“We Are Not There Yet”
Alsobrooks Outlines Rationale To Remain In Phase 2. Executive Also Addresses $20 Million For Small Biz, Voting Update, And Child Care Support
By Raoul Dennis
Citing 13 zip codes in the county with over the 5% threshold for COVID-19 cases and that Prince Georges’ is infection rate is at 4.1%, Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks announced September 3 that the county will not move into Phase 3 of the governor’s statewide recovery plan.
The county’s top official noted that in spite of great efforts by the majority of county residents to safely socially distance and to wear masks to help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases, recent spikes occurred over the summer as a result of large family and group gatherings, such as those during the July 4 holiday weekend.
“It is critically important that we not become complacent with COVID-19,” Alsobrooks said as she stressed caution with regard to the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.
The county currently has 11.4 cases per 100,000 people per day.
Ms. Alsobrooks said that she and her administration will revisit consideration of moving to Phase 3 at a later point, perhaps 2 to 4 weeks from now. But any decision will be driven by science and the calculation of continued safety.
“If we stay the course and continue to take the steps necessary to reduce the spread of COVID 19, we are convinced that we will be able to reevaluate the data that we have in a couple of weeks and at some point move toward a modified Phase 3 reopening here in Prince George’s County,” she explained.
Gov. Larry Hogan announced earlier this week that Maryland would move forward with Phase 3 plans to reopen as of Friday, September 4. That stage allows restaurants and movie theaters and other businesses to fully open. However, movement into Phase 3 is up to the discretion of each county jurisdiction.
Ms. Alsobrooks encouraged residents to look forward to celebrating summer holidays including Labor Day in 2021 but to pass on hosting large get-togethers or attending gatherings this year in order to beat the virus.
She also stressed her interest in defeating COVID definitively. “We are interested in the long game,” the executive said asserting that she was not interested in the county reopening aspects of normal life only to be forced to close again as a result of spiking COVID cases and deaths as a result of opening too soon.
“We want openings to be sustainable and responsible. So we are taking our time.”
County Businesses Get A Boost
The county executive also announced positive assistance to local county businesses.
“This pandemic has been devastating to the business community and our local economy,” Alsobrooks said. “We pledge to be here and to work alongside you.”
She announced that some 670 applications were honored to assist businesses in Prince George’s County and recognize the allocation of over $20,190,000 in grants to small businesses. The executive added that 78% of the businesses who won the grants are minority-owned, 43% were women-owned businesses 5% are veteran-owned businesses and 6% are Latino owned businesses.
Alsobrooks praised the Prince George’s Economic Development Corporation for its role in coordinating and processing and distributing the grants.
The World We Vote In
“Vote safe, vote early,” seems to be the battle cry for election 2020.
“Mail-in balloting has been extremely effective for us,” Alsobrooks confirmed. “In the [primary] election, 96% of Prince Georgians voted by mail as a result of mailing those ballots (directly) to the home we saw the highest voter participation we have seen since the 2008 election.”
The executive says that county residents must confidently take that same energy into the general election. But she took the time to clarify exactly what the process is and what the distinctions are between the primary and the November elections.
“Most County registered voters should have received their ballot application in the mail by now. Remember that this is not the actual ballot.”
The application to get an actual ballot must be mailed in and received by October 2. Early voting is October 26 through November 2. There will be 11 sites open from 7 AM until 8 PM
on election day, there will be 40 sites for voting available to residents. The Washington Football Team has recently announced that it will also open its doors at FedEx Field as a voting center on November 3 bringing the total number of sites to 41.
“We are expecting to exceed the number of participants that we saw at the June primary election,” Alsobrooks said. “This is going to be a historic turnout.”
Kid Gloves (And Masks, Too)
County executive Alsobrooks announced that 40% of childcare centers that closed due to COVID-19 will be unable to ever reopen. With that news, she stressed the importance of working especially hard to assure that childcare centers and their professionals who are currently open but inundated get the support they need through this crisis.
Alsobrooks reported that $725,000 will be directed to maintain childcare facilities, help make payroll, provide grant funds, pay utility bills, order PPE, sanitizing materials and more.
She said $2 million of Cares Act money will be allocated to childcare programs $1.4 million for childcare centers and $600,000 for those who care for children at home.
The new childcare grant program was announced this week as well. Alsobrooks said those childcare providers who are interested in the grant must have a license and proof thereof, complete an application and prove eligibility. Applications will be accepted September 4 through September 18. For more information, click here.
