Coronavirus Postpones Maryland Primaries From April: Hogan

ANNAPOLIS, MD— Gov. Larry Hogan is postponing the April primary to June 2. Other states have postponed their elections and more governors are expected to follow suit in the days ahead, Hogan said.

The Republican says he has two main priorities — "keeping Marylanders safe and protecting their constitutional right to vote."

The April primary was set for April 28, but the governor said holding the election in person would be a public health danger.

District 7 is voting in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D). This includes parts of Howard and Baltimore counties and Baltimore City. There will be a vote-by-mail system for District 7 only to ensure the special election "moves forward in a fair and timely manner," Hogan said. According to the governor, the board of elections said that this would not be possible at a statewide level, but it will move forward for District 7.

"It is imperative that the people of this congressional district have a voice in the House of Representatives and that Maryland has a full delegation representing our state in Congress," he said. "We will be moving forward with the special general election."

Hogan ordered the Maryland Board of Elections to come up with a plan by April 3 to conduct the primaries elsewhere in a way that will protect public health and preserve constitutional rights.

"It would put Marylanders at risk," Hogan said, noting election judges and poll workers are mainly retirees and those who would be vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Those who are most at risk from the illness are individuals with compromised immune systems and the elderly.

In Maryland, 57 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus as of Tuesday morning, according to state health data, an increase of 20 since Monday morning. This is a 54 percent increase in the past day, Hogan said.

"There are now more than 130 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Washington region," Hogan said, and a rapid increase is expected.

It would endanger public health to allow thousands of people to assemble in places like schools and senior centers, which are already closed, Hogan said.

Both schools and senior centers have been closed under the state of emergency to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Maryland has been under a state of emergency since March 5.

In the primaries, Democrats and Republicans are to determine their picks for the presidential races. Baltimore City voters are slated to pick their candidate for mayor and city council president.

Georgia postponed its presidential primary, citing health risks due to the new coronavirus. Kentucky and Louisiana did so, as well. Ohio closed its polls this week over health concerns.

Hogan issued several other messages around transportation:

• "Avoid any unnecessary travel," Hogan ordered Marylanders Tuesday, March 17. He said he was discouraging anyone from entering the terminal at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport unless they had to travel or were reporting to a job. Measures were being taken to ensure social distancing at the airport. Check-in lines are being eliminated. Airport restaurants were only allowed carryout options, he said Tuesday. The terminal will be undergoing deep cleaning at BWI, according to Hogan.
• On Maryland toll roads and bridges, cashless tolling will be implemented statewide to limit person-to-person interactions, Hogan said. The Maryland Transportation Authority will close all customer service centers.
• MARC trains will be reduced by 50 percent, and local bus, commuter bus, metro and light rail services will be reduced starting Wednesday, March 18, with priority placed on medical trips to places such as hospitals and clinics.
• Hogan said he is in discussions with the Stronach Group about postponing the Preakness to sometime in September.
• MVA is reducing hours. All noncommercial drivers license tests are being suspended. As chair of National Governors Association, he said he sent a letter to the president requesting the federal deadline for Real ID compliance be extended across country beyond Oct. 1.

Hogan ordered several groups of people to stay home, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control over the next 15 days:

• People who feel sick should stay home and contact their medical provider.
• The entire household needs to remain home if someone has tested positive for the new coronavirus, Hogan said.
• Those with underlying health conditions should remain at home.
• Older people should remain at home and away from people as much as possible.

"If we continue to lead, if we continue to work together, and if we rely on and help each other, we will get through this crisis," Hogan said.

The governor encouraged people to use common sense and not to hoard products for cleaning and hygiene.

"All the stores are going to remain open. They're all restocking the shelves. We're not going to run out of those basic necessities," Hogan said. "Panic buying just increases person-to-person exposure."

The decisions announced Tuesday were the latest in a series of changes made under the state of emergency in Maryland due to concerns about COVID-19.

In an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and stop large groups from gathering, the governor ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms across the state, effective at 5 p.m. Monday, March 16, until further notice during the state of emergency. Drive-thru, carryout and food delivery service can continue at restaurants. On Sunday he ordered Maryland's five casinos and the state's racetracks to close at midnight to stem the coronavirus spread. The casinos and racetracks will remain closed until further notice.

For updates on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

Maryland is continuing to operate under a state of emergency. See the governor's coronavirus page for a list of ongoing state actions.

Visit the Maryland Department of Health's coronavirus page for more state health information.

See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's coronavirus disease situation summary for additional information about the illness.

Related:

• MD Governor Orders Restaurants, Bars, Gyms, Theaters To Close
• MD Coronavirus: What To Know For Week Of March 16