May 5, 2020
Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball re-visited the Columbia drive-thru testing site today, provided an update on testing capacity and thanked workers. The site is now operating with four lanes and has an appointment capacity of nearly 200 per day.
Ball also joined Howard County General Hospital in accepting a donation of 50,000 surgical masks from the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women. The organization, with many Howard County resident members, also donated 152,000 surgical masks and 15,000 face shields to the State of Maryland.
“As our testing site continues to increase capacity and secure a stockpile of PPE, we will be in a better position to combat COVID-19 and move closer to re-opening our economy,” said Ball. “The generosity, ingenuity and dedication of our residents, businesses, and local leaders has demonstrated the resiliency of Howard County when we all work together.”
Ball will be discussing Howard County’s COVID-19 response on Maryland Public Television with Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Harford County Executive Barry Glassman on Wednesday, May 6th at 11 a.m.
Pop-Up Food Pantry
The Indian Origin Network of Howard County is distributing food every Saturday in May from 4 - 6 p.m. at Elkridge Branch Library Parking Lot, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD. To donate or confirm location, please contact Pravin Ponnuri at 410-340-0529. For a complete list of additional food distribution sites in Howard County, please click here.
The Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County today announced $202,500 in emergency grants to 20 Howard County nonprofits addressing COVID-19 needs. The collaborative effort that began in March, called HoCoRespond, has now awarded a total of $407,500 in the last two weeks to 32 nonprofits meeting food security, housing, childcare and healthcare needs.
“The full scope of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to be seen, but it will be detrimental to many of our residents and communities,” said County Executive Calvin Ball. “We are very thankful for the work of the HoCoFunders and encourage all Howard County residents and businesses to support these efforts.”
The grant announcement comes on #GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day of giving and unity taking place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented community issues caused by COVID-19. To view the grant recipients please click here.