MARYLAND — In Maryland, officials say 7.3 percent of the population has been tested for the new coronavirus.
"Baltimore City, still currently in Stage One of recovery, is above the state average with 8.1% of its population tested," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement Wednesday morning, as the state's new high-volume testing site opens at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The rest of the state is in stage two of recovery, with businesses such as nail salons and banks able to open with restrictions and indoor dining permitted at 50 percent capacity.
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Hogan has expressed his concern about Baltimore lagging behind the rest of the state in allowing businesses to reopen.
"I think it’s absolutely absurd that there are thousands of people gathering in the streets and yet a small business can’t open their doors," Hogan said at a news conference announcing the return of indoor dining a week ago. " I think the small retail shops should be able to open. And Baltimore is far below the state average. No excuse."
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Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young said last Friday that retailers could reopen at 50 percent capacity. He said he would announce Wednesday whether to proceed with further reopening. However, on Wednesday morning he issued a statement pushing that back to Friday, saying that he and his health commissioner wanted to assess more data.
After consulting with Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa and our public health experts, we have decided to wait until Friday, June 19, 2020, to make an announcement about the next phase of Baltimore City’s reopening. — Mayor Bernard C. Jack Young (@mayorbcyoung) June 17, 2020
According to Hogan, the rate of people in Baltimore testing positive for the virus has dropped by 35 percent since June 1.
There are 62,969 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland, state health officials reported Wednesday.
Authorities said 560 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the past day statewide as nearly 15,600 tests were conducted.
The state opened a high-volume testing site Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, and Friday, June 19, at 1 West Pratt Street in Baltimore.
“We are strongly encouraging anyone who wants to be tested for COVID-19, and anyone who has been in any large gathering, or who may have been exposed — especially those who are in or around vulnerable populations — to get tested," Hogan said in a statement Tuesday.
He was reiterating his message from a June 10 news conference where he announced the lifting of restrictions on indoor dining and outdoor amusements. Starting Friday, June 19, he is allowing gyms, malls and casinos to reopen too.
"As more people are returning to the workplace, and as more people are beginning to interact with larger numbers of people," Hogan said, "testing will become more critical than ever."
Over the past seven days, the rolling positivity rate was 6.20 percent statewide, meaning 6.2 percent of those tested for the virus came up positive.
In addition to the site at the convention center in Baltimore, a large testing site has been set up at Six Flags America theme park, which will offer appointment-free testing from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, and Friday, June 19, at 13710 Central Avenue in Upper Marlboro.
.@MDHealthDept will begin operating a free #COVID19 testing site at the Baltimore Convention Center beginning Wed., June 17, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are encouraged—to schedule a test at this site or to find a test site near you, visit https://t.co/LHAwDqKRoc. pic.twitter.com/XqvBqdK0br — Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) June 16, 2020
Since the pandemic began in March, state health officials say 526,882 coronavirus tests have been administered across Maryland.
