As we have all slowly adjusted to our “new normal” (I bet you’ve heard that phrase about 20 times this week), it seems almost odd that it has been about 2 months into this quarantine. Wearing a mask is pretty much second nature at this point when I go into a store. I’ve seen the word “essential” plastered everywhere from signs saying thank you to workers, to commercials taking advantage of the new popular word. As we see the infection rates start to come down thanks to social distancing, hope can creep in that we can start to re-open certain businesses. While some states have already re-opened, Maryland is taking a more cautious approach and basing openings off data and trends for the infection and death rates.
Governor Hogan is implementing a stage-based recovery program for Maryland, in hopes to best serve our state and prevent a resurgence of infection rates.
Stage 1 (As of May 28th – this is our current status)
This stage is based off low risk activities and re-openings. In order to get here the Governor needed to see a consecutive 14-day decline in a numbers dealing with hospitalization rates. The point of this step is to move slow and watch infection rates as some things are allowed to reopen.
- The stay at home order was lifted and replaced with a “safer at home” guideline
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Changes that have occurred so far:
- Opening of small shops and businesses
- Curbside pickup for businesses
- Elective medical procedures
- Small attendance outdoor religious gatherings
- Recreational boating, fishing, golf, tennis camping, hiking, & hunting
- Outdoor fitness classes
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Changes effective May 29th at 5 p.m. :
- Outdoor dining for restaurants
- Youth sport and day camp activities for no more than 10 individuals
- Outdoor pools at 25% capacity
- Hogan gave discretion to each county as to when they would begin phase 1 due to the varying levels of infection rates in each
- Howard county has just announced that as of this Friday, May 29th, we will begin opening some businesses at 50% capacity and slowly moving into Phase 1
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Stop signs: various things can occur that would require Maryland to stop moving through a phase or revert to previous rules
- Increase in hospitalizations
- Disregard for social distancing guidelines
- Significant outbreaks of community transmission (sustained increase over 5 or more days)
If Stage 1 is a success (hospitalization and infection rates do not spike), then medium risk activities will begin to open. Many people are frustrated at the slow pace of the reopenings; however, they are designed to protect Marylanders, prevent a spike of infections, and help with a steady recovery. Please do your part by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and enjoy things as they begin to open while following guidelines. We wish everyone good health.
