As coronavirus cases and hospital admissions reach emergency levels and many hospitals come closer to their capacity, Maryland will tighten restrictions on businesses, bars and restaurants.
All dining service at bars and rest restaurants rent must end after 10pm but withdrawal and delivery service will still be allowed. The capacity of retail businesses, religious institutions and gyms must be limited to 50 per cent, up to two phases.
The new restrictions take effect on Friday at 5 p.m.
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State health officials have seen an increase in the number of cases of the virus associated with bars and restaurants, and residents are not choosing to stay home.
“We have seen widespread failure to comply with statewide public health consultants,” Hogg said.
Government Larry Hogg announced the new restrictions at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
He pushed against misinformation about the virus and urged residents to stay sick, be hospitalized and avoid death.
“Wearing a mask is not the limit of your right to infect others,” Hogg said.
The coronavirus is real and is killing a growing number of people in Maryland and across the country.
“It simply came to our notice then. It’s not the flu. It just doesn’t disappear, ”the governor said.
Fans will not be allowed on sports stadiums or race tracks, Hogg said.
Health vigilance is also maintained in hospitals and nursing homes in the state. Hospital visits are prohibited with the exception of children’s parents, obstetric patients and people with disabilities.
Nursing home staff must be tested for COVID-19 twice a week. Residents must undergo weekly testing. Indoor visits to nursing homes will be limited to pathetic care, and visitors must have proof of a negative covid test result.
Hospitals that are at or close to their capacity limit can transfer patients to hospitals that can provide the necessary care. In addition, hospitals are ordered to avoid election procedures that require prolonged ventilation, ICU admission, or skilled nursing care.
Difficulties have been observed in how many people in Maryland have been diagnosed with the virus and how many have been hospitalized. The seven-day moving average of new cases as of Tuesday was 1,871, about 600 more than last week. There were 1,046 people admitted to the hospital after this summer. Another 26 deaths were announced.
As of last Wednesday evening, Hogg had reduced indoor operations for bars and restaurants from 75% to 50%.
Individual jurisdictions announced their own strict sanctions earlier this month, including in the counties of Frederick, Montgomery and Prince George.
Maryland had a stay-at-home order from mid-March to mid-May and some particularly hard-hit areas chose to keep it in place for longer.
Stay tuned to NBC and Washington Washington for more details on this evolving story.
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