Baltimore Not Moving Into Stage 3 Of Reopening

BALTIMORE, MD — Although Gov. Larry Hogan announced the state will move to stage three Friday evening, Baltimore's mayor said the city is not there yet.

Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young reminded citizens the governor has left the final say up to each local jurisdiction as far as when to move between phases of reopening.

"We will continue to exercise that authority," Young said at a news conference Wednesday.

More than 14,500 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Baltimore, where 107 are hospitalized as a result, Young said Wednesday. COVID-19, disease caused by the virus, has killed more than 440 Baltimoreans, he said.

"While some parts of the state may feel ready to move fully into phase three, that is not the case for Baltimore City," Young said.

"The data for Baltimore looks promising, and we anticipate moving to phase two next week, which would include allowing 50 percent indoor dining capacity," said Young, who reinstituted restrictions on indoor dining in July after the positivity rate was increasing in certain areas and the number of new cases doubled in a matter of weeks.

State health data shows the coronavirus positivity rate in Baltimore was 6.12 percent on Aug. 1, compared with 3.04 percent on Sept. 1.

"We do not want to erase the gains we have made over the past month by loosening restrictions now," Young said. "Now is still not the time to be planning large parties, cookouts, celebrations or religious events."

More information about phase two would be forthcoming, the mayor said.

"We know what we need to do," having experienced the pandemic since March, Young said.

He issued this guidance for the holiday weekend:

• Do not host cookouts with people outside your household.
• Wear masks in public.
• Practice social distancing in public.
• Wash hands and high-touch surfaces often.

"Baltimore, don't forget we're still in an active pandemic. My executive order exists to protect the public from this dangerous disease," Young said. "I want to thank the majority of Baltimoreans who have heeded the guidance."

Several times he repeated his request for people not to congregate.

"We are still in a pandemic, one that is built to spread rapidly and in large groups," Young said.

"Please do not gather in large groups, and if you are out in public, wear a face covering to protect yourself and others," Young added.

"We want to focus on harm reduction and public health safety for the holiday weekend," Young said. "Let's get through the Labor Day weekend without violence or an outbreak of the coronavirus."

There have been 218 homicides in Baltimore so far this year, the Baltimore Police Department reported Wednesday, Sept. 2, compared with 229 homicides at this time last year.

Nonfatal shootings are also down, at 546 in 2019 and 468 in 2020, according to police.

Last weekend, two cases of violence were reported against Baltimore police officers.

A 38-year-old Baltimore man was charged with second-degree assault, malicious destruction of property and resisting arrest after police said he drove through a police barricade on Baltimore Street around 4:15 a.m. Saturday and hit an officer's vehicle. Police said the man ran away but was arrested shortly thereafter, and the officer was hospitalized.

The day before — around 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 — police said a 29-year-old Gwynn Oak man was charged with malicious destruction of property and reckless endangerment after he threw rocks at the Northwest Police District, breaking a window at the station and damaging several vehicles in the parking lot.

“Acts of aggression and violence against our officers and police property will not be tolerated,” Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said in a statement. "Those responsible for these acts have been arrested."

Last weekend, there was a rash of violence from Friday to Sunday, including five men who were injured in shootings and three women who were stabbed, including one who died as a result of the stabbing.

See Also:

• Movie Theaters, Concert Venues Can Reopen: Hogan's Plan Explained
• Baltimore Restricts Indoor Dining As Virus Spreads
• Baltimore Cancels Recycling; 14 Community Collection Centers Open