Baltimore Opens New Testing Center As Phase 1 Restrictions Return

BALTIMORE, MD — City officials announced the opening of a new coronavirus testing center, as Baltimore returns to amended phase one restrictions.

"We've reached widespread community transmission," Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said at a news conference Friday with the mayor and other local leaders outside City Hall.

The Maryland Department of Health reports 27,464 people Friday have tested positive for the virus in Baltimore, where there is a case rate of 46.38 cases per 100,000 people. Statewide, the rate is 48.34 as of Friday, Dec. 11, data shows.

Up to 50 percent of those with the virus in Baltimore have no symptoms, Dzirasa said.

Since people are feeling fine but spreading the disease unknowingly, there is "significant risk," she said. Being around people "for prolonged periods of time" when they are not wearing face masks, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces, is a major driver of the virus, according to Dzirasa.

"Eating and drinking with others outside your household could be life-threatening right now," Dzirasa said.

In the past month, Baltimore has averaged four deaths daily from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to Dzirasa, which was a 250 percent increase from four weeks ago.

"It is actions not words that will get us through this pandemic," she said.

Hospitals are at 88 percent capacity, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said Friday morning.

Recalling Gov. Larry Hogan's mention at a public briefing Thursday that all jurisdictions in Maryland are in the red zone for new cases, Scott said: "We're on fire when it comes to COVID."

He said people were having to watch their loved ones die over Zoom.

"If we do not take action," Scott said, the city will face a dire situation. "These weren't restrictions that I made lightly."

At 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, these measures will take effect in Baltimore:

• Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people or fewer. In households that exceed 10, this does not apply, the mayor said.
• Food service will be closed for indoor and outdoor dining. Carry-out, delivery and drive-through service may continue.
• Indoor recreational establishments must close, including bingo halls, bowling alleys, roller and ice skating rinks, social/fraternal clubs, cigar and hookah establishments and adult entertainment venues.
• Live performances are prohibited.
• Theaters and outdoor entertainment venues must close.
• Sports gatherings at facilities controlled by Rec and Parks are prohibited.
• Outdoor gatherings at public and private facilities will be limited to no more than 25 persons.
• The following are limited to 25 percent occupancy:
  • Aquariums
  • Fitness centers
  • Malls
  • Museums
  • Outdoor recreational establishments, including golf courses and driving ranges, outdoor archery and shooting ranges, marinas and watercraft rental businesses, campgrounds, horse boarding and riding facilities, outdoor day camps and tour boats.
  • Personal services (staff must wear face coverings while indoors; services can be provided on an appointment-only basis, and the business must keep a lot of customers, staff providing services and others who enter)
  • Religious facilities
  • Retail establishments
  • Zoos

Libraries may continue to operate with curbside pickup service.

Baltimore's social club task force, which includes police officers and members from other city agencies, will be out patrolling to ensure compliance, according to police.

"For those who don't [comply], we will absolutely enforce it," Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said of the mayor's executive order.

For at least four weeks, the city is putting these amended phase one restrictions into effect, according to the health commissioner. This will enable authorities to collect enough data to "see if the restrictions are having the impact needed on new cases, positivity, hospitalizations and deaths before making recommendations on whether to tighten or loosen restrictions accordingly."

In the meantime, Dzirasa asked people to refrain from spending time with others outside their household.

"Please continue to wear your mask, " Dzirasa said. "Wash your hands frequently and please stay at home or seek medical attention if you aren't feeling well."

With 250 new cases of the virus reported in Baltimore daily, she said contact tracers were having difficulty keeping up with new cases, and many people in the city are likely infected.

The virus was spreading "all over the city," Dzirasa said. She said some of the hardest hit ZIP codes were 21224, 21215 and 21209, but "it really is across the entire city."

The city is opening a new community-based coronavirus testing center in northwest Baltimore. The site will not require a doctor's appointment or referral, Dzirasa said.

The testing center will be at the Zeta Center at 4501 Reisterstown Road in Park Heights.

While the city had looked at options for drive-thru sites, officials say they had not been able to find one yet that would not impact traffic if dozens of cars were lined up waiting, according to the health commissioner. She and the mayor said the city was continuing to scout for testing locations for the winter.

See the Baltimore coronavirus dashboard, and watch the Dec. 11 news conference outside City Hall.

Related: Baltimore City Closing Indoor And Outdoor Dining As COVID Spreads