Preparation
Create a household plan of action in case of illness in the household or disruption of daily activities due to COVID-19 in the community:
- Consider 2-week supply of prescription and over the counter medications, food and other essentials. Know how to get food delivered if possible.
- Establish ways to communicate with others (e.g., family, friends, co-workers).
- Establish plans to telework, what to do about childcare needs, how to adapt to cancellation of events.
Be Prepared if Your Child's School or Childcare Facility Is Temporarily Dismissed
Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child's school or childcare facility. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, local public health officials may recommend temporary school dismissals to help slow the spread of illness. School authorities also may decide to dismiss a school if too many students or staff are absent. Understand the plan for continuing education and social services (such as student meal programs) during school dismissals.
If your child attends a college or university, encourage them to learn about the school's plan for a COVID-19 outbreak.
Plan for Potential Changes at Your Workplace
Learn about your employer's emergency operations plan. Discuss sick-leave policies and telework options for workers who are sick or who need to stay home to care for sick household members.
Meals for Students
Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan. Discuss sick-leave policies and telework options for workers who are sick or who need to stay home to care for sick household members.
Take Actions to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Sick
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take action to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease:
- Stock up on supplies.
- Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
- When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds as much as possible.
- Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
- During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
- Have supplies on hand
- Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
- If you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for medications.
- Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
- Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.
Take Everyday Precautions
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Take Everyday Preventive Actions
- Clean your hands often.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places - elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
- Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
- Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
- Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. For example:
- Tables
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Handles
- Desks
- Toilets
- Faucets
- Sinks
- Cell phones
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
- Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.
The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program pays benefits to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and meet the program's eligibility requirements. If you have become unemployed, you may File a Claim Via the Internet or by telephone by using one of the telephone numbers listed on the Department of Labor website.
Utilize the following links for additional information and resources:
- How to Apply for Maryland Unemployment Insurance Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
- Information and Documents Needed for Claims Filing (PDF)
- Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- File a new claim for benefits
- Reopen an existing claim
For additional information and resources, please visit the Maryland Department of Labor website.