Montgomery Community Media

Montgomery County will likely not move to COVID-19 vaccination Phase 1C next week, officials discussed at a council meeting Tuesday. Last week, Gov. Larry Hogan announced the state will move to Phase 1B of its vaccination plan on Monday, to include residents ages 75+, residents in assisted/independent living, including behavioral health group homes/group homes for […]

Montgomery County officials expect to receive about half the amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses they requested for this week, Deputy Health Officer Dr. James Bridgers said during a council meeting Tuesday. County Health and Human Services (DHHS) requested about 12,000 doses this week, however the county was allotted 6,700 as of Tuesday morning, Bridgers said. […]

To ensure that the Pfizer vaccine doesn’t spoil, it needs to be kept extremely cold. One company in Gaithersburg, Roberts Oxygen, is doing its part to help keep the vaccine safe by manufacturing dry ice. Reggie Wright, the regional sales manager for Roberts Oxygen, explained how dry ice—which is 109 degrees below Fahrenheit—is manufactured. “We […]

Following the holidays, Montgomery County’s hospital could see a surge in patients, causing hospitalization rates to be elevated. Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles and Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Earl Stoddard explained Wednesday what hospitals in Montgomery County and across the region are doing to free up space: Related Post: […]

At a press briefing on Dec. 16, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said the Pfizer vaccine should be arriving at all hospitals in the county Wednesday or Thursday. He added that the vaccine doses will also be distributed to pharmacies, which will work to get the doses out to nursing homes and long-term […]

Three out of six hospitals in Montgomery County have no ICU vacancy as of noon Tuesday, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said at a county council meeting. Also as of noon, one hospital has no acute care bed vacancy, he said. Gayles said there was a period of time over the weekend when five […]

Montgomery County hospitals are worried about meeting staffing needs, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Dr. Earl Stoddard said at a council meeting Tuesday. On Dec. 1, Gov. Larry Hogan announced efforts and requirements regarding hospital surge planning. He encouraged colleges to let healthcare students in their final semester be eligible for early exit if […]

As we enter the fall and winter months, local officials say the county is more prepared if COVID-19 cases happen to spike- compared to when the virus first impacted this area in the spring. “I feel confident that we will be in a better position now to respond to a spike or an increase in […]

Officials with the American Red Cross say there is a shortage of blood at hospitals nationwide. According to the Red Cross, blood donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Fewer blood donors and blood drives occurred last week resulting in as many as 17,000 fewer blood donations, the organization said. […]

The six hospitals in Montgomery County are limiting visitors because of increased flu activity, the county’s health department said in a Tuesday statement. Any visitor who exhibits flu-like symptoms — which includes fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches — will not be allowed to enter the hospital, the statement says. Children under […]