Dear MedChi Members and Maryland Physicians:
Happy September, and best wishes to all parents who are navigating the complexities of the new school year (in all its various forms). Here's what we want you to know today:
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Register here for today's Maryland Department of Health all-physician call at 5:00 pm.
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Join CMS for its bi-weekly Office Hours call on Tuesday, September 8 at 5:00 pm. Call 833-614-0820 and enter passcode 6196045 or register for the audio webcast.
NEWS FROM THE GOVERNOR
Yesterday, Governor Larry Hogan held a press conference to announce that the state is now ready to enter Stage 3 of reopening reflected in the Administration’s Plan for Recovery. Prior to the Stage 3 announcement, the Governor addressed several other issues. First, he summarized his previous press conference related to his administration's and MSDE’s strong recommendation that all school jurisdictions should have a plan for students to return to the classroom in some manner by the end of the first quarter. He referenced the metrics and guidance MSDE provided to all jurisdictions and stated that he did not find it acceptable that eight jurisdictions have no plans for students to return. He also referenced other local jurisdiction decisions that he believed were not properly communicated. The Governor referred to an order issued on June 12 that allowed for youth sports. He reemphasized that local jurisdictions can choose to be more restrictive than the state but that it remains their decision and they are accountable for those decisions.
The Governor also provided an update on the upcoming election. The Board of Elections has mailed absentee ballot applications to all Marylanders. He strongly encouraged voters to take advantage of absentee ballots or to participate in early voting. If individuals choose to cast their vote in person on election day, he recommended they should try to do so at off-peak times when the polling places may be less crowded. He stated that despite local jurisdictions’ assertions that they could not secure a sufficient number of elections judges, the administration identified 11,000 persons willing to serve and encouraged local jurisdictions to contact those identified to secure their service.
In his preface to his announcement that the state would be entering Stage 3 of reopening on Friday, September 4 at 5:00 pm, the Governor reviewed the state’s current COVID-19 statistics. He stated that Maryland’s positivity rate was 3.39%, which is an 89% reduction since its height at 26.91% on April 17. The positivity rate has been under 5% for 68 consecutive days since June 25 and has been under 4% for 24 days since August 8. Hospitalizations are down 77% since the peak, and ICU rates are down 30% since July 25. A new metric being measured is cases per 100,000, for which the state’s rate has dropped by 45% in the last month. The Governor asserted that Maryland’s statistics are better than the majority of the states in the nation. He stated that while it is critical that everyone continue to be vigilant in maintaining recommended social distancing and mask usage, the state is in a position to move to Stage 3 of reopening in order to support the strengthening of Maryland’s economy and enhanced efforts to get people back to work. While 77% of the state’s businesses remained open during the crisis and 99% have been open since June 19, the move to Stage 3 will help to ensure the further stabilization of businesses, employment, and the economy. Stage 3 includes the ability for all businesses to reopen. Movie theaters and live entertainment venues will be able to operate at 50% capacity, with a limitation of 100 people for movie theaters and inside venues and 250 people for outside venues. Retail stores and houses of worship will be authorized to move from 50% to 75% capacity. He noted that while the state has provided specified reopening parameters for Stage 3, local jurisdictions have the authority to be more restrictive as has been the case throughout the public emergency.
The Governor wished everyone a good holiday weekend but urged Marylanders to continue to be careful and adhere to social distancing and mask usage guidelines. He stated that contract tracers identified family gatherings as the number one activity for the spread of COVID-19, representing 40% of those tested positive since mid-July. Another 9% was attributed to house parties and outdoor events. To further enhance the effectiveness of contact tracing, the state has entered into a contract with Exposure Notifications Express, a app product of Google and Apple that will help the state notify persons of possible exposure. The Governor concluded his remarks by thanking the doctors, nurses, public health officials, and the people of Maryland. He stated the state has crushed the COVID-19 curve and saved lives, serving as an example to the nation.
Following the Governor’s remarks, Secretary of Commerce Kelley Schulz provided a brief update on the state’s economic recovery. She said that throughout the pandemic the state has worked with all sectors of the economy to keep businesses financially viable and the economy vibrant. The state has added 156,000 jobs, which she attributed to the more than $175 million in grants and loans that her department has distributed to local business. Safety has been a primary objective in working to stabilize the economy. Secretary Schulz said they met with thirteen different industry sectors to develop specific plans and guidance for safe reopening/operations such as cleaning, distancing, signage, etc. These sectors included tourism, manufacturing, retail, entertainment venues, and dining, among others. She reasserted that Maryland is open for business and the state remains committed to protect and enhance business and the economy.
MedChi will continue to monitor and share announcements from the Hogan administration to ensure that you have the information you need.
MORE NEWS, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES
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Check out this week's MedChi News, our digital newsletter for MedChi members.
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The latest issue of Maryland Medicine, our magazine, is out now on digital platforms and available to all physicians.
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Last week, the Montgomery County Medical Society presented a program on COVID-19 staffing in collaboration with the law firm of Paley Rothman.
