Free Republic

Montgomery County’s top health official issued an order late Wednesday directing private schools to suspend in-person teaching until Oct. 1, a directive that officials say bypasses Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s request that private schools have sole authority over when and how to reopen. The order from county health officer Travis Gayles cites specific sections of state code that he said empower local health officers to take actions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The move comes after Gayles last week ordered private schools in the county to begin classes online in the fall, a decision that sparked backlash from...