Governor Hogan Loosens Restrictions
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced this afternoon that hospitalizations and deaths as a result of COVID-19 cases leveled off and fell slightly over the past seven days.
“Overall, we are down slightly from where we were a week ago. Even more encouraging is that our ICU numbers have been basically flat, level at a plateau for eight straight days. If these trends continue into next week, we will be ready to lift the stay at home order, and to begin stage one of our recovery plan,” Hogan stated.
As a result, he loosened of some restrictions before beginning the first phase of re-opening, which may begin next week.
Some activities that will now be allowed include as long as Marylanders take responsibility, practice social distancing, and following guidance of public health experts:
- Elective Medical and Dental Procedures at the discretion of practitioners,
- Safe Outside Activities will be expanded to include the following lower risk activities:
- Golf,
- Tennis,
- Fishing,
- Boating,
- Camping,
- Safe Playgrounds at State Parks,
- Local Governments can choose to open playgrounds at their discretion.
- Walking and Exercising on Beaches.
If cases of COVID-19 continue to fall over the next week, Governor Hogan will announce the beginning of Phase One in Re-Opening Maryland. In that first phase, certain businesses and lower risk community, religious, and quality of life activities would be allowed to open.
Governor Hogan also announced the expansion of contact tracing through a contractor. The new contract will expand the State’s ability to contact 1,000 people per day to trace infections and better target testing. Applications for these new jobs have already exceed 900 applicants.
