By Rashard Davis
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order Wednesday that requires everyone in public places to wear masks, beginning Saturday.
Hogan, donning a blue mask as he approached the podium, said the masks would aid state and federal efforts to halt the spread of infections from the coronavirus. Already, Maryland has 10,032 confirmed cases with 349 reported deaths from COVID-19.
“For people to get acquainted and acclimated with wearing masks round their shifts, this order will go into effect Saturday at 7 a.m.,” Hogan said during a press conference.
Without current efforts to keep people home and require social distancing in public, Hogan said the infection rate would have been much higher.
“We have 2,231 patients hospitalized,” Hogan said. “While this is tragic, 300,00 people would’ve been infected and 12,000 would’ve died by June 1st were it not for swift and quick action to take into measure.”
Officials report more than 18,700 COVID-19 cases in the Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia together.
Under the order, people would be required to wear face coverings when inside any retail establishments or when riding any form of public transportation in Maryland. The order also requires all retail locations to require staff to wear face coverings and requires those businesses to put appropriate social distancing measures in place.
Hogan said the goal is to completely flatten the curve.
“It is imperative and critical that people should avoid public places and gatherings,” he said. “We also need to supply more of PPE (personal protective equipment) for those who are out and about and also working in hospitals and medical centers.”
Hogan said testing needs to be expanded in the area and more “response tents” should be set up as the state gradually rolls toward the recovery phase amid “very real reasons for hope and optimism.”
“There is clearly a light at the end of this tunnel, but exactly how and when we will get to that light is going to be up to each and every one of us,” Hogan said.
“Right now while our numbers are still climbing and we are still heading up that curve, not down, it is absolutely critical for Marylanders to stay home, to continue avoiding crowds and gatherings, and to aggressively practice social distancing,” he added.