MD Governor Eases Restrictions; Reopening From Coronavirus Ahead

MARYLAND — With safety measures in place and coronavirus hospitalizations trending down, Gov. Larry Hogan said the state was in position to prepare for reopening. As long as Marylanders continue to follow guidance from public health officials, the state can ease some restrictions.

"There are some additional things that we can do safely right now, prior to the lifting of the stay-at-home order," Hogan said at a news conference Wednesday, after conferring with his coronavirus recovery team of doctors and scientists.

Starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, he lifted restrictions on elective medical and dental procedures and outdoor recreation.

"Many Marylanders may have put off important procedures, screenings and other things that they really need to attend to," said Hogan, like PET scans or biopsies. The state had restricted elective services so medical facilities could focus on coronavirus patients and preserve their supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Now that the state has PPE and surge capacity, providers can begin performing these elective procedures, Hogan said. According to his order lifting the restriction, providers must have one week's supply of PPE and screen patients.

On Thursday morning, Marylanders can also resume outdoor activities like golf, tennis, boating, fishing and camping. Beaches and playgrounds at state parks will be open, and Hogan said local governments can take similar actions.

"I know how anxious people are to get outside both for their physical and their mental well-being, and we also know that outside activity is safer than inside activity," Hogan said. "All of our doctors and scientists agree we can move forward with resuming some additional lower risk" activities.

"I realize that these are only small steps and that they may be of little comfort to those who are out of work and who are struggling financially, but it is thanks to all of you and your incredible sacrifices that we are making progress and flattening the curve," Hogan said.

"It will remain critical that you continue to follow public health guidance, continue to practice physical distancing," Hogan said, "and — most of all — that you continue to take actions to keep yourself and your fellow Marylanders safe."

When To Reopen

To determine when it was safe to begin reopening, Hogan said hospitalizations and intensive care patient numbers would need to trend down or plateau.

"Fortunately, we are beginning to see those encouraging numbers," Hogan said.

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"Over the past seven days, we have seen a good trend in hospitalizations, with five straight days downward and then a little bump up yesterday; but overall we are down slightly from where we were a week ago," Hogan said. "Even more encouraging is that our ICU numbers have been basically flat, level at a plateau for eight straight days."

Said Hogan: "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," which he said would allow for the reopening of "certain types of businesses and lower risk community, religious and quality of life activities."

Maryland Strong: Road Map To Recovery consists of three phases, which have gating metrics built in before each transition to preserve safety.

"We are preparing to launch or reopening plan to safely get people back to work," Hogan said, "to get our economy back on track so that Maryland and our nation can defeat this virus and come back stronger and better than ever."

See Also:

• MD Testing Coronavirus Drug In Montgomery County
• 60% Of MD Coronavirus Deaths Are In Group Facilities: Officials
• $1.6M Awarded To Maryland Businesses To Make PPE: Coronavirus
• MD Reopening Could Start In Early May, Hogan Says: Coronavirus
• Face Masks Required Statewide Plus 4 Benchmarks To MD Reopening
• Barbershops, Salons Can Reopen For Essential Workers: MD Governor
• CCBC To Launch Coronavirus Contract Tracing Program