Maryland One Year into a Global Pandemic

Casey Moquin

Date: 04/19/2021

Just this past Saturday, marks a year since the Coronavirus pandemic officially started in the United States. For Maryland in total, there have been 395,633 confirmed cases and 7,915 deaths with Prince George’s County having the most in the state. However, after an entire year, things are starting to look up for Maryland residents.

Last year, April 2020 was a peak point for case numbers in Maryland, with a positivity rate of 27%. Now as of March 16th, 2021, the positivity rate is 4%. The overall positivity rate is decreasing. Currently, there are 805 people hospitalized, but Maryland hospitals are equipped to handle these smaller numbers compared to the overwhelming numbers of the summer of 2020.

The Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan recently spoke again about the states reopening plan. As of March 12th of this year, Governor Hogan lifted all capacity limits for bars, restaurants, religious facilities, retail businesses, fitness centers, casinos. This lift applies to indoor and outside dining for restaurants and bars, however, people still need to be socially distant. Also, put into effect on March 12th large venues, outdoor, and indoor can start operating at 50% capacity. Large venues can include concerts, weddings, conventions, and sporting events. The most important thing is that the mask mandate is still in effect. People must wear one in any public setting.

For Maryland schools, Governor Hogan and State Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon in late January of 2021 asked all Maryland counties to open up all the public schools by March 1st. As of March 1st, students of all ages are starting to go back to school in waves. 22 out of 24 school districts have allowed students back into their schools as of March 9th. A 1.2 billion dollar emergency funding package for schools has been passed to help the save return of students. Educators have also been placed higher on the priority list of vaccination. Many teachers have at least their first dose of the vaccine, and some have both

Maryland is still in Phase 1C of their vaccine plan where only those 65 and older, teachers, and others working in high-risk areas can get the vaccine. Supply is limited, so to get the vaccine, one must make an appointment. Hogan promises that by the end of March there will be at least one mass vaccination site in every region of the state. President Joe Biden has also promised that by May 1st everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible for the vaccine. In the past few weeks, Maryland and the United States have made great strides in the reopening process giving people hope that this pandemic will draw to a close soon.