Testing, Fines, And Masks: The Latest Coronavirus Changes In MoCo

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County's top health official on Tuesday said the number of coronavirus cases in the region could peak in the next few weeks — which is at least a month earlier than expected.

Previously, experts predicted that a surge would hit the region sometime in late May or early June. But given the recent uptick in cases and hospitalizations, officials say residents may need to brace for impact sooner.

"I think the reality is we're still trying to approximate that. I would prepare folks for more of a surge sooner than later," Dr. Travis Gayles said at Tuesday's county council meeting.

Gayles said the timing of this surge will depend on how closely people are adhering to social distancing guidelines — like staying at home, avoiding large gatherings, and keeping at least six feet away from others.

"I think the next two weeks are going to be very important and instrumental in terms of determining when that ultimately could cap," he said.

As of Tuesday morning, Maryland had 1,660 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 247 from a day earlier. Montgomery County continues to have the most cases in Maryland. Now, the state's most populous jurisdiction has 388 cases, an increase of 47 from the day before.

Earlier this month, about 10 to 15 percent of people in Montgomery County were hospitalized for the virus, Gayles said. Now that hospitalization rate stands at 25 percent.

At Tuesday's council meeting, Gayles and Earl Stoddard — the county's director of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security — presented updates on COVID-19 and answered questions about possible next steps.

Highlights can be found below.

Mobile Testing Sites, Testing Protocols, and Hospital Patient Care

Gayles said the county continues to work with the state on mobile test site options, such as Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) stations.

"Testing is not at a point where we are testing on demand," Gayles said, because the county is still waiting on testing supplies. Tests are reserved for symptomatic individuals, seniors and other residents at-risk for serious illness, and those who have symptoms that cannot be explained by another diagnosis.

"We have been in communication with the state to look at some sites and venues within our county, including our VEIP sites. But we've also have been working, actually for the last month, to stand up our own mobile testing that's not reliant on a health system, per se, or the state," Gayles said. ..."And we continue to explore other alternatives with the private labs to be able to increase our capacity."

The county prefers to set up an ongoing test site, not hold a one-time event that shuts down when test kits run out, he said.

Area hospitals have freed up bed space by canceling and postponing elective procedures and transferring less severe patients to recuperate at a nursing home or long-term care facility.

Officials are also looking at hospital blueprints and trying to reconfigure floor plans so more beds can fit inside the space.

According to Gayles, the county will identify pre-existing buildings or sites to build mobile hospitals if a surge calls for an expansion.

Masks and Reusable Bags

Should residents wear masks or use plastic bags when shopping for groceries? The county is still trying to figure that out.

On Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported that the CDC is weighing whether the general public should wear face masks while outside.

"I know that we have received a lot of questions related to other topics ranging from, you know: 'Should masks be worn in public? Should recycled bags be used in grocery stores?'" Gayles said. "We're taking those questions and we're doing our best to find out more information about those different topics."

Stay-At-Home Order

The stay-at-home order Gov. Larry Hogan issued on Monday does not substantially change the types of businesses that can remain open: Medical facilities, pharmacies, grocery stores, banks, gas stations and restaurants that offer pickup or carry-out service.

"If you're a nonessential business, you should have largely closed," Stoddard said. "The changes that we did see were businesses (that were doing) nonessential curbside pickup."

Police On Monitoring Crowds

Police will watch for crowds gathering in violation of the governor's order, but they will not change immigration enforcement work, Stoddard said.

"If (officers) are doing traffic stops already, they may inquire about the essential activity that the person is doing," Stoddard said. "They will not be doing random traffic stops to check for people to have documentation (and see if) they're an essential employee or they are performing an essential function."

The changes in police routine, he said, will largely involve gatherings.

"You will see more enforcement, but it will not be the heavy-handed, targeted enforcement of any particular population or any particular demographic," Stoddard said. "It's just going to be a broad enforcement of the no-gathering policy. If people aren't aware of the order, (cops) are not going to just randomly start slapping fines and (incarcerate) people. It's for people who are habitually abusing or violating the order of the governor."

Proof of Essential Business

If you're an essential employee, the state is recommending that you carry a letter stating your business. Remember: it's not a must.

According to Stoddard, the letter must include four key pieces of information:

• The name and address of the employee
• The name and address of the business
• The nature of the employee's work, which includes reasons why that work fits with the definition of essential
• The employer's signature and contact information

"The state was very clear that it's the responsibility of the employer to provide the letter for the employee, and not the employee's responsibility to produce it on their own," Stoddard said.

How To Report Social Distancing Violations

Stoddard says residents who want to report large gatherings can call the county police's non-emergency line, the park police, or municipal police.