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Sunday, March 22, 2020

Wicomico County Executive issues a Declaration of Emergency for COVID-19 3-16-2020

County Executive Bob Culver has issued a Declaration of Emergency effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 8:00 am local time. This is due to the public health catastrophe and public emergency as cited in the Governor of Maryland's Declaration of Emergency issued on March 5, 2020.

This declaration provides additional powers and resources to our County Departments to deal with the COVID-19 situation. The Wicomico County Health Department is the lead agency in this emergency and is supported by all county departments under the coordination of the Department of Emergency Services.

In addition to the items listed in the declaration, the County Executive has made the following changes in county government operations to protect the public and employees and to reduce the threat of further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

All county departments will operate with essential staff only. All county offices will be closed to the public including the Civic Center and Tourism-Welcome Center, effective, Monday, March 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm. The government office building will have drop off bins located in the main first floor foyer to drop off mail and other essential documents for county staff.

The Newland Park Landfill and convenience centers will remain open normal hours to allow for trash removal to continue. The Upper Ferry and Whitehaven Ferry will be closed.

The County Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 10:00 am. This will be broadcast as usual on PAC-14. The public may send meeting comments to Laura Hurley, Council Administrator at lhurley@wicomicocounty.org 


We request the public heed the orders of our public and health officials to limit social contact to reduce the threat of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Please do not call 911 for COVID-19 questions. Our health department's COVID-19 call center can be reached at 410-341-4600.

16 comments:

Steve said...

Mr Culver, please make sure all Eastern Shore residents who are tested positive for this virus are publicly named so the rest of us who have been in contact with them can quarantine themselves and take other measures so this disease can be stopped quickly.

Anonymous said...

3:59 - can't do that, violates HIPAA, but in a common sense world we'd know so we could better protect ourselves. Wonder what Culver's plan is for the private business "catastrophe" that's sure to come after this?

Anonymous said...

lol ok sure Steve!

Im sure hes not busy at all

Anonymous said...

3:59 not legal to name names.

Anonymous said...

When the black plague struck . . people who were infected were simply moved into the back sheds.

Anonymous said...

Obviously you’ve never heard of HIPPA.

Anonymous said...

HIPA Laws. Can’t do it

Anonymous said...

Corona virus is similar to Small Pox - as both of these viruses originated in China. Back then - those infected were isolated - and the mortality rate were 3 dead for every 10 infected. I sure hope that Corona isn't as vicious as Small pox.

Anonymous said...

Steve, that is never going to happen.

Anonymous said...

How long are schools going to be closed?

Anonymous said...

How can anyone test positive when there is no testing? PRMC is not testing people.

Anonymous said...

Condoms will be passed out at the Health Dept for FREE !!!!

Anonymous said...

It's HIPAA, and absolutely right!

Anonymous said...

Simple - they take a sample and ship it to a lab just like everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Why close the ferry. No contact there.

Anonymous said...

Why was Perdue releasing 100,000 plus gallons of untreated water directly to the wicomico river and the same to the treatment plant on Thursday March 5 not an emergency? Why was this not in the news? Inquiring minds want to know