ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Larry Hogan held a press conference this evening. During today’s conference, Hogan announced several updates. As of 5 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2020, all Maryland businesses will be able to Re-open. Movie theaters and live entertainment venues will be able to open 50 percent capacity or up to 100 people at indoor venues and up to 250 at outdoor venues. They must continue to follow health and safety guidelines.
In addition, all retail stores as well as churches and house of worship will be to increase capacity from 50 percent to 75 percent.
As we begin to move into stage three, the law continues to allow individual counties to be more restrictive than state guidelines.
Governor Hogan reminded Maryland citizens that moving into stage three does not mean that this crisis is not behind us. Hogan said, “We must remain vigilant so that we can keep Maryland open for business”.
As we head into Labor Day weekend, Hogan reminded Maryland citizens that the number one activity of those who have tested positive since mid-July (reported by 41% of all of those who reported to contact tracers) was attending family gatherings. The second highest activity (at 19%) was house parties and other outdoor events.
To further enhance our state’s contract tracing efforts, in collaboration with Apple and Google, Maryland will be one of the first states in the nation to use Exposure Notifications Express, a state-of-the-Art App designed time help public health officials more quickly provide notifications for residents about potential Covid 19 exposure.
Hogan went on to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses, public health officials, small business community and most importantly, the people of Maryland who “have pulled together over the past five months to respond to this unprecedented challenge with incredible courage and perseverance”. “It is thanks to you”, says Hogan, “that we have crushed the curve and saved lives, and our response to this global pandemic continues to serve as an example to the rest of the nation.”
