By Dominic Rosetti
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday issued an emergency order to reduce indoor gatherings at bars and restaurants, restore mandatory teleworking for government workers and increase hospital surge capacity.
Maryland’s positivity rate has been down the past couple months, but Hogan stressed at a press conference that recently the rate has surpassed 5% for the first time since June. He added that health metrics are spiking across the nation as well as globally.
“Since last week, most of our key metrics have worsened considerably,” Hogan said. “More people are getting infected with the virus, more people are being hospitalized, more people are going into intensive care, and more Marylanders are dying.
“The actions we are taking today are absolutely necessary to help us withstand this surge, to save lives, and to keep Maryland on the road to recovery and open for business.”
Starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, the governor said his emergency order would reduce from 75% to 50% all indoor dining at bars and restaurants. The changes that start immediately would limit indoor gatherings to 25 or less.
The order also would expand warnings by the state Department of Public Health on out-of-state travel. Hogan said Marylanders should not travel to any state with a positivity rate over 10% or any state with average case rates above 20 per 100,000. Those who do intend to travel are advised to get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting their results, he said.
Hogan said that government offices have been ordered to return to mandatory teleworking, except for essential direct public-facing services and other essential personnel. In addition, state officials strongly encourage all businesses to take immediate steps to expand telework, he said.
An emergency order was issued by the state’s health officials for an increase in surge capacity for hospitals. Hogan explained that all hospitals will need to make certain they have enough staff and beds while state EMS officials have been given the green light to transport patients to substitute care sites such as the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital, Laurel Hospital and Adventist Takoma Park Hospital as well as additional capacity to those sites if needed.
As for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, which have been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, Hogan said state health officials issued new guidance that encourages Marylanders to stay home if they are sick and get tested before seeing a family member in a facility. Also, he said that staff of nursing homes and assisted living facilities should reduce contacts with large gatherings. Each facility is allowed to refuse visitation given each of their conditions and infection control guidelines.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski who earlier announced “staggering” increases in COVID-19 cases in his area said he supported the statewide emergency order.
“Statewide solutions remain the most effective public health actions and I support the governor’s actions to protect the health of all Marylanders,” Olszewski said. “Baltimore County remains prepared to enforce these orders and to do whatever we need to do to protect our residents from the dangers of this disease. We will continue to closely monitor relevant metrics to determine if any other actions are needed.”
Last Thursday, Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young announced that all indoor and outdoor gatherings would need to limit capacity to 25%. He said the order impacts restaurants, theaters, malls, event spaces and religious facilities. Also, he said bars that are not licensed to sell food should shut down, and restaurants must halt indoor dining by 10 p.m. Gatherings at homes are limited to 10 people.