are not from the same household.

Bus interiors continue to be cleaned by the County’s Department of General Services twice daily with hospital-grade disinfectant. Bus filter and ventilation systems also are treated each night with a disinfectant.

For the most up-to-date service information, riders should follow @RideOnMCT on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. In addition, information is available at rideonbus.com or by subscribing to “Ride On Services” email alerts. Riders also can receive text alerts by texting MONTGOMERY RIDEON to 468311.

Registration Open for County Recreation Summer Programs and Activities

Registration is now open for Montgomery County Recreation (MCR) and Montgomery Parks summer programs and classes. Programs and activities are tailored to a variety of interests, skill levels and ages. MCR summer offerings include aquatics, adult 55+ programming, fitness, sports, visual and performing arts.

Summer registration is available at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org, The registration and facility reservation system is shared by Montgomery County Recreation, Montgomery Parks and the County’s Department of Community Use of Public Facilities.

Registration is also available by mail, online or limited in-person appointments. For more information about registration, visit the website or call 240-777-6840.

Residents can search for activities by interest, date, age and location. There are hundreds of programs available that promote an active, healthier lifestyle.

MCR is accepting applications for 2021 RecAssist, which provides eligible County residents an opportunity to receive a scholarship to use toward most summer programs. County residents are eligible for RecAssist if they currently receive public assistance from Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA); Supplemental Security Income; Housing Assistance from a Shelter; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Maryland Medicaid; Care for Kids; Maryland Energy Assistance; or Montgomery County HHS Rental Assistance Program; and WIC.

Eco Evenings Series: ‘Clean Water Montgomery’ Will Be the Theme for Session on Wednesday, May 26, for Virtual Engagement Series on the Environment

“Clean Water Montgomery” will be the theme at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, when the virtual “Eco Evenings with DEP and OMG” series of virtual town halls focused on environmental topics continues with its May event. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will make opening remarks at the town hall, which is co-sponsored by the County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and One Montgomery Green (OMG).

The session will help residents better understand the Clean Water Montgomery initiative and the efforts to help clean up local waterways.

Featured speakers for this session will include community partners and DEP staff providing tips how residents can assist in helping clean up waterways. Representatives of the Chesapeake Bay Trust will highlight grant recipients as part of the County Watershed Restoration and Outreach Grant Program. The grant program funds public outreach and stewardship projects, community-based restoration water quality implementation projects and litter reduction projects in the Anacostia River Watershed.

Residents can join the event for free. More information and a link to the event are available at the DEP Facebook Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/MyGreenMontgomery.

Residents can register in advance to participate via Zoom at
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvdOmorj4qHNFr1ehviM7urCfDTuUxQSFO.

After registering, residents will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

“Eco Evenings are a great idea from the Department of Environmental Protection and One Montgomery Green to engage our constituents through thoughtful discussions to improve our environment,” said County Executive Elrich. “We are running out of time before climate change impacts become catastrophic. We must have a sense of urgency about saving and protecting our environment. These virtual town halls are a great opportunity to share new ideas and solutions to address the climate challenges we face as a County.”

Eco Evenings is hosted by Adam Ortiz, director of DEP, and Wendy Howard, executive director of OMG. They will lead discussions on timely environmental topics, answer questions and engage with special guests.

“I’m excited to begin this new collaboration with the OMG team,” said DEP Director Ortiz. “We strive to be public leaders in the movement toward a greener future. Eco Evenings is a great way to connect with the public to discuss ideas and environmental innovations that allow us to work toward a shared goal.”

OMG Director Howard said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with DEP for Eco Evenings. This is a perfect fit for the type of work that OMG takes on and it is a great way to bring County residents together with the eco experts.”

For more information about DEP, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep/.
For more information about OMG, go to https://onemontgomerygreen.org.

Public Service Announcement Contest for Middle and High School Students Will Encourage Youth to Get COVID-19 Vaccines

Montgomery County middle and high school students can encourage others to get COVID-19 vaccinations by producing video public service announcements (PSAs) in a County “Take the Shot” contest. The contest is another method the County is using to encourage students to talk with their friends about the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Take Your Shot contest invites students to produce 30- to 45-second videos exploring one of the following themes:

• Why should everyone get the COVID-19 vaccine?
• What makes you want to get vaccinated?
• When people, like us, get vaccinated, we can …

Judges will select up to 25 videos, in both English and Spanish, and use them on the County’s social media channels. Three high school and three middle school videos will be awarded prizes.

“With vaccination rates starting to fall and the demand for appointments tapering off, the County has begun focusing it vaccine communication efforts on younger residents,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Peer-to-peer communication is crucial and young people know better than we do how to be persuasive with one another. We believe students will hear and respond better to messages created by fellow students.”

The deadline for submission of videos is Friday, June 4. Contest rules and entry forms are posted on the County’s Volunteer Center website. Public, private and home-schooled students are eligible to enter.

The contest is sponsored by the County Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools. Public school students can earn five Student Service Learning hours for submitting an entry that meets all requirements.

More information about the contest also can be obtained by emailing Lynn Cook at lynn.cook@montgomerycountymd.gov.

‘Mental Health Hikes’ Continue Throughout May at Locations Around the County

“Mental health hikes” aimed at raising awareness and ending the stigma associated with mental health disorders are being held daily throughout May at locations around Montgomery County. Montgomery Parks is collaborating with EveryMind,,a nonprofit mental health organization in the County, to organize the hikes

The hikes are being held in May, which is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. The hikes vary in distance.

The event offers the community an opportunity to support mental health awareness while engaging in a fun and family-friendly physical activity that promotes positive mental wellness for all.

“Several studies have shown that being outdoors, getting active and breathing in the fresh air, can boost energy, enhance mood and have positive effects on overall mental health,” said Shaalini Stone of EveryMind. “There are so many beautiful trails within Montgomery Parks that offer the perfect setting to immerse yourself in nature.”

To learn more about the hiking program and to register online, visit EveryMile for EveryMind.

Free Virtual Series Available to Help Strengthen the Path to Finding a Better Career

Free virtual seminars on Tuesday nights to help individuals strengthen their personal brand and place them on the path to finding more than just a job are continuing. The sessions, sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission for Women, offer help to discover new careers. They are geared to assist women, but are open to everyone.

The events will be presented via Zoom from 7-8:30 p.m. each Tuesday. Although the seminars are free, registration is necessary. The link will be forwarded after registration.

The program’s remaining events include:

May 25: Wage Negotiating. Discussing finances can lead to daunting conversations, but is important to establish from the very beginning. Learn how to convey your message clearly.

June 1: Building Your Online Brand. Learn how to make your profile distinguishable from others on LinkedIn, Indeed and other job search platforms. The session helps navigate ideas to create your online brand.