Community Update: July 10, 2020
Dear residents, families, staff, caregivers and friends:
There are still no known cases of COVID-19 at Cedar Lane. Unfortunately, the numbers of confirmed cases in St. Mary’s County continue to rise. As of yesterday in St. Mary’s County, there have been 692 reported cases and the virus has claimed the lives of 51 people. The St. Mary’s County Health Department is reporting more travel-related cases and increased community spread of the virus. If you have travelled to a state that is seeing increased cases, it’s important to be tested for your heath and the continued wellbeing of your neighbors.
Maryland’s Testing Goals:
Governor Hogan has said that widespread testing across each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions is critical for our long-term recovery. He has set a goal for every jurisdiction to test 10% of its population. Currently, St. Mary’s County is short of that goal, with a population-testing rate of 8%. If you have questions about getting tested or retested, please contact the Health Department by calling 301-475-4330, by emailing [email protected] or by visiting www.smchd.org .
Keep Protecting Yourself and Others on Campus
As the pandemic marches on, we can’t become careless about basic health protections. Please continue to wash your hands frequently, wear your mask and practice social distancing. The Centers for Disease Control advises us to wash our hands before putting on our face coverings. When putting on your mask, place it over your mouth, secure it under your chin and try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
We Must Respect Others’ Space – Complaints Have Been Made
I have received complaints, especially from people with mobility and/or health issues, that fellow residents are making it difficult to maintain a social distance. Reports have mentioned residents not wearing masks properly, getting too close to other residents, moving chairs to sit together and not allowing residents to pass while maintaining a distance of six feet. During this public health crisis, refusal to respect others’ space is grounds for a lease violation. As a reminder:
- You are required to wear a face covering at all times when in public spaces at Cedar Lane. Anything outside of your apartment is a public space.
- We have received reports of people only putting on their mask when they see another person. This is dangerous behavior because as you breathe out, you are dispersing particles. Even if you are sitting alone in the library, riding alone on an elevator or using the Wi-Fi in the lounge, you are required to wear a mask.
- We will continue to remove and rearrange furniture as necessary to support social distancing.
- I encourage each of you to politely and gently speak up and remind others to wear a mask and to social distance. Wearing a mask is not intuitive and no one likes to wear a mask. But Dr. Brewster of the Health Department stresses that wearing face coverings is essential to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- We are in this as a community and we need to act responsibly.
Please Do Not Knock on Office Doors
To prevent any potential viral spread, Cedar Lane staff members are protecting your health by teleworking or working behind closed doors. Please do not knock on the doors to the office suites, or sit outside an office door in an attempt to catch a staff member. Instead, please call the Front Desk and ask for the person you are trying to reach so that we may serve you safely.
A New Resident Moves in this Saturday, July 11
A new neighbor will be moving into the Church Building with the assistance of professional movers/and or family members on Saturday, July 11, 2020. To limit any potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus, we suggest you remain in your apartment between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. while the move takes place. If you can’t stay in your apartment, please practice social distancing. Non-residents assisting with this move will be required to wear a mask, complete the health screening and temperature check at the front desk, and proceed straight to the apartment where the move is taking place. Your new neighbor has agreed to self-quarantine for 14-days.
Another Dinner Planned for August – Your Thoughts Wanted
Friends of Cedar Lane is planning to treat residents to another meal this August. For those who may not know, Friends of Cedar Lane is a fundraising board of directors who solicit donations all year long to benefit Cedar Lane residents. So far, the Friends of Cedar Lane board has paid for two fried chicken meals for residents – one in June and one in July. They choose a different caterer or restaurant each time. This is not a donation from the restaurant or caterer – they are paid for the food they make. For the next meal in August, we want to hear your thoughts about what you would like to have. Please keep the following points in mind:
- The meal must be easy to package and deliver
- Temperature is a concern – it must be safe and tasty to serve after cooking, packaging and delivery
- The Friends board pays for meals for 200 people, so the cost must be reasonable
- Please call the front desk and ask for Wanda Fenwick to share your thoughts
Wishing you all a safe and sunny weekend. We have enclosed some summer safety tips to help you beat the heat.
Sincerely,
Beverly Stickles
President & CEO