Baltimore Orders Masks Indoors As Coronavirus Infections Surge

BALTIMORE, MD — As the coronavirus spreads, Baltimore is re-instituting an indoor mask mandate starting Monday, Aug. 9. The mayor and health commissioner urged people to get vaccinated if they were eligible. All Marylanders can get the COVID-19 vaccine if they are 12 years old and up.

"The delta variant is here, and it poses a serious threat to our unvaccinated residents," Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said at a news conference Thursday afternoon, where she reported the city had seen a surge in coronavirus infections.

In the past four weeks, there has been a more than 300 percent increase in coronavirus positivity rates and cases in the city, which officials attributed to the delta variant.

The delta variant is nearly twice as transmissible as previous strains of the virus, city health officials said, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be spread regardless of vaccination status.

"The best way to stop variants is to stop spread," according to Baltimore City health officials. "The best way to stop spread is vaccination."

Visit covax.baltimorecity.gov for information on where to get vaccinated in Baltimore.

After vaccination, Dzirasa said masks were vital in stopping the spread of the virus.

"Masks are an especially important means of protecting some of the most vulnerable among us who can't be vaccinated, including our children under the age of 12, and those with medical conditions for which vaccination is not an option," Dzirasa said.

"If you are outside your home, whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, you must wear a mask indoors to protect yourself and others," Dzirasa said.

The mask mandate will take effect at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 9.

The mandate will not take effect until Monday, Mayor Brandon Scott said, to enable people time to prepare and create signage.

Scott called on Baltimoreans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the coronavirus spreads.

Baltimore City has had more than 67,000 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began, the Maryland Department of Health reported Thursday.

More than 1,650 people have died from COVID-19 as of Aug. 5 as well.

"People will continue to die if we do not get more people vaccinated," Scott said. " More people will die. This is not fear mongering. This is reality."

For the latest on the coronavirus in Baltimore, get Patch news alerts.

Gov. Larry Hogan is also hosting a news conference on COVID-19 in Maryland, which will take place at 2 p.m.

See Also:

• Lamar Jackson Misses First Day Of Camp After Positive COVID Test
• Baltimore Coronavirus Transmission 'Substantial': CDC