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Allegany County Only County in Maryland classified as High COVID Level

February 26th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined new metrics on Friday which emphasize not only case rates in a community but also hospital capacity in determining whether an area has a high, medium, or low COVID-19 Community Level.  Different prevention steps are recommended based on an area’s COVID-19 Community Level.  More than 70% of the U.S. population now falls in the low or medium classification.  Currently, Allegany County is the only county in Maryland classified at a high COVID-19 community level.  Garrett, Washington, Wicomoco, Somerset, and Worcester Counties are in the medium classification, while the remainder of the state is now consider to be in the low COVID-19 community level. 

 

Prevention Steps by COVID-19 Community Level:

 

LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

·         Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

·         Get tested if you have symptoms

 

·         If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions

·         Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

·         Get tested if you have symptoms

 

·         Wear a mask indoors in public

·         Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

·         Get tested if you have symptoms

·         Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness

 

 

For more information on COVID-19 Community Levels, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.

 

The Allegany County Health Department offers free COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals ages 12 and older on Wednesdays at the Allegany County Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  No appointment is needed for first and second doses of Moderna vaccine (age 18+) and first, second, and booster doses of Pfizer vaccine (age 12+).  Appointments are still required for the Moderna booster vaccine and individuals may schedule an appointment by visiting health.maryland.gov/allegany and clicking on the preferred clinic date.

 

The next youth Pfizer vaccine clinic (ages 5 to 11) isslated for Wednesday, March 9 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Willowbrook Office Complex at 12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD.  Appointments are required for that clinic and can be scheduled at health.maryland.gov/allegany.

 

For assistance registering for an appointment, county residents can call the COVID-19 call center at 240-650-3999. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are also widely available at local pharmacies, urgent care clinics, and some primary care providers. 

 

Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing is still being offered at the Allegany County Fairgrounds (11400 Moss Ave., Cumberland) on Mondays from 2 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

ALLEGANY COUNTY COVID-19 DATA AS OF FEBRUARY 24:

 

·         New COVID Cases: 58 (cumulative total 16,915)

·         Additional Deaths: 2(cumulative total 346)

·         Cases Per 100,000 People: 31.04 (Maryland: 10.35)

·         Positivity Rate:7.53% (Maryland: 2.78%)

Percentage of County Population Fully Vaccinated: 55.1%