ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland will allow elective medical procedures and ease some restrictions on outdoor activities that have been in place due to the coronavirus, Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday, though schools will be closed for the rest of the school year.
The governor said the state is getting closer to the first stage of a gradual reopening plan, but he said some key indicators will need to continue to stay flat into next week, including the rate of hospitalizations due to the virus and the number of patients admitted to intensive care.
Hogan said elective medical procedures, including dentistry, that have been on hold for weeks will be allowed beginning Thursday. He also said outdoor activities including golf, tennis, boating, fishing and camping will be allowed starting at 7 a.m. Thursday. The governor also said state beaches will be open for walking and exercise.
“However, it will remain critical that you continue to follow public health guidance, continue to practice physical distancing and, most of all, that you continue to take actions to keep yourself and your fellow Marylanders safe,” Hogan said.
The governor added that he realized the loosening of restrictions were small steps - and little comfort to people out of work and struggling financially - but he said the state was making progress.
“We are flattening the curve, and we are preparing to launch our reopening plan in order to safely get people back to work, safely get our small businesses back open again to get our economy back on track, so that Maryland and our nation can defeat this virus and come back stronger and better than ever,” Hogan said at a news conference.
Maryland has had five straight days of a downward trend in the rate of hospitalizations over the past seven days, Hogan said, though he noted a “little bump up yesterday,” but overall the state is down slightly from a week ago. He also said the number of intensive care patients have been “basically flat” for eight straight days.
“If these trends continue into next week we will be ready to lift the stay-at-home order and to begin stage one of our recovery plan,” Hogan said.
In the first stage of the plan Hogan is calling “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery,” a stay-at-home order would be lifted. It would enable some small shops and certain small businesses to open.
Meanwhile, State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced public schools will be closed for the rest of the school year.
“Although we will not see students and educators return to the classroom before the scheduled end of the school year, online and distance learning opportunities will continue,” Salmon said at a news conference with the governor.
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