July 2, 2020
Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – County Executive Calvin Ball will announce two private partnerships on July 6th to improve diagnostic testing and antibody research in Howard County. The County and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) have entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to collaborate in the analysis and understanding of infectious diseases and the use of emerging technologies in treatment and prevention. Johns Hopkins APL will serve as a technical advisor to review technologies and make recommendations to the County on the efficacy of those technologies in addressing infectious diseases. The first priorities will be to determine the efficacy of serology testing and the use of air filtration systems that use high-intensity UV lighting to kill or neutralize bacteria and virus particles. Additionally, Howard County is partnering with Quality First Urgent Care will operate a diagnostic drive-through testing site at Savage Volunteer Fire Department Monday - Saturday.
“Howard County has tested nearly 8% of our population, but our new goal is to reach at least 10%. Our partnership with Quality First Urgent Care allows us to deploy more accessible testing to Howard County residents, who will not need an appointment or doctor’s orders,” said Ball. “We’re also looking forward to our partnership with Johns Hopkins APL, an organization that consistently leads with innovation. As we prepare our residents and business community for the length of this pandemic, this collaboration will help to identify emerging technologies that will better position Howard County to combat COVID-19.”
County Executive Ball will host a press conference to discuss these partnerships at the Savage Volunteer Fire Department on Monday, July 6th at 11 a.m.
WHAT: Howard County Testing Partnerships Press Conference
WHEN: Monday, July 6th at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Savage Volunteer Fire Department, 8521 Corridor Road, Savage, MD 20763
WHO: Calvin Ball, County Executive
Dr. Maura Rossman, Howard County Health Officer
Deputy Chief Jerome John, Howard County Fire and Rescue
Dr. Pascal Crosley, Quality First Urgent Care
Dr. Ralph Semmel, Johns Hopkins APL
Susan Garber, Savage Community Association
Johns Hopkins APL Partnership
Howard County and Johns Hopkins APL’s MOA will govern the collaborative programs on the analysis and understanding of infectious diseases and the use of emerging technologies in treatment and prevention. APL will make recommendations to the County on options offered by emerging technologies and how they may be used to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases.
The County will collaborate with APL to engage in disease surveillance and to use recommendations provided by the Laboratory to make emerging technologies available to the community. The County will leverage existing testing sites to make serology testing available to identified or targeted populations.
“We are pleased to once again collaborate with Howard County, where so many of our staff members live and work,” said APL Director Ralph Semmel. “Our staff are learning more about the best ways to fight COVID-19 every day. This partnership provides an opportunity to harness relevant data to develop useful technologies for that fight and support the county’s response to the global pandemic.”
Quality First Urgent Care Partnership
Quality First Urgent Care operated by Dr. Pascal Crosley, will be running the Savage Volunteer Fire Department test site. The drive through testing will run from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday. The site will have scheduled appointment available, but they are not required.
Testing will be available to residents regardless of age, ability to pay, type of health insurance or participation in any provider network. Residents may be tested with or without symptoms, and no personal provider referral will be needed.
The site will also be conducting outreach to vulnerable groups and offering translation services as well.
“We are honored to be partnering with Howard County to deliver safe and efficient Covid-19 testing for the residents of Howard County and surrounding areas at the Savage Fire Station location,” said Dr. Pascal Crosley, Owner and Medical Director of Quality First Urgent Care. “With infection rates increasing across the country, testing, vigilance, social distancing, hand washing, and personal hygiene will continue to be paramount to controlling Covid-19 infection rates in our county.”
Howard County to Announce Testing Partnerships with Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and Quality First Urgent Care
County Executive Calvin Ball will announce two private partnerships on July 6th to improve diagnostic testing and antibody research in Howard County. The County and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) have entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to collaborate in the analysis and understanding of infectious diseases and the use of emerging technologies in treatment and prevention.