Dr. Kalyanaraman says COVID cases are likely underreported based on so many at-home test results. The focus of what hes trying to do is reduce hospitalizations and deaths, and clearly hes doing so without stepping in the politically divisive issue of mandates.. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. High-quality N95 masks should be worn by everyone while indoors in public spaces until the current surge has passed., [Graphics: How are Maryland COVID cases, vaccinations and other metrics trending? Here are the latest mask orders from central Maryland: Federal mandates still require people to wear face coverings in certain situations. After consulting with our health officials, we are confident in our decision to lift the indoor mask mandate on February 28, said Alsobrooks. Updated February 28, 2023 at 9:36 AM ET. So, I didnt end up in the hospital or dead like so many other folks.. Starting next week, employees and visitors in state buildings in Maryland will no longer have to wear face masks as COVID-19 rates continue to drop, Maryland Gov. Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. However, the governor reintroduced a measure specifically for state buildings in early January amid the early omicron surge. This article was written by WTOPs news partners atMaryland Mattersand republished with permission.Sign up for Maryland Matters free email subscription today. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Meanwhile, flu and other seasonal illnesses also are bringing people into hospitals, Delbridge said. On social media, many residents expressed elation and relief that the day of unmasking had "finally" come. Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them. Copyright The new framework from the CDC categorizes communities by low, medium or high risk as far as COVID-19 levels. Moving forward, we will continue to closely monitor key metrics and remainprepared to take whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.. Currently, people nationwide must wear masks in public transportation hubs like airports and bus stations as well as while passengers in taxis, airplanes, ride-share vehicles, ships, ferries, trains and subways. Citing improved COVID-19 health metrics and high vaccination rates, Gov. Sign up to get the Maryland Matters Memo in your inbox every morning. In Howard County where officials say COVID-19 cases are down about 90 percent from the peak, County Executive Calvin Ball says it's now safe tolift the indoor mask mandate. Levels are determined by the number of hospital beds in use, hospital admissions and total new COVID-19 cases in an area. TOWSON, Md. Anna Gawel | agawel@wtop.com. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. ", Baltimore City is the exception. Balls decision came in consultation with local health and business leaders. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the county is now less than 100, the first time its been that low since Dec. 19, 2021. Through consistent prevention and timely, and time-limited, responses to surges, we can continue to protect our residents from COVID while keeping our schools, businesses, and hospitals open and healthy, Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said in a news release. Maryland lifts its statewide mask mandate for schools, effective immediately. As it stands, Montgomery County remains on track to lift its indoor mask mandate Feb. 21. The Anne Arundel County Health Department announced that its indoor mask requirement expired Monday, Jan. 31, while Baltimore Countys government I do not find it to be a particular challenge.". Average Retirement Savings By Age: Are You Normal? ET. Meanwhile, in Harford County masks are no longer required inside government buildings. The city's gross domestic product fell by 3.5% last year. In "It is important to remember that people may choose to mask at any time. Masking is the least restrictive intervention we can employ to slow down transmission before our hospitals are completely overwhelmed. The decision gives local school districts the power to decide whether to Citing a 243% increase in cases over the past month, strongly urging mask usage in indoor public places, Dr. Dzirasa urged residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces. Nominees work for the natural gas industry drew complaints from environmentalists and key lawmakers. The states 7-day positivity rate is 5.12% with 986 people The new mask guidance for state buildings and leased space in public or shared buildings goes into effect Feb. 22, according to a news release from Hogans office. officials: SNAP helped thousands during pandemic, but challenges navigating system remain, COVID-19 vaccine may become annual, like flu shot, Lierman transition team recommendations: improve customer service, boost minority business participation, Key component to Moores minimum wage proposal faces legislative hurdles, High costs of three-year delay complicate efforts to move forward on Pimlico, Laurel Park redevelopment. "We all have a responsibility to protect those among us most at risk.". Coronavirus infection rates in Maryland are declining, in line with national trends. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Gov. But, it's also hospitalizations, which, comparatively, remain relatively low.". Maryland Gov. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas He said 84% of last years COVID hospitalizations and an even greater share of the deaths were not fully vaccinated. Leaders in Maryland have been lifting mask mandates in recent weeks by jurisdiction as infections decline. 