"Our hospitals need to be able to take care of people with heart attacks and strokes, she said. The omicron variant of the coronavirus is highly contagious, but generally causes less severe COVID-19 illnesses than other variants, data shows, especially among people who are fully vaccinated and boosted. Baltimore City is lifting its indoor mask mandate effective March 1. Hong Kong had largely followed mainland Chinas zero COVID strategy over the last three years and had some of the worlds strictest anti-virus rules. Average Retirement Savings By Age: Are You Normal? The Frederick County Board of Health has dropped its mask regulations as of Saturday in response to a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. Baltimore officials said that since Jan. 3, the countys positivity rate has decreased by nearly 80%, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen by nearly 50% since Jan. 11. The Anne Arundel County Department of Health said it will continue to recommend masking and encourage vaccination and testing, while we advance treatment efforts, namely the newly available oral medications for COVID.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C. Jack Moore joined WTOP.com as a digital writer/editor in July 2016. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend wearing masks on public transportation. Marylands statewide masking mandate for schools lifted Tuesday, with some school systems immediately pivoting to an optional face coverings policy. Citing improved COVID-19 health metrics and high vaccination rates, Gov. Hong Kong is dropping its mask mandate making it one of the last international cities to stop requiring face coverings after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As patient volumes surge at Maryland hospitals amid soaring COVID-19 infections statewide, Gov. A A Maryland Gov. ET. Maryland Marylands mask mandate for state office buildings ended on Feb. 22. Just take him as is and operate in our best interest.. The State Board of Education has consistently said their goal is to keep as many students learning in-person as possible. Thats just the way he is. In South Korea, for instance, they are still required on public transportation, as well as in hospitals and pharmacies. The Maryland State Board of Education voted Feb. 22 to lift the mandate to require masks in schools. Anne Arundel County Public Schools made masks optional Feb. 18. In her Thursday night tweets, Walensky said community infection rates will determine when and where extra precautions such as mask wearing and testing should be targeted. A Maryland legislative committee approved the state board of educations decision to Here are the latest mask orders from central Maryland: Anne Arundel County lifted its mask mandate in government buildings Feb. 22 and in other indoor As of Feb. 22, 2022, the state of Maryland, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and Montgomery County will no longer require masks in government buildings. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "Certainly, cases are increasing and we don't want to see that. "I think things are pretty much over but I'll probably continue just for my own preference. "We tell the kids to wear the masks all the time. Maryland school districts were already allowed to end mask requirements if they met certain criteria, and Anne Arundel and Howard counties met those and lifted mask orders accordingly. "I seem to be one of very few people at this point wearing a mask. the County will lift its indoor mask mandate on Monday, February 28, 2022, as COVID-19 case rates continue to drop significantly in the County following the peak of the Omicron variant. They didn't accept it the first time," Saltzman said. But some remain - primary and secondary school students still need to test daily for Covid, although some reports say this measure could be lifted later this month. Larry Hogan announced Monday that he will soon lift his mask mandate for state government buildings. The information below reflects cases tested from January 26, 2021 - February 17, 2023. Parts of West Virginia and Maryland were blanketed with a mysterious fine white dust late Thursday evening and into early Friday morning. This action follows the state of Marylands decision to end its statewide mask mandate in schools and aligns with revised Centers In Maryland, 43% of children ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Feb. 2, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Baltimore County plans to lift the indoor mask mandate requirement and end required COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees, effective Feb. 28. 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The virus is under control in Hong Kong with The state office mask mandate ends next week. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. In Baltimore County, indoor mask requirements ended February 1, with their State of Emergency set to expire on February 7. The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the county is now less than 100, the first time its been that low since Dec. 19, 2021. Through consistent prevention and timely, and time-limited, responses to surges, we can continue to protect our residents from COVID while keeping our schools, businesses, and hospitals open and healthy, Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said in a news release. Graphics: How are Maryland COVID cases, vaccinations and other metrics trending? Effective Feb. 22, masking would Allegany County is the only jurisdiction in Maryland that has "high" COVID-19 community levels, based on the guidance issued Friday. BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Local health officials in Maryland are strongly urging mask usage in indoor public places as COVID-19 cases are on the upswing. