April 14, 2020
Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced today COVID-19 cases will be broken down by zip code on the county dashboard. Cases broken down by age will also be available.
“We’re working to provide transparent and detailed data for residents to better understand the scope of the outbreak,” said Ball. “It’s important to recognize that we believe there are many more cases than currently reported because of a lack of testing. Residents should not fall into a false sense of security if their specific area does not have many cases. We must remain steadfast and continue social distancing.”
The data on the dashboard is preliminary and is subject to change as new information becomes available. The zip code data is provided by case count and case rate, which is the number of cases per 10,000 people. The case rate provides the most accurate representation of concentration but is highly influenced by the lack of testing.
HoCo Farms Connect
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, in coordination with the Howard County Economic Development Authority and the Office of Community Sustainability, launched an innovative new tool to connect residents with farms in the county. HoCo Farms Connect allows farms to list their produce and other products that are available for purchase to the public. At this time, there are 13 farms listed, with more being added each day.
“Howard County is known for our robust agricultural history and businesses – and we created this resource to ensure our residents know where they can still get their fresh produce and other products during this time,” said Ball. “We know how critical our food supply and good produce is to combating this virus, and this is just one way we’re empowering our residents to support local farms, and assist neighbors and friends through this challenging time.”
Farms can sign-up to be listed on the map here. Farms can be viewed on a map or in a list. Residents can search for farms by the type of products that are available for purchase such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, chicken, pork, or community supported agriculture. Each farm description also includes information about the farm and store hours.
Food Distribution Sites
There are many different food resources throughout the county, through the Howard County government, community partners, including schools, local food bank, and generous residents who are working to ensure no one goes hungry during this time.
Howard County Public School Systems Grab N Go meals are available Monday-Friday from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm for anyone under 18, no pre-registration needed. Locations include:
Bushy Park Elementary School, 14601 Carrs Mill Road, Glenwood
Cradlerock Elementary School/Lake Elkhorn Middle School, 6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
Deep Run Elementary School, 6925 Old Waterloo Road, Elkridge
Ducketts Lane Elementary School, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge
Hollifield Station Elementary School, 8701 Stonehouse Drive, Ellicott City
Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City
Laurel Woods Elementary School, 9250 North Laurel Road, Laurel
Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia
Swansfield Elementary School, 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia
Talbott Springs Elementary School, 9550 Basket Ring Road, Columbia
Wilde Lake Middle School, 10481 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia
Community Locations: (Weekend meals not provided at community locations)
Forest Ridge Apartments, 5890 Stevens Forest Rd, Columbia
Monarch Mills Apartments, 7600 Monarch Mills Way, Columbia
Bethel Christian Academy, Campus 1, 8455 Savage Guilford Rd., Savage
Department of Community Resources and Services is currently offering Grab-N-Go food distribution for eligible older adults at the Ellicott City 50+ Center, located at 9401 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Distribution is held on Thursdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for registered residents.
Howard County Food Bank is open Tuesdays – Thursdays 1 – 4 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon at 9385 Gerwig Lane in Columbia. The Food Bank is providing pre-packaged bags of food to clients and new clients should bring identification and proof of Howard County residency for their first visit.
Columbia Community Cares is providing grab and go bags of food, and other essential supplies such as diapers, at the following locations, Monday – Friday, 11 a.m - 1:30 p.m:
Cradlerock Elementary School/Lake Elkhorn Middle School, 6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City
Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia
Swansfield Elementary School, 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia
Wilde Lake Middle School, 10481 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia
IONHoCo Pop Up Food Pantry daily April 19 – May 3 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Long Reach Village Center, 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia. Call 410-340-0529 for information or to donate.
Salvation Army hosting a monthly pop-up pantry, April 15, May 20, and June 17th, at 3267 Pine Orchard Lane, Ellicott City from 1 -3 p.m. They will have fresh produce along with canned goods, please bring proof of Howard County residency.