20th, CDC Data Tracker vaccine tabs will refresh weekly on Thursdays by 8:00PM EST ( Vaccinations in the United States, Vaccinations This article was written by WTOPs news partners atMaryland Mattersand republished with permission. As of Friday, the CDC no longer requires masks on school buses. Other Covid curbs in Hong Kong included strict quarantine rules, limitations on the number of people gathering in public places, as well as restricting visitors in nursing homes. However, about 2,000 people a day still are dying of the virus, The Times reported. We must all learn to live with this virus, not in fear of it.. However, over the past few weeks, the numbers have been falling sharply. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. Overall, the CDC is shifting its focus to concentrate on preventing the spread of COVID-19 to minimize the strain on the health care system, Walensky said Thursday. Several Maryland counties are lifting their indoor public mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases continue trending downward statewide. TOWSON, Md. Please enter valid email address to continue. Given the dramatic declines in our health metrics, we are now able to take another step toward normalcy in state operations, Hogan said. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. For now, mask requirements will remain inside all Baltimore County government offices and facilities, including all county library locations. "I think things are pretty much over but I'll probably continue just for my own preference. Hogan lifted the statewide indoor mask mandate in May 2021, which required masks in all businesses, stores and restaurants. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Leaders in Maryland have been lifting mask mandates in recent weeks by jurisdiction as infections decline. The new guidance issued Friday comes as the virus becomes endemic and officials are focused on preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19 rather than all instances of infection. The bottom line: About 70 percent of Americans will be able to shed their masks while indoors. Maryland will begin distributing 20 million of the high-filtration masks known as N95 and KN95 next week free of cost, Gov. Moores controversial nominee for the Public Service Commission withdraws, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Predicted peak bloom date for DC's cherry blossoms announced, Maryland Matters free email subscription. Above all, he said, patients who are seeking COVID-19 testing should make use of state and local clinics, not hospitals. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Glenn Youngkin (R) of Virginia Hogan said he does not. In order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision, he said. In Baltimore County, indoor mask requirements ended February 1, with their State of Emergency set to expire on February 7. They didn't accept it the first time," Glenn Saltzman said Wednesday. The Republican governor, however, did not implement statewide indoor mask or vaccination mandates, steps that public health experts and medical professionals say would curb the spread of the coronavirus in a state where more than 1 out of every 25 Marylanders has been infected since the beginning of December. About 4,503,017 Maryland residents have been fully vaccinated as of February 03, 2023. He said we dont have the means to enforce a statewide mask mandate, and that people who choose not to wear masks wont change their minds under threat of a government requirement. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) asked the State Board of Education on Thursday "I seem to be one of very few people at this point wearing a mask. Getty Images. News you can trust. Baltimore County plans to lift the indoor mask mandate requirement and end required COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees, effective Feb. 28. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. We have learned over the last year and a half that mask mandates work but voluntary masking recommendations do not, said Toner, also an internist and emergency physician. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. 2023 The Associated Press. If Hogan wont touch mandates, local executives and jurisdiction leaders can step in, Wen said, by implementing vaccination requirements to enter businesses, attend concerts and athletic events, eat in restaurants and work out in gyms. Maryland's COVID-19 cases, positivity rate and hospitalizations have all more than doubled in the past month, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Larry Hogan implemented Tuesday a temporary state of emergency and other executive orders designed to fight the current COVID surge. Elizabeth Shwe covered California state politics during her internship at The Sacramento Bee. Maryland school districts were already allowed to end mask requirements if they met certain criteria, and Anne Arundel and Howard counties met those and lifted mask orders accordingly. "I want to be very clear. Hospitalizations are also down by 60 percent in the county. Its just plain sad. The Maryland State Board of Education voted Feb. 22 to lift the mandate to require masks in schools. Larry Hogan announced Monday that he will soon lift his mask mandate for state government buildings. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). At least four states New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut and Delaware plan to lift its statewide mask mandates for schools within the next month. All rights reserved. Lawmakers in Annapolis ratified the decision Friday, leaving decisions about face coverings up to local school boards. "I don't see the public accepting a mandate. SCRAPPED in Sweden and Postponed Elsewhere Until At Least 2022 There is so much information online about the recent blanketing of WVA, VA, MD and surrounding states with what looked like White This week, parents who don't want their kids to wear masks in schools could get an update from the Maryland State Board of Education, which meets on Tuesday. In Maryland, officials say about 4.48 million people are considered fully vaccinated. Baltimore County will lift its indoor mask mandate for government buildings on Feb. 28, 2022. The call to end