Travel Restricted, Gatherings Limited In MD: Governor Hogan

MARYLAND — To help prevent an increase in the spread of the coronavirus over the winter holidays, Gov. Larry Hogan announced several executive orders including reducing the size of public gatherings. He said his theme was "home for the holidays," encouraging Marylanders to stay at home rather than gathering with those outside their households.

“This holiday season could present our toughest challenge yet," Hogan said at a news conference Thursday evening, noting the Thanksgiving holiday did not present as great a surge as was feared.

“Community transmission does continue to have an impact," he added, "and things can change rapidly if we do not keep doing the things that keep us safe."

To that end, the Maryland Department of Health is issuing a public health advisory lowering the public gathering limit from 25 to 10, effective Thursday, Hogan said. Health officials also advise Marylanders against all nonessential activities and holiday gatherings with people outside their immediate households.

"We simply cannot afford to let our guard down over the holidays," Hogan said, calling it a "very critical time."

The state is suspending in-person, customer-facing operations at its government facilities as of Monday for the next two weeks. Officials are asking all businesses to encourage employees to telework when possible.

Travel will be limited to essential purposes only.

"Marylanders who do travel outside Maryland or [people] who do travel to our state will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result or to self-quarantine for 10 days," Hogan said.

“We’re going to try to ensure as much compliance as we can,” Hogan said, but he said there would not be enforcement targeted at travelers.

Marylanders who travel to the District of Columbia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia are exempt from the coronavirus testing requirement.

The terminal at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) will only be open to ticketed passengers and employees, all of whom must wear face coverings. Passengers can get free masks at the BWI information desk or concession centers.

Santa Claus, elves and reindeer are exempt from travel orders, Hogan noted.

"If you don't have to travel, please don't," Maryland Transportation Secretary Greg Slater said at the news conference with the governor.

"As COVID-19 is picking up, we join Gov. Hogan in asking all Marylanders to stay home for the holidays," Slater said. "We have to interact with you to run this supply chain. And the best gift you can give ... in 2020 is a safe and healthy start to 2021."

While authorities want families to celebrate, the governor said: "Our message is simple: You are safer at home for the holidays."

Family gatherings were among "the most dangerous things" that contact tracers have found as far as spreading the virus, Hogan noted.

Additional Relief Funding For Families, Businesses

More than $600 million in emergency economic relief for the state has been rolled out, but a greater package that will provide "further support for our struggling families and small businesses" will be proposed when the Maryland General Assembly convenes in 2021, Hogan said.

Since 70 percent of hospitality businesses may not last beyond six months without relief, Hogan said, the state was providing $180 million in new economic relief measures he was introducing Thursday, including $50 million for hotels and hospitality businesses.

He also announced a $40 million boost in temporary cash assistance benefits to help families and $40 million that would go toward the 4 percent increase in pay for developmental disability care providers, expediting the raise to take effect in January, six months ahead of schedule.

To support the state's businesses and organizations, Hogan encouraged people to eat from local restaurants by ordering carryout or delivery and giving to local nonprofits and food banks.

"Do your holiday shopping at small mom-and-pop businesses, maybe even utilizing curbside pickup," Hogan said. "This is the season of giving, so please do whatever you can to help support our Maryland small businesses."

Watch the news conference:

Watch today's press conference live: https://t.co/TquGpENutr
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) December 17, 2020

Patch editor Alessia Grunberger contributed to this report.