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C. Anna Gawel joined WTOP in 2020 and works in both the radio and digital departments. Its important to say that he talked about the things he can do, and what the fed needs to be doing, and thats appropriate, he said. Sign up for Maryland Matters free email subscription today. No new statewide mask mandates are being contemplated, Mike Ricci, a spokesman for Hogan, wrote in an email Wednesday. Lawmakers in Annapolis ratified the decision Friday, leaving decisions about face coverings up to local school boards. "In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.". Hogans decision to not require masks statewide is a political calculation that assesses what damage a mandate could have on his standing with constituents, as well as what the public will reasonably tolerate, said Dr. Chris Beyrer, an epidemiologist and the Desmond M. Tutu professor of public health and human rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Larry Hogan announced Monday. Violators could be fined 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($637). The Maryland State Board of Education voted Feb. 22 to lift the mandate to require masks in schools. "I think it's probably wise," Ken Estes of Howard County said. TOWSON, Md. The new guidance issued Friday comes as the virus becomes endemic and officials are focused on preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19 rather than all instances of infection. Gov. Meanwhile, flu and other seasonal illnesses also are bringing people into hospitals, Delbridge said. This includes vans and buses operated by both public and private school systems, as well as early care and child care programs. In a bid to woo foreign visitors, the Hong Kong government has announced plans to give away half a million air tickets - beginning on Wednesday. Hogan issues executive orders to fight COVID surge, stops short of mask, vaccine mandates By Hallie Miller and Bryn Stole Baltimore Sun Jan 04, The call to end mask mandates in schools comes after the decline of the coronavirus omicron variant. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gov. In a statement earlier this week, Rakowski said the board will continue its practice of reviewing current COVID-19 metrics to assess the need for continuing the regulation. When asked at the press conference if he plans to issue an executive order making mask-wearing optional in public schools an action taken by Gov. BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- By a vote of 12-2, the Maryland State Board of Education on Tuesday voted to rescind its mask mandate in schools, returning the decision to local districts. All rights reserved. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. MARYLAND The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosened federal COVID-19 mask guidance Friday as infection rates return to pre-omicron variant levels around the country. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. ", First published on February 21, 2022 / 10:50 PM. Our hospitals are struggling to deal with the number of sick people coming to them, Delbridge said. Several Maryland counties are lifting their indoor public mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases continue trending downward statewide. Lees announcement at a news briefing Tuesday came a day after neighboring Macao eased its mask rule and brings the financial hub closer to life in pre-pandemic days. Coronavirus infection rates in Maryland are declining, in line with national trends. EXCELENTE OPORTUNIDAD DEPARTAMENTO CNTRICO EN COSQUIN, OPORTUNIDAD CHALET VILLA MIRADOR DEL LAGO. Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions. (Baltimore Sun). The Anne Arundel County Health Department announced that its indoor mask requirement expired Monday, Jan. 31, while Baltimore Countys government announced its mandate would end Tuesday, Feb. 1. An area with a high level means there is high potential for health care strain and high level of severe illness, according to the CDC. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Hospitalizations are an "important barometer," Walensky said in a White House briefing last week. ]. Baltimore Sun reporters Meredith Cohn and Emily Opilo contributed to this article. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Masking is the least restrictive intervention we can employ to slow down transmission before our hospitals are completely overwhelmed. Hes leaving it more to the counties to make decisions about other kinds of mandates, but this virus does not respect county boundaries or state boundaries, Beyrer said. Regardless of the decision that the board of education makes, some parents say they will continue to send their kids to school with a mask. Its the unvaccinated who make up the majority of people being hospitalized, and every step needs to be taken to stop transmission in this population so as to reduce the strain on the health care system, Wen said. The Republican governor, however, did not implement statewide indoor mask or vaccination mandates, steps that public health experts and medical professionals say would curb the spread of the coronavirus in a state where more than 1 out of every 25 Marylanders has been infected since the beginning of December. 3,057 COVID-19 patients hospitalized Tuesday, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The 3,057 COVID-19 patients hospitalized Tuesday occupy 37% of the staffed acute care hospital beds and 45% of the staffed intensive care beds statewide. This article was written by WTOPs news partners atMaryland Mattersand republished with permission.Sign up for Maryland Matters free email subscription today. Both orders were in effect since December 27 of last year. The states 7-day positivity rate is 5.12% with 986 people hospitalized due to the coronavirus. The change does not apply to masks in schools, though Hogan has called on the State Board of Education to rescind its mask policy and is encouraging parents to weigh in on the matter ahead of the boards next meeting on Feb. 22. Daily U.S. COVID-19 infection rates are down to about 82,000 cases nationwide, according to a database kept by The New York Times, and hospitalizations are down about 44 percent. COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped to 751 down 78% from a peak last month. He said the return to normalcy would be beneficial to Hong Kongs economic development and international competitiveness. Without requirements on masking and vaccinations, though, the states hospitals will not be able to recover lost footing as quickly, said Dr. Eric Toner, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. 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