December 1, 2021

Governor’s Briefing on COVID-19: December 1, 2021

COVID Update: 12/1/202

  • Omicron variant, latest strain of COVID-1
    • WHO issued warning Monday 11/30 that this was a strain of issue
    • Omicron has spread rapidly across South Africa in the past weeks, leading to many new cases
    • Identified in 2 dozen countries, including in the US (CA)
    • Could be more transmissible than other strains
    • WHO advises from international travel
    • Does it cause more severe illness, and is the vaccine effective against it? Will be weeks before we know
  • Hogan wants to reassure Marylanders that the entire team is working tirelessly on this and is prepared to mobilize resources as we have before
    • Using genomic sequencing to track virus and variants
    • Doubled variant surveillance efforts and MD has one of the strongest surveillance programs in the country
    • Approved emergency procurement to get more supplies to continue to track variants
    • Encouraging lab partners to ramp up surveillance efforts
  • GET TESTED
    • One of the most effective ways to protect yourself
    • PCR testing widely available across the state
    • COVIDTEST.MARYLAND.GOV to find a test
    • At-home Rapid Tests:
    • State previously announced 500,000 at-home rapid tests available through local health departments
    • Rapid test kits to be available at the international terminal of BWI Airport
  • 9.4 million COVID vaccines administered!
    • 99.9% of seniors
    • 88.9% of adults
    • Nearly 118,000 5-to-11-year-olds
  • Get your Booster!
    • Administered over 1 million boosters
    • All Marylanders 18 and older are eligible to get their booster
    • Vaccines proven to be increasingly effective
    • If it’s been 6+ months since your last vaccine, get your booster!
    • Get a booster in the next 10 days to be fully protected by Christmas

For more Government Affairs updates, visit Old Line Government Affairs.

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