Crossword Puzzle

By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 4, 2022) With new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention that ease masking restrictions, and zero covid patients at Atlantic General Hospital, it seems life is slowly inching back toward normal on the pandemic front.

Heather Snyder, the infection prevention manager at Atlantic General Hospital, said in an email this week that the CDC’s new guidelines take into consideration hospital burden and community spread.

“In this latest rendition of masking recommendations, the CDC encouraged the general public to remain aware of their local COVID risk level and act accordingly,” she explained. “These efforts are aimed at ensuring that hospitals in heavily burdened areas don’t become more so.”

In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan announced this week that covid hospitalizations had dropped below 400 and the number of virus ICU patients had dropped below 70. Locally, Snyder said no patients were getting treated for covid at Atlantic General as of Wednesday.

Overall in Worcester County, the transmission rate is moderate, according to the CDC, and health officials are using the newest CDC guidance associated with that to take an individualized approach to the guidelines.

“This change is an important step forward as we work to normalize processes and practices to manage COVID in our daily lives,” Snyder said. “For many, this loosening of previous mandates will provide an opportunity to unmask. For others, masking may remain a personal preference they uphold.”

She added that while mask mandates are easing up in most places, including inside school buildings and on school buses, the guidelines have not changed at healthcare facilities.

An omicron subvariant, also known as stealth omicron or BA.2, is still on the radar of health officials as well, but more so internationally than nationally.

“Although present in the United States, it currently accounts for a small portion of overall dwindling COVID cases,” Snyder said. “BA.2 is believed to remain 30 percent more transmissible than its parent Omicron strain.”

New symptoms associated with the incoming variant include dizziness and fatigue, and Snyder advised anyone who believes they are experiencing the symptoms to speak with their healthcare provider.

Weekly vaccine numbers, testing info, and more: • As of Thursday, Maryland providers administered more than 11.38 million covid-19 vaccines for a total of 95 percent of residents 18 and older with at least one dose. The percentage of residents 5 and older with at least one dose was 90.4 percent.

• As of Wednesday, 73.9 percent of the county’s population had received at least one covid vaccine and 67.41 percent were fully vaccinated for a total 13,818 vaccines. • Atlantic General staff members administered nine shots since last week. • Atlantic General Hospital hosts vaccine clinics from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at its pharmacy in the main lobby of the hospital. All three types of vaccines are offered. • The Worcester County Health Department holds vaccine clinics weekly. For more information, visit worcesterhealth.org/protect-menu/1726-worcester-county-md-coronavirus-covid-19 information-2020 • The Biden administration has made covid tests available to every registered household address in America. Interested individuals can claim their test by logging on to covidtests.gov.

Weekly covid numbers: • As of Thursday, Worcester County’s covid-19 positivity rate was 4.05 percent with a total of 8,596 cases reported since March 2020. • The state’s positivity rate was 1.9 percent Thursday with 1 million confirmed covid cases since the start of the pandemic. • Atlantic General Hospital reported zero covid in-patients this week. • As of Thursday, Ocean Pines and Berlin have reported a total of 3,347 cases and Ocean City has had 1,843. • Worcester County has reported 153 covid deaths since March 2020.

CROSSWORD

Info from Gov. Larry Hogan; the Maryland Department of Health; Atlantic General; Worcester County Health Department; and the CDC.

CALENDAR

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Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and rhymes. For ages 2-5 years. www.worcesterlibrary.org, 410-632-2600

STEM STORY TIME: SPACE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Come listen to stories about the great unknown. Take home activity included. For ages 2-5 years. www.worcesterlibrary.org, 410-632-2600 WSW’S 20TH ANNUAL PINK RIBBON BINGO

Williards Lion Club, 36393 Hearn St., 5-9 p.m. Tickets $30. Games begin at 6 p.m. Cost is $30 in advance or $40 at the door. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/20th-annual-pink-ribbon-bingo-tickets247278696237. Food and beverages available for purchase. 410-548-7880

