By Carrington McClendon
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced today that he issued a new executive order that prohibits indoor gatherings of more than 10 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 25 people effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The order pertains to family gatherings, parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and any other gathering that is not associated with a business selling merchandise, the county said.
Retail stores, offices, food service establishments, religious gatherings, wedding receptions, social organizations, and indoor theaters and outdoor entertainment venues are excluded from the executive order.
“Given our data and current situation in Howard County it is imperative that we make a renewed and concerted effort to reduce transmission of this virus,” Howard County Health Officer Maura Rossman said this morning during a press conference with Ball and several other county officials. “Wear a mask/face covering. Maintain a distance of at least feet between yourself and others. Wash your hands. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. And limit visits with those outside of our households.”
During the press conference, Ball said the county was launching a communication campaign called “Stay COVID Safe” to keep the public informed about the pandemic situation in the county and to remind people of the steps they can take to reduce the virus’s spread.
The county also announced that the Department of Recreation & Parks has canceled all tournaments that include out-of-state participants and is urging participants in all other rec programs, leagues and tournaments to wear a face mask.
“The nation-wide increases we’re seeing are also happening here in Howard County,” Ball said. “As we approach Thanksgiving and our winter holidays, it is vital that we act swiftly and thoughtfully to stop this spike in cases, keep our residents safe and well.”
He said the county’s decisions will be “data-informed and people-driven,” adding that contact tracing has shown that most virus transmissions are between family members and close friends.
“If we all wear masks whenever around people outside our household, we will be able to crush this curve,” Ball said.
According to the state’s Coronavirus Dashboard, Maryland recorded 1,726 new cases yesterday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 167,656. The state’s testing positivity rate is 6.45%, above the 5% threshold that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent recommends.
The dashboard said Howard County has had a total of 6,843 cases with 126 deaths, including six yesterday. During the press conference today, county officials said there are 6,758 confirmed cases and 139 deaths. Officials also said that 17 counties in the state have seen their positivity rates increase from 5% a few weeks ago to 14% now.
“When Covid-19 becomes this widespread it makes it very difficult for contact tracing to be effective in identifying and isolating outbreaks,” Ball said.
Police Chief Lisa Myers said county residents have been compliant in following health recommendations since the pandemic began last winter. She said she expects residents to continue setting a good example.
“With these new requirements, our goals are still the same,” Myers said. “We are asking for your voluntary compliance. Issuing citation will be our last resort. We will do it if we must, but we have every reason to believe that you will continue to be our partner in this effort.”
Ball said that the lack of a unified national strategy has made it difficult to control the virus’s spread. He said citizens are experiencing what he called “COVID fatigue” and are becoming less cautious of the disease than they were in the beginning of the pandemic.
“To stay COVID safe we will create a team of ambassadors to engage our residents throughout our community, encourage people to wear masks and to avoid hosting or attending parties,” Ball said.
Howard County will also be partnering with business and libraries to make sure people have the resources and knowledge needed to be safe, Ball said.
Rossman advised citizens to not look at these cases and deaths as numbers, but as their neighbors.
Rossman also offered some alternative ways to spend the holidays safely. She recommended, for example, sticking with immediate family and finding ways to be creative in the kitchen to take advantage of the empty seats at the table.
“While we wait for a vaccine, we must work together to protect ourselves and our families,” Rossman said. “As difficult as that seems we must all remember we are not alone in this challenge. We are all in this fight together and together we will get through it.”
Raul Delerme, the director of recreation and parks, said during the press conference that people should take personal responsibility and follow CDC guidelines, especially by wearing a mask.
He said the department is aware of the physical and emotional benefits of going outside and is trying to maintain safe conditions so residents can enjoy the county’s park system.
“We have placed over 500 signs in the parks informing users of safety protocols,” Delerme said. “Our park rangers continue to monitor parks to make sure rules and regulations are followed.”
The department is not having any indoor basketball or wrestling leagues, Delerme said. He said the park and recreation office will remain closed to the public. In person programs will continue to run with strict guidelines.
He said the rec zone program will continue to run with safety guidelines that provide childcare services for parents back at work. In addition, he said the department is enforcing a zero-spectator policy for indoor programs. One parent or guardian is allowed per player for games or tournaments.