Masks to become optional at all Baltimore County Public Schools on March 1

TOWSON, MD—It’s official. Masks will become optional at all Baltimore County Public Schools on March 1st. BCPS made the announcement on Friday evening. Earlier this week, the Maryland State Board of Education lifted the statewide mask mandate. On Friday, the Maryland General Assembly’s AELR Committee agreed with the decision. BCPS officials say additional information will be sent to all families […]

Baltimore City to lift indoor mask mandate on March 1

BALTIMORE, MD—Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott on Thursday announced that the city’s indoor mask mandate would be lifted effective March 1st. The mandate will also be lifted for city employees, and customers in shops and restaurants will no longer need to wear face coverings. “We will continue to monitor our COVID-19 metrics and make informed decisions should another variant of […]

Maryland COVID-19 hospitalizations drop below 500, ICU levels fall below 100

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan on Thursday announced that the State of Maryland’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 500—another major milestone for the state’s declining health metrics. Hospitalizations: 480, ICU: 90 Since peaking last month just below 3,500, Maryland’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined by 86 percent. COVID-19 ICU levels statewide have dropped below 100 for the first time since August 8, […]

Maryland Department of Health announces nearly $8 million in emergency funding to support residential treatment centers

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health this week announced nearly $8 million in emergency funding to support the state’s four residential treatment centers and to mitigate financial losses they incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, will help ensure critical services are provided to children and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid. “This […]

Maryland Board of Education votes to lift school mask mandate

UPDATE: The AELR has voted to lift the mask mandate. Original story below… —— BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland State Board of Education on Tuesday voted to lift the statewide school mask mandate. The board voted 12-2 in favor of lifting the requirement. The measure will now need to receive final approval from the state’s Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) committee, […]

Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate drops below 3 percent, ICU levels fall to six-month low

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan has announced that the State of Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped below 3 percent for the first time since early November, as the state’s health metrics continue to improve. Positivity Rate: 2.92% Since peaking last month at just below 30 percent, Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate has declined by 90.2 percent. This is the first time […]

Olszewski to end Baltimore County building mask requirement, employee testing on February 28

TOWSON, MD—Amid continued decreases in COVID-19 metrics, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Monday announced plans to lift the indoor mask requirement for County buildings and facilities and to end required COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees, effective Monday, February 28 2022. “As we approach the two-year mark of this pandemic, we are actively working to responsibly provide as much normalcy […]

Governor Hogan announces end of mask requirement in state buildings

ANNAPOLIS, MD—With the state’s health metrics continuing to substantially decline, Governor Larry Hogan on Monday announced that the requirement for masks and face coverings to be worn in state buildings will end next week. In addition, the governor has called on the State Board of Education to rescind its school mask policy, and encourages parents who want to weigh in […]