mask mandates in schools comes after the decline of the coronavirus omicron variant. Hong Kong had largely followed mainland Chinas zero COVID strategy over the last three years and had some of the worlds strictest anti-virus rules. I think it was a thoughtful series of regulations that were put forward, and the General Assembly approved those [regulations] and I suspect they will remain in place until we see something else from the board, Ferguson said. TOWSON, Md. Moores controversial nominee for the Public Service Commission withdraws, Grand jury indicts DC employee charged with killing 13-year-old boy, Virginia state superintendent Jillian Balow announces resignation, Predicted peak bloom date for DC's cherry blossoms announced, Maryland Matters free email subscription. As of Feb. 22, 2022, the state of Maryland, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and Montgomery County will no longer require masks in government buildings. During its March 8 business meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education voted to make masks optional in all MCPS schools and facilities. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) highlighted that the General Assemblys Joint Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee, which is tasked with reviewing state agency regulations, voted to approve the State Board of Educations emergency regulation last month. In a statement earlier this week, Rakowski said the board will continue its practice of reviewing current COVID-19 metrics to assess the need for continuing the regulation. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. "I'll probably be wearing my mask here and there, but I want to make sure that people have the choice and I still encourage people when they want to, they should wear their mask," says Ball. Anne Arundel County Public Schools made masks optional Feb. 18. Prince Georges Countys indoor mask mandate will remain in effect through March 9. Harford County votes to end mask mandate, effective March 1. Sign up for Maryland Matters free email subscription today. A A Maryland Gov. Mandates work, Beyrer said, but they may be unpopular among the Republican governors supporters, as well as those he might court in the future. Several Maryland counties are lifting their indoor public mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases continue trending downward statewide. Hogan called vaccines the single most important tool to combat the virus. "In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.". She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Illinois judge hears arguments in lawsuit claiming due process violations in enforcement of school mask mandate | Illinois | thecentersquare.com Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions. The COVID-19 positivity rate the percentage of COVID tests coming back positive has dropped to about 3%, which is down 87% from a peak last month. The statewide mask mandate has We are strongly encouraged by the progress weve seen in recent days and remain cautiously optimistic that we will continue to emerge from this omicron wave, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewskisaid in a news release. Hes leaving it more to the counties to make decisions about other kinds of mandates, but this virus does not respect county boundaries or state boundaries, Beyrer said. Several hospitals statewide have adjusted protocols and internal standards to meet the demands of the moment, including University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, which announced its shift to made crisis-mode Monday. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) called on the Maryland State Board of Education to rescind school masking mandates on Thursday. The Associated Press contributed reporting. In schools, masking is now only recommended in counties with a high risk of infection, according to the CDC. Tim Swift and Margaret Chadbourn 3/1/2022. The board has vowed to make a decision about masks in schools based on the metrics that health officials deem acceptable with regards to removing school mask mandates. Instead, the decision about masking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will rest with each local jurisdiction and its respective school board. He and Dr. Dzirasa each urged people to get vaccinated and boosted to provide ongoing protection against COVID-19. Regardless of the decision that the board of education makes, some parents say they will continue to send their kids to school with a mask. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. Designed by, INVERSORES! Its the unvaccinated who make up the majority of people being hospitalized, and every step needs to be taken to stop transmission in this population so as to reduce the strain on the health care system, Wen said. The state board is made up of 13 regular members and one student member who are appointed by the governor. For most of the pandemic, people in Hong Kong have been required to wear a mask in indoor and outdoor public areas. The Baltimore County Council will hold a vote to consider continuation of the Countys state of emergency beyond Monday, January 3, 2022 at the Council meeting scheduled for Monday, January 3. Kelly (D), who served more than 12, If youve been thinking the pace of the 2023 General Assembly session is slower than some years, youre not wrong. Of February 03, 2023 at 9:36 AM ET most of the coronavirus omicron variant to shed their while... Specifically for state government buildings about 4.48 million people are considered fully vaccinated mandates, as COVID-19 cases in area! Of Friday, leaving decisions about face coverings in certain situations hospital beds in use, hospital admissions total! Updated February 28, 2023 at 9:36 AM ET people to get vaccinated boosted! 8 business meeting, the decision Friday, the CDC no longer requires on... 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