On May 6, 2020, Governor Larry Hogan gave an update on the impact of and response to COVID-19 in Maryland. Governor Hogan covered topics including the trend in Maryland’s cases, testing sites, PPE, and safe outdoor activities. Read key takeaways below, or watch Governor Hogan’s full press conference here.
Trends in cases:
- 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.
- Our ICU numbers have been basically flat, level at a plateau for eight-straight days. 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.
Facility updates:
- Laurel hospital is opening another wing.
- The state has exceeded its goal of adding 6,000 beds.
- The state now has an additional 8,100 surge beds, including 2,400 ICU beds statewide.
- The Maryland Department of Health will issue guidelines, effective immediately, to allow for elective procedures at the discretion of local hospitals and health care providers.
Testing:
- The state has expanded testing capacity to cover outbreaks and hot spots.
- The state has surveyed all nursing homes and universal testing of residents and staff is underway.
- Crews tested 2,300 people at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury last weekend in response to an outbreak at poultry processing plants.
- Universal testing will be conducted shift by shift at both processing plants to ensure that every poultry worker is tested.
PPE:
- Recently acquired 4.5 million KN95 masks, 600,000 N95 masks, 150,000 medical gowns, 1.1 million face shields, and 3.5 million surgical gloves.
- The state has launched the “Maryland Manufacturing Network Supplier Portal” to connect Maryland suppliers with buyers.
Safe outdoor activities:
- Effective at 7 a.m. Thursday, the list of safe outdoor activities will be broadened to include golf, tennis, boating, fishing, camping.
- Closed functions at state parks will be reopened, including all state beaches for walking and exercise, and playgrounds.
- Local governments will have the flexibility to take similar actions at their discretion.
- However, it is critical that Marylanders continue to follow public health guidance and practice physical distancing.
Disease investigation and management:
- The state recently is ramping up its disease investigation capability and hiring is underway with more than 900 applicants.
- A surge tent is being built at Easton Memorial Hospital to prepare for a spike in patients from that outbreak.
- The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has crews there to assist with contact tracing.
- The first patients in the U.S. were given a test vaccine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as part of a global coronavirus vaccine development program.
Education:
- Maryland public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic school year.
- Online and distance learning opportunities will continue, and the Maryland state Department of Education is releasing “Maryland Together: Recovery Plan for Education,” a comprehensive plan for long-term recovery.
- Decisions regarding graduation will be made by each local superintendent.
If you have any questions or concerns explore our COVID-19 resource page, or reach out to us directly at 410-321-8200.
