ANNAPOLIS, Md.- Gov. Larry Hogan said further reopening plans for Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic will remain “paused” at this point.
The governor said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference that the state will not move into Stage 3 of the Roadmap to Recovery plan “until it is safe, prudent and thoroughly backed by the data and medical science."
Hogan also announced that effective Friday, July 31, Marylanders must wear masks or face-coverings in all public areas of businesses and buildings and in outdoor public areas whenever it is not possible to adequately maintain social distancing.
Additionally, the governor announced a travel advisory in which he strongly urged people to postpone or cancel any type of travel to several states that are seeing 10% or higher infection rates and to get tested and self-quarantine upon returning. Those states include: Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, Nebraska and Ohio.
According to Hogan, the number one activity of people who tested positive for COVID-19 was attending a family gathering, followed by attending house parties and outdoor events.
While Hogan noted that while the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state has been increasing, he said the state has no plans of re-implementing business closures like it did in the spring. He said that shutting down businesses has proven “devastating” to other states that have done that.
“We’ve come too far together to lose the progress that we’ve made on the road to recovery here in Maryland,” Hogan said.
The governor further noted that only Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Prince George’s County have COVID-19 positivity rates over the goal threshold of 5%. Hogan said that all but two of the state’s jurisdictions, with the exception of Cecil and Calvert Counties, have tested at least 10 percent of their populations.
Additionally, Hogan said that in recent weeks there has been a dramatic shift of COVID-19 infections to younger people, with 56% of cases being Marylanders under the age of 40.
