WASHINGTON — Face coverings will be required in public businesses across Maryland as well as some outdoor areas starting Friday, Gov. Larry Hogan said.
Hogan announced the mask expansion during a Wednesday coronavirus briefing. The same day, Maryland reported the highest number of hospitalizations in over a month -- attributed to a rise in cases of those 40 and under.
The state issued a public health advisory strongly advising against any travel to nine states with positivity rates above 10%. Those states include Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, Nebraska and Idaho.
Because of the rise in hospitalizations, Hogan said that Maryland is pausing the roadmap to recovery, staying in Phase 2 for the time being. The effort follows a similar mandate from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, who recently mandated that residents should be wearing masks when they exit their homes, enter restaurants and business, or are even in an open office space.
The new mandate will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 31. Hogan defines a face covering as one that fully covers a person’s nose and mouth and is secured to the person’s head, but does not have to be a medical-grade mask.
"The term “Face Covering” includes, without limitation, scarves, bandanas, and plastic full-face shields," Wednesday's order reads.