Coronavirus Prompts Travel Ban For Howard County Employees

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — County employees cannot travel out of state for 45 days in the hopes of mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus in Maryland. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced his decision Tuesday. The ban on county employee travel will be reevaluated at the end of the 45-day period or at any point if something new occurs.

“Given the rapidly evolving nature of COVID-19, we are canceling all out-of-state travel for County employees,” said Ball in a statement. “I urge our community and residents to follow health department guidelines on unnecessary travel, social distancing, mitigation efforts, and general personal hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19."

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The Howard County Health Department has been actively engaged in reviewing existing plans if a local response is needed, participating in regular briefings with the CDC and state officials, and communicating to Howard County clinicians to ensure they are equipped to respond. The health department has also developed guidance for local partners and agencies, public and private schools, providers, businesses and the public.

The HCHD recommends residents take the following measures to help prevent illness from this or other viruses:

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water or use alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home from school or work.
• Get a flu shot