Posted on 11/17/2020 12:03:28 PM PST by EinNYC
Due to a surge in COVID-19 cases statewide, Governor Larry Hogan has announced a series of additional restrictions statewide to take effect this Friday, November 20th.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, all restaurants, bars, and facilities where food and/or alcohol are served must close by 10 p.m. Takeout and delivery services are encouraged to continue, but in-person dining will not be permitted between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 p.m.
In addition, all retail businesses, religious institutions, and personal services will revert back to 50% capacity restrictions, as previously seen in Stage Two of the state’s reopening plan.
Fans will no longer be permitted in the stands at any professional or collegiate stadium or racetrack statewide.
Until further notice, visitation at all Maryland nursing homes will be heavily limited, and all visitors must have proof of a negative COVID test result within 72 hours prior to their visit. Visits will also generally be limited to compassionate care visits. The state is doubling the number of Rapid Response Teams deployed to nursing homes and to other outbreaks, clusters, and hotspots to provide an extra level of triage and to supplement staffing needs.
The Maryland Health Department is also instituting mandatory, twice-weekly testing for all staff at nursing homes statewide, and mandatory weekly testing for all nursing home residents, effective no later than Friday.
In addition to limiting visits at nursing homes, hospital visitation will now be restricted statewide until further notice, with exceptions of compassionate care, parents or guardians of minors, obstetrics, and support for patients with disabilities.
All of these new restrictions come amidst a surge in cases statewide. Governor Hogan says the state has now seen 13 straight days with more than 1,000 new cases, including 2,149 new cases in just the past 24 hours. The statewide positivity rate is now 6.85%, the 8th straight day it has been over 5%. 20 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions have positivity rates above the 5% benchmark.
For the first time since June 7th, Maryland has surpassed 1,000 hospitalizations. Hogan says hospital capacity in the state is up 100% since November 1st, with 255 patients currently in the ICU.
The governor is also encouraging college students who are planning to return home, anyone visiting an older relative, and anyone returning from out of state travel to get tested.
“We are in a war right now, and the virus is winning. Now more than ever, I am pleading with the people of our state to stand together a while longer to help us battle this surging virus,” said Hogan.
I've already been living the COVID "life". Haven't gone to restaurants, friends' homes, or any crowded situation for months. I frankly don't know if the new vaccines will help or not. Argh...
All the cool kids are doing it.
I frankly don't know if the new vaccines will help or not
I say that about the 30-40% effective flu vaccines, but 95% against Wuhan is pretty impressive.
So glad I fled the communist state of Maryland 15 years ago for Florida.
But you don’t know the long term effects or what the mRNA platform technology may do to us.
or less than half as effective as this kung flu vac.
“....between the hours of 10PM and 6PM.”
Does this mean that from I can dine in between 6PM and 10PM each day or should it read “....between the hours of 10PM and 6AM.”?
But you don’t know the long term effects or what the mRNA platform technology may do to us.
If enough people who want it take it we will have virtually no community spread and the virus is gone in 6-12 months.
The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves.
PA just did the same thing.
“I say that about the 30-40% effective flu vaccines, but 95% against Wuhan is pretty impressive.”
Since Wuhan is a new virus no one has natural immunity although there are some hints that some people are more resistant to it than others. Hopefully, Wuhan hasn’t started mutating into different strains—yet.
“So glad I fled the communist state of Maryland 15 years ago for Florida.”
Same here.
So glad I fled the communist state of Maryland 8.5 years ago for Florida.
As I understand it, the big problem with flu vaccines is that they are formulated based on an educated guess of what strain of flu is going to strike much later in the year.
Yep, it would be nice if we learned how to stop guessing and just develop a more effective vaccine quicker
The MD death rate: 1 person per million
The virus is not “ winning” anymore than a spreading flu or cold
It is infecting numbers of healthy young people who will now develop some natural immunity.
Would they dare to publish the hospitalization rates for Nov 2016-18
as compared to now?
https://covidtracking.com/data/state/maryland
It means no breakfast or lunch.
Nobody does
But the possibiities are very disturbing esp for younger people
95% against Wuhan is pretty impressive
It seems impressive, however a vaccine against a virus that has a 0.6% death rate, and I am not math whiz, but that looks like your chances of living from the virus are greater than taking your chances on a vaccine.
I’m still working in this state.. But Florida is beckoning!
One state after another...just like dominoes...funny how that works.
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