PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COVID-19 Vaccine Required for Prince George’s School Employees William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Ann Smith drove to Ritchie Station in Capitol Heights on Saturday, Aug. 14 so her grandson can receive a free backpack, school supplies and books before the Sept. 8 first day of school. But a COVID-19 vaccine topped Smith’s school checklist this summer for her grandson, Jerry Newsome, who turns 14 later this month and will attend Suitland High School. As for the nearly 22,000 Prince George’s County public school employees now required to receive a shot in the arm or face weekly testing, Smith called the decision “unfortunate, but necessary.” “I hate to see people forced to get vaccinated, but if we’re going to get back to where we belong, then everybody needs to get vaccinated,” she said.
“People are saying they don’t know what’s in the vaccine, but sometimes we have to take a chance. People are dying.” Although the state of Maryland displays one of the highest vaccination rates in the country at 79 percent with adults receiving at least one dose, the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant has caused confirmed cases to rise at their highest levels in two months. State health officials said nearly all coronavirus patients hospitalized are those who are unvaccinated. Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7 in Prince George’s, the capacity of intensive care unit beds available stood at 52 percent. However, county COVID-19 data shows during that same timeframe the percentage of positive tests increased from 4.5 percent to 5.8 percent. The majority Black jurisdiction con-
5 Ann Smith, right, in a vehicle with her grandson, Jerry Newsome, 13, after the rising ninth-grader received a free backpack, school supplies and books Aug. 14 at a backpack giveaway hosted by Del. Darryl Barnes in Capitol Heights. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
tinues to lead the state with the most confirmed cases at nearly 90,000. Public schools CEO Monica Goldson said in a video message released Friday, Aug. 13 about 12,000 public school employees have been vaccinated. Goldson said in the more than two-minute video all staff must either show proof of vaccination by Aug. 27. The vaccine information must include a person’s name, date of birth, phone number and date and location of the vaccination. If proof hasn’t been shown by that date, then that person must “submit to weekly, onsite testing.” “Thank you for your understanding and for adhering to this mandate. Your health and safety [are] my
Sweat Partners with Church to Distribute J. Ford Food, Offer Counseling William WI Staff Writer
5 Prince George’s County Executive candidate Tonya Sweat chats with a driver Aug. 17 during a food distribution giveaway at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
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Although the Maryland Democratic primary doesn’t take place for another 10 months, Prince George’s County Executive candidate Tonya Sweat helped distribute food Aug. 17 for 1,000 people at St. Stephen Baptist Church in Temple Hills. In addition to partnering with the church’s weekly grocery giveaway, Sweat’s campaign offered residents information on counseling services and free backpacks and school supplies for students. Targeting the immigrant community, a Sweat Spanish interpreter was available. A representative from Law Group International of Alexandria, Va., was on hand to offer legal services. “When I saw the long line of cars around St. Stephen’s Baptist Church, this shows the need in the community is great,” said Sweat, a managing part-
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priority,” Goldson said in the video. Prince George’s joins several other school districts in Maryland that will require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which remains unavailable for children younger than 12. Howard County became the state’s first public school system last week to announce a similar vaccination procedure for its workers. Montgomery County public schools announced Friday it would require employees to be vaccinated. According to school documents, the district will conduct “pool testing for random samples of students in prekindergarten through sixth grade” because the vaccine remains unavailable for children younger than 12. The district plans to implement a policy for all 24,000 employees in the state’s biggest school district, but doesn’t outline when proof of vaccination would be required or testing procedures. “More details will be shared with employees prior to the start of the school year,” according to school documents at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening2021/#guide.
SCHOOL, GOVERNMENT MANDATES
Officials in the county’s neighboring jurisdiction in D.C. will require city employees, contractors and interns to similar COVID-19 procedures and show proof by Sept. 19. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week all state employees must be vaccinated by Sept. 1 or submit to testing weekly.
A similar requirement and same deadline date are required for Maryland state employees who work in congregate settings such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and veteran centers. Arlington County Aug. 12 became the first jurisdiction in Northern Virginia to announce all government and school employees must receive a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 30. If not, then those who remain unvaccinated face a requirement of weekly testing. In terms of students and staff wearing masks inside school buildings, the majority of D.C. area public schools are making them a requirement. Masks and face coverings are optional in Fauquier County in Northern Virginia, where students returned to school Aug. 11. Back in Prince George’s, Phyllis Wright of District Heights and other parents support a vaccine requirement for school employees. Wright’s 12-yearold daughter received her first vaccine shot this month, but her younger daughter isn’t able to receive a shot in the arm. “If my kids have to show their shot records are up to date, then we need to have the people who take care of our kids show they are vaccinated, too,” she said. “Dr. Goldson made the right decision.” School board member Belinda Queen had a message for adults, especially PGCPS parents who remain unvaccinated. “We need to lead by example. We can’t request for our children to do things we haven’t even done first,” she said. “Make sure your child is protected.” WI Twitter: @jabariwill
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