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Anne Arundel Snow Changes: COVID-19 Tests, Coronavirus Vaccines, Public Transportation

Thursday night's snow closed or altered several services in Anne Arundel. Here are the changes for schools, COVID-19 tests and transit.

Anne Arundel County faced several schedule changes after a winter storm dropped up 1 to 4 inches of snow on the region. The accumulation in Davidsonville is shown above.
Anne Arundel County faced several schedule changes after a winter storm dropped up 1 to 4 inches of snow on the region. The accumulation in Davidsonville is shown above. (Courtesy of Dan Whorton)

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A snowstorm rolled through Anne Arundel County Thursday night and Friday morning. Green Haven reported a county-high 4 inches. Down in Deale, residents saw 1 inch. The second snow of the week forced several schedule changes, affecting everything from schools to coronavirus operations.

The Maryland Department of Health delayed several COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics. These sites will now open at noon and stay open until 6 p.m.:

  • Annapolis: Corner of Bladen and Calvert streets
  • Anne Arundel County: Anne Arundel Medical Center
  • Baltimore City: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  • Harford County: University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health
  • Prince George’s County: City of Praise Family Ministries
  • Prince George’s County: University of Maryland Laurel Alternate Care Site Testing Site

The State Center testing and vaccination facility at 300 Preston Street in Baltimore City opened as scheduled for testing by appointment only. At-home tests are not available Friday at the State Center location.

Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

With the increased testing demand, lines may close early to let everybody get a swab before closing time. Officials urged residents to anticipate long waits. They also encouraged Marylanders to check the snow operation status of their clinics at COVIDtest.Maryland.gov and COVIDvax.Maryland.gov.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health made similar adjustments. Friday's vaccine and testing clinics at the Lula Scott Community Center are canceled. Patrons should check their emails for rescheduling information.

Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The county additionally switched the location of Friday's immunization clinic at Anne Arundel Community College. Those appointments will now take place at the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, located in Annapolis at 3 Harry S. Truman Parkway. Patients got an email with more details.

Leaders also added a Friday testing clinic at Baymeadow. That facility will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are available here.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools closed for the third time this week. This pushed the last day of school from June 22 to June 23. The last day for teachers moved from June 23 to June 24.

The county's senior centers also closed. Nutrition program sites will not serve lunch, and Senior Center Plus is canceled as well.

There will be no public transportation to the senior centers either. The county similarly called off its medical transport and paratransit.

Dialysis transportation will continue. All fixed routes are running as scheduled, as long as conditions allow.

County government offices opened at 10 a.m. after a delay. Employees eligible for telework continued as normal. Emergency and essential workers reported at their usual times. The county instituted liberal leave, letting employees use unscheduled vacation days with their boss's approval.

The City of Annapolis also opened two hours late with liberal leave, encouraged telework and used a normal essential worker schedule. The city gave these transportation and public service updates:

  • Garages Open: The City’s parking garages are offering free parking for residents in Knighton, Gotts and Hillman Garages. Take a ticket, the exit gates are open.
  • Annapolis Transit services will operate on a normal schedule.
  • Department of Public Works Refuse and Recycling curbside collections are on schedule.
  • Annapolis Recreation and Parks “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center will open on time.
  • Emergency Operations Center Office of Emergency Management Activation: The Annapolis Emergency Operations Center is activated at the level “enhanced.” The Annapolis Call Center is open for all non-emergency calls. Annapolis residents can call 410-260-2211 for any non-emergency questions related to the winter storm and City services.
  • Warming Center Opening: The Stanton Community Center, at 92 West Washington Street in Annapolis, is open as a warming center through January 10. Please note that masks are required, all COVID-19 safety protocols must be followed, and all referrals must check-in to the Stanton Center nightly by 9 p.m.
  • Residents Must Clear Their Section of Sidewalk: The Annapolis City Code requires residents to clear sidewalks (Section 14.24.010) within three hours after the snow or sleet has stopped falling, except between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. Please lend a hand to any neighbors who may be physically or otherwise unable to clear sidewalks. (Never use fertilizer to melt ice and snow; the nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizer can harm your local streams, groundwater and the Chesapeake Bay.)
  • Adopt-a-Hydrant: The Annapolis Fire Department asks residents to “Adopt-a-Hydrant,” where residents help to clear fire hydrants after a winter storm. Buried hydrants cause dangerous delays for firefighters. This alleviates time spent by firefighters who have to search for hydrants buried in drifts or plowed snow in case of an emergency. Volunteers should clear a wide enough perimeter from around the area of the hydrant (at least 3 feet). Also, clear a path from the hydrant to the street. Please wear visible and weather-appropriate clothing when clearing snow/ice.

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