November 5, 2020 – Governor Hogan Press Conference
“Just wear the damn masks.” – Governor Larry Hogan
- The numbers reported today show there are 1,198 new cases, which is Maryland’s highest one-day total since July 25th.
- As of today, Maryland’s seven-day positivity rate is 4.21%.
- There are seven Maryland jurisdictions above the 5% benchmark.
- Over the past two weeks, the state has seen an increase in total hospitalizations and ICU levels.
- The bulk of new cases are among young people, with the majority of hospitalizations still trending older.
- Maryland just entered the federal “red zone” for case rates.
- Our average cases per 100,000 has risen to 15, which is a 22% increase over the past week.
- Case rates are now above 10 cases per 100,000 in 18 of 24 jurisdictions.
- Maryland has met and exceeded a goal of increasing surge capacity to 6,000 beds.
- Maryland has built a robust contact-tracing operation with almost 1,400 tracers.
- The state has built a response infrastructure from scratch, including a long-term testing strategy.
- Maryland has conducted more than 3.5 million Covid-19 tests.
- There are more than 220 testing sites and we have deployed rapid antigen tests to all nursing homes.
- Due to an increase in infections in Allegany County, state health officials are standing up a new testing site, at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.
- Maryland has distributed more than 78 million units of PPE to date, and has built up a 60-day emergency supply of the most critical resources.
- Nearly 40 Maryland companies are working on developing and manufacturing coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics.
- The Maryland Department of Health submitted a plan to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for ordering, distributing and administering a vaccine.
- Maryland doubled its investment with an additional $250 million to provide even more help to our struggling families and small businesses.
- Citizens that are able are encouraged to telework, and employers should make every effort to give employees the opportunity to telework.
- The statewide masking order will remain in full force and effect, requiring everyone to wear masks or face coverings in the public spaces of all businesses and outdoors when distancing cannot be maintained.
- Maryland is renewing its travel advisory and warning Marylanders to avoid traveling to or from states with positivity rates of 10% or higher.
