We’re taking a break from data this week. If you want to check out COVID-19 cases in your county, visit the CDC’s Data Tracker.
COVID-19 News
The CDC approved and recommended Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster dose for children between 5 and 11 years old and Moderna’s booster for people ages 6 through 17 years. You can find booster shots for all your family and community by visiting vaccines.gov.
The use of face masks is no longer recommended in closed places where a distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained between each person, unless people have not been vaccinated or are immunocompromised.
The use of sanitizing mats in businesses is eliminated.
It is prohibited to force people to take tests to return to work.
Vaccination is recommended, but not having the vaccine does not prevent people from returning to work.
The Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition is offering up to 20 scholarships (valued at $1,200) for individuals who live or work in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s or Talbot counties and want to be trained as Community Health Workers. Interested persons should add their name to the interest list by emailing Hayden.Rhodes@maryland.gov by Friday, October 28th.
The Hispanic Liaison is seeking bilingual applicants for the full-time positions of Orgullo Latinx Pride Youth Program Associate and Advocacy Program Associate. Find more details on their website.
State Snapshots
Delaware
Through November, DHSS will hold community engagement sessions to learn how to improve service delivery across the state. Focus groups and interviews are part of the sessions. Participants who are chosen will be paid $50 per session. To sign up for a session, you can complete a survey here.
Maryland
MDH announced an additional $80 million in funding to support hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, as federal COVID-19 support is expected to decrease when the federal Public Health Emergency ends in January 2023.
CDM will join the Virginia Department of Health, Eastern Shore Community Health Worker Gabriela Ramirez, and radio host Oscar Contreras for a Facebook Live focused on COVID-19 and healthcare services with a focus on migrant communities. Join us next Wednesday, October 19 at 12:30 PM for this live session on our Contratados Facebook page!
North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is sharing infographics in English and Spanish to promote vaccination against the flu with the campaign “Don’t Let the Flu Stop You.”
Our PPP partner, the North Carolina Justice Center recently published the pocket-sized booklet Know Your Rights as a Worker in North Carolina to help working people in North Carolina understand more about their rights in the workplace. You can find it in English and Spanish.
South Carolina
PASOs is hosting the Facebook Live Event “Similarities and differences between influenza and COVID-19” on Thursday October 20th 4:00 PM ET. Participate on their Facebook Page.
Georgia
The bivalent COVID-19 booster is available at CORE Georgia mobile vaccination sites. To Learn more or register to get vaccinated, go to coreresponse.org/georgia.