Governor Hogan declared a 30-day state of emergency in response to rising COVID-19 hospitalizations, which could exceed 5,000 in the coming weeks. The Governor announced that he is mobilizing 1,000 members of the National Guard, 250 of which will help with testing at sites statewide.
From the Baltimore Sun’s coverage of today’s press conference:
Larry Hogan implemented Tuesday a temporary state of emergency and other executive orders designed to give the state government more powers and tools to combat the crises.
The new initiatives, announced at a news conference in Annapolis, give state health secretary Dennis R. Schrader broad powers to assist hospitals with soaring bed occupancy numbers and staff shortages; expand the emergency medical services workforce; mobilizes 1,000 members of the Maryland National Guard; open 20 new coronavirus testing sites adjacent to hospitals, which have reported high numbers of emergency department walk-ins seeking confirmatory testing; and begin providing booster shots for 12- to 15-year-old kids in the state.
The governor also called on the federal government to increase its monoclonal antibody, rapid test and COVID-19 antiviral pill supply, all of which are depleted amid the latest wave of the virus.
The Governor urged people to get vaccinated and get their booster shot if eligible. Governor Hogan announced that individuals are now eligible for boosters five months after their second dose of the vaccine, instead of the previous six months. He plans on urging the White House to lower that to four months for at-risk populations. Children aged 12-15 are eligible for their booster shots and children aged 5-11 are encouraged to receive their vaccines to help mitigate COVID-19 surges in schools.
The Governor, along with governors from other states, will be on a call with the White House today following the press conference.
For more information, please visit the links below.
Executive Order from the Governor
Executive Order Health Care Matters
