Potomac 20854 Cases: • June 15: 284 • June 22: 287

Montgomery County Cases: • June 15: 13,657 • June 22: 14,141

Maryland Cases: • June 15: 62,031 • June 22: 64,603

United States Cases: • June 15: 2,093,448 • June 22: 2,275,645

Montgomery County Deaths • June 15: 651 • June 22: 683

Maryland Deaths • June 15: 2,817 • June 22: 2,945

United States Deaths: • June 15: 109,607 • June 22: 119,923

Monday, June 22

METRO: Metro announced that 15 rail stations that had been closed as part of the transit agency’s Covid-19 response will reopen on Sunday, June 28. In addition, beginning Monday, June 28, buses will be added to the system’s 14 busiest bus lines to provide more capacity and more frequent service as the region reopens.

MALL LIQUOR STORE: Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) today reopened its Cabin John store located within the Cabin John Village Center mall. The store had been closed since March 19 when Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the closure of all enclosed malls in the state.

Friday, June 19

PHASE TWO: Montgomery County enters Phase 2 of reopening at 5 p.m.

“But I cannot emphasize enough – Phase 2 comes with limitations and restrictions for businesses, organizations and individuals. Wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance is essential,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Even though all of us are eager to resume activities, we cannot get careless.”

Retail businesses, houses of worship, swimming pools, indoor dining, nail salons, gyms and playgrounds will all reopen - with limitations. See https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/reopening/ for full list.

The following businesses and services will remain closed in Phase 2: concerts and theaters, senior centers, libraries and recreation facilities.

POOLS: Indoor and outdoor pools were permitted to reopen at 5 p.m. on June 19 with capacity limits and other health and safety measures, including limits on the number of patrons allowed in both the swimming pool and the surrounding grounds based on square footage. Limits are based on the ability to ensure six feet of separation between swimmers in the water, on the pool deck, and in the surrounding area.

Other measures include:

Restricting the use of lap lanes to one patron at a time;

The mandatory use of face coverings by staff and patrons unless the individual is in the pool;

Implementing physical distancing requirements between patrons or household groups to ensure at least six feet of separation in the standing or seating areas;

No gatherings or event;

Ensuring physical distancing while patrons wait to use a diving board or water slide;

All hot tubs, spray or splash pads, wading pools and lazy river pools must remain closed until Phase 3.

Wednesday, June 17

COVID CORPS: COVID Corps is a summer employment program that creates a pathway between service and recovery for County residents ages 16-23. Members of the COVID Corps, coached by Montgomery County Recreation staff, will be deployed to work throughout the County supporting its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All participants will take part in job-readiness training as well as ongoing skill-building, safety protocols, workshops, financial-literacy training and a variety of career-building internships as part of the program. Participants will also receive instruction in resume writing, office etiquette, customer service, professionalism, safety on the job, teamwork and excellence in the workplace.

Available positions in the COVID Corps include:

Food Security supporting the county, school system and other food-serving organizations that package, distribute and deliver meals to vulnerable populations;

Community Outreach & Translation assistance with the Montgomery County Volunteer Center and efforts of other nonprofits in need;

Tech Connect teaching and mentoring seniors how to use technology and online resources and opportunities to stay connected;

Operational Recovery assisting County departments prepare for employee’s return to work through inventorying, sanitizing of vehicles, installation of social distancing signage, re-configuring spaces as well as serving as greeters and counters; and

Special Projects in which crews can respond quickly to urgent eligible project requests from County non-profits and County agencies.

The hourly rate for these positions is $14 per hour.

Tuesday, June 16

CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE: Childcare providers in Montgomery County can apply for financial assistance to offset reopening expenses and losses due to COVID-19 beginning later in June. Licensed child care center programs, registered family child care homes, and letter of compliance programs will be eligible for one month of expenses as programs reopen, as well as compensation for financial losses caused by COVID-19. Ten million dollars in emergency funding was approved by the County Council.

FOOD SECURITY PARTNERSHIP: Montgomery County Council introduced a special appropriation of $10,500,00 to address the food security challenges of County residents, while simultaneously supporting local food banks, restaurants and farmers through a public-private partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

This appropriation will provide up to $500,000 to the Greater Washington Community Foundation to initiate and administer the Montgomery County Food Security Fund, which will accept private donations that will support implementation of the food security response strategy. This appropriation also provides $10 million to implement the strategy with the goal of raising $5,000,000 in private donations.

Councilmember Jawando introduced the concept of a public fundraising program structured around incentives to draw greater participation from major donors while including smaller individual donors and expanding the base of overall participants supporting food security efforts. The Council is tentatively scheduled to receive public testimony on the special appropriation on June 23, after the Almanac’s presstime.