December 17, 2020 – Governor Hogan Press Conference
Key takeaways:
- Stay home for the holidays
- New testing and quarantine requirements for travel
- No gatherings larger than 10 people
- State agencies suspending in-person services, all businesses encouraged to telework over the holidays
- $180 million in relief for bars and restaurants, and a boost to the temporary cash assistance benefit
Marylanders are safer at home this holiday season. Contract tracing consistently shows that family and other social gatherings and out-of-state travel lead to the most cases and the highest risk of exposure.
Limit all travel to essential purposes only. If traveling outside of Maryland, you must either obtain a negative COVID-19 test result or self-quarantine for 10 days. This applies to all states except Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Get tested: COVIDtest.maryland.gov
$180 million in additional relief includes:
- $50 million to help hotels and hospitality businesses across the state
- $30 million to replenish the state’s successful relief program for bars and restaurants
- $15 million in assistance to entertainment venues through the state’s successful Main Street program
- $5 million for a new relief initiative to help socially or economically disadvantaged tech-based businesses in the state’s rural counties
- $40 million to boost the Temporary Cash Assistance benefit
- $40 million for health care providers by beginning their 4% increase on January 1, six months ahead of schedule.
An emergency order extends the moratorium on foreclosures to January 31.
What can Marylanders do to help this holiday season?
- Support local restaurants by ordering carryout or delivery.
- Give to a local charity, nonprofit, or foodbank.
- Do holiday shopping at a small business.
Governor Hogan also issued a special emergency order exempting Santa Claus, the elves from Santa’s workshop, and the reindeer necessary for the operation of Santa’s sleigh from any and all travel, testing, and quarantine requirements.