WOMEN IN HISTORY

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Held in-person and via Zoom. The program looks at dynamic historical women who impacted others’ lives. Presented by Martina Mathisen. Registration required: www.worcesterlibrary.org, 410-632-2600 classes uplift and improve mood. Register: www.worcesterlibrary.org under “Events.” 410-632-2600

TOWN HALL SERIES: ONE PILL CAN KILL

Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway, 6 p.m. Learn about “fake pills.” Designed for parents and those who work with youth. Register: https://forms.gle/Dhxc8uFMd5EokAMY 8. Worcester Goes Purple, 410-870-5161, wgpwarriors2021@gmail.com

Coast Guard offering boat safety course March 8-10

Ocean City providing beach district plants for dune areas

(March 4, 2022) The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering the Maryland Basic Boating Safety Course, virtually, March 8-10 from 6-9 p.m.

This online course is taught by the same US Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors as the in-person class.

The Maryland Boating Safety Education Act requires that anyone born after July 1, 1972 must possess a Maryland Basic Boating Safety Certificate to operate a boat in the state of Maryland.

Those attending the class, and passing the test will receive a

Maryland Boating Certificate, which is NASBLA approved and valid in all states. The cost is $20 for all three evenings. All the required material is covered along with time for questions. Checks should be made payable to: USGCAUX 12-05, and mailed to: USCGAUX 12-05, P.O. Box 1682, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Payment via PayPAL is also accepted. Register or get more information by calling Barry Cohen at 410935-4807, or email CGAUXOC@gmail.com. (March 4, 2022) For the 17th year, the Town of Ocean City will be offering beach district plants to the public for planting in the secondary dune area. The plants being offered are hardy plants that tolerate the harsh environment of the oceanfront areas. In addition, these plants provide habitat enhancement, food and shelter, water quality treatment and erosion control to the secondary dune area, which tends to be overlooked and needs attention. “We began this program to help create habitat and prevent erosion of the area behind the dune, which was in need of attention,” said Town of Ocean City Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer. “The plants are very beneficial to the stability of the dune system and help with erosion and scour. Our residents and property owners love the program and it benefits the environment and the beach, so it is a win for everyone.” Oceanfront and oceanside residents will have the opportunity to order plants that will need to be picked up at a predetermined date and time. Suitable plants to add to a secondary dune area include beach grass, bayberry, rugosa rose, beach plum, high tide bush, red cedar and panic grass. Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for all applications is March 4. For more information or to receive an application, contact Blazer at 410289-8825 or email gblazer@oceancitymd.gov. Also, more information is available at DIRECT FACTORY IMPORTER PRICES https://oceancitymd.gov/beachgrant.

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(March 4, 2022) Unstoppable Joy, a local nonprofit foundation that provides natural and positive support to individuals diagnosed with cancer, recently received funding from two organizations.

Ameri Group allocated $2,500 to Unstoppable Joy for the fiscal year 2021. The Billy Banning Family Giving Fund presented $5,000 to Unstoppable Joy.

“These funds will go to support our local cancer warriors and their families,” said Tonya Agostino, founder of Unstoppable Joy and breast cancer survivor. “The foundation offers three different services to cancer warriors.” Healing bags, filled with natural feel-good products are available and distributed to local cancer centers as well as sent via mail upon request.

In addition, self-care services are offered by Unstoppable Joy’s team, such as chiropractic/holistic, massage therapy, sound therapy, hair services, nail care, breath work, and Zen time – a way for the cancer warriors and their families to have a time out from thinking about the everyday fight to relax, recharge and breath.

“This is the first year we’ve received funds from [both organizations],” Agostino said. “This grant will help many cancer warriors receive these much-needed services.”

Unstoppable Joy provides natural and positive support to individuals diagnosed with cancer of any kind. The cancer journey can be very lonely and Unstoppable Joy’s mission is to help local cancer warriors, support their mind, body, and spirit, and to show them that they are not alone.

For more information, contact Agostino at 410-422-6322, tonya@unstoppablejoyco.org, or visit www.unstoppablejoyco.org/.