By Garrett County Joint Information Center Team
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced Wednesday that he is expanding the statewide masking order, and directing the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to issue a public health advisory for out-of-state travel. These changes are based on the state’s data-driven approach to win the fight against the coronavirus.
The expanded order takes effect Friday, July 31 at 5:00 p.m., and requires all Marylanders over the age of five to wear face coverings in the public spaces of all businesses across the state. Face coverings will also be required in outdoor public areas, whenever it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.
The expanded order continues to provide certain exceptions, including for medical conditions.
The travel advisory, which takes effect immediately, strongly advises Marylanders against traveling to states with positivity rates of 10% or higher – currently Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Idaho. It advises Marylanders to postpone or cancel travel of any kind to these areas until their positivity rates decline. Anyone traveling to Maryland from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results.
The expanded face covering mandate now includes all of the following:
- Public transportation
- Indoors at any location where members of the public are generally permitted including, but not limited to:
- Religious Facilities
- Retail Establishments
- Foodservice Establishments
- Fitness Centers
- Gaming Facilities
- Indoor Recreation Establishments
- Personal Services Establishments
- Outdoors where unable to consistently maintain at least six feet of distance from individuals who are not members of their household
- Healthcare services including, but not limited to:
- Physician’s office
- Dentist’s office
- Hospital
- Pharmacy
- Laboratory
- Working in any area where interaction with others is likely, including, but not limited to:
- Shared areas of commercial offices
- Where food is prepared or packaged
For more information on the Governor’s new order and the travel advisory visit bit.ly/md-gov-july. For other coronavirus questions call the COVID-19 hotline at 301-334-7689.
