Keep up to date! Weekly update: January 17-23, 2022

The Supreme Court blocked the vaccination-or-testing mandate for U.S. employers but allowed for vaccination requirements at healthcare facilities that receive federal funding.
Beginning January 15, people with health insurance can obtain up to 8 free rapid COVID-19 tests per month, per household member online or at a store or request reimbursement up to $12 per test. Uninsured individuals will be able to request tests through a U.S. government website, but details about the website are not yet available.
Are you following our Contratados Facebook page or blog for updates? Check out this recent blog post about what types of masks are best to protect you and your loved one from COVID-19, and tune into our Spanish language Facebook Live this Thursday, January 20, at 7 PM ET.

Governor John Carney of Delaware instated a universal indoor mask mandate, effective last Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 8 AM ET.
The Delaware National Guard have been deployed to assist with staffing shortages at hospitals. While members of the National Guard do wear military uniforms, they are only in hospitals to assist with medical care and are not able to enforce immigration law.

In Maryland, you can now self-report a positive result from an at-home COVID-19 rapid test using this bilingual portal. Self-reporting can help with contact tracing and improves the accuracy of COVID-19 data in Maryland. Note: You will need to create an account to complete the form.
Maryland continues to open new COVID-19 testing sites, many operated in partnership with the Maryland National Guard. You can find a list of sites or search for a testing site near you here. Remember, members of the National Guard are employed exclusively for COVID-19 response and cannot enforce immigration law.
Beginning this week, 20 million N95 and KN95 masks will be available through local health departments and at all Maryland state-run testing sites at no cost to recipients.

Virginia

Virginia is opening new community testing sites where anyone 3 years and older can get a PCR COVID-19 test. These sites require appointments. Find a site near you and make an appointment through this website (English only at this time).

A recent survey of North Carolina farmworkers found that internet access and isolated housing were major barriers to COVID-19 vaccine access.
The North Carolina Department of Health published a short video (English version, Spanish version) to provide guidance about how to keep yourself and others safe if you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19.

Last week, South Carolina reported the highest number of children ages 0 – 17 hospitalized at any point during the pandemic. None of the hospitalized children who were eligible for vaccination (those 5 – 17 years of age) were vaccinated.
Able South Carolina, an organization committed to empowering people with disabilities, has resources available in English and Spanish, such as this poster (English version, Spanish version) or this pamphlet (English version, Spanish version).

Georgia hospitals are strained to capacity with COVID-19 patients, with individuals sometimes waiting overnight in emergency departments to be admitted and receive the care they need.
The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging school districts to require any children over the age of two to wear face masks. Mask guidance currently varies by district, and Cobb, Marietta, and Fulton counties in particular have flexible masking policies.
The Latino Community Fund regularly offers Spanish language materials with COVID-19 information as well as information about upcoming clinics and testing sites.