Alsobrooks: PG County May Enter Phase 2 Of Reopening Next Week

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Prince George's County may be entering the next phase of Gov. Larry Hogan's phased reopening as early as next week, according to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

Last Wednesday, Hogan announced he would be lifting coronavirus restrictions on nail salons, retail shops, tattoo parlors, and other non-essential businesses as Maryland enters phase two of reopening. Like in phase one, Hogan is giving local government officials discretion on how and when they will reopen.

Alsobrooks said at that time Prince George's County was not ready to enter phase two, and that county health officials were tracking trends for COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, to ensure they continued to decline.

"The County’s metrics are trending in a positive direction and Prince George’s could potentially begin a modified phase two on June 15, 2020," Alsobrooks said, in an email statement on Friday. "The decision will be made in consultation with our Chief Health Officer who continues to monitor the County’s health data, including continued downward trends in the number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations."

Alsobrooks said the she would be providing an update to the community this week.

The Health Department also confirmed four new deaths due to COVID-19, in Prince George's County. The overall total of deaths in the county attributed to the disease stands at 578.

In the county's congregant facilities, such as senior living centers and group homes, there have been 467 total positive cases and five confirmed deaths among staff members and 1,013 confirmed cases and 218 deaths among residents in Prince George's County, according to the latest data.

Globally, more than 7 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and over 403,000 people have died, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday morning. In the United States, more than 1.9 million people have been infected and over 110,000 people have died from COVID-19.

Prince George's County still has the highest number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus of any county in the state, according to the latest data from the Maryland Department of Health.

Second on the list is Montgomery County, with a total of 12,818 positive infections. However, Montgomery does have more COVID-19-related deaths than Prince George's County with 620 deaths as of Monday morning.

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The Maryland Department of Health is releasing information about the new coronavirus by ZIP Code and the PG Heath Department began reporting that information on its website.

Confirmed Positive Coronavirus Cases by ZIP Code

The CDC advises doing the following to stop the spread of the virus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If this is not available, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Keep 6 feet of space between people.
• Stay home.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

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