Faced with surging cases of coronavirus and a troubling rise of hospitalizations related to COVID-19, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced a series of new restrictions in one of Maryland’s hardest-hit counties, including shutting down indoor restaurant dining and cutting capacity limits at retail stores heading into the holiday shopping season.
Outdoor dining will remain allowed at 50% capacity, and restaurants can still offer curbside service and takeout.
Capacity at retail stores, currently capped at 50%, will be further reduced to 25% capacity, Alsobrooks said. The casino at MGM National Harbor will be allowed to stay open but also limited to 25% capacity. In addition, capacity at gyms and fitness studios will be cut back to 25%.
The new restrictions will go into effect at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, and will remain in effect through Jan. 16.
“The numbers that we are seeing tell us that we are headed in the wrong direction, and that we need to take swift and quick action right now to make sure that we are working to contain this virus in our community,” Alsobrooks said.
The test positivity rate in Prince George’s County — the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive — has risen to more than 10%. The average daily case rate per 100,000 is now 45.7.
A month ago, the case rate per 100,000 was less than half of what it is now. Previously, Alsobrooks had said if the rate went above 25, official would be “gravely concerned.”
Alsbrooks said the county’s hospital capacity has shrunk since Thanksgiving, with fewer than half — 48.7% — of hospital beds now available.
On Nov. 8, there were 68 people hospitalized in the county with COVID-19. By Dec. 8, that had more than doubled to 177 and is continuing to rise, Prince George’s County Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter said.
The number of hospitalizations have not yet reached the levels seen in the spring at the beginning of the pandemic, Carter said, in part because many of the people in the county testing positive recently have been younger.
Alsobrooks’ announcement of new restrictions came the day after neighboring Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced a proposal to temporarily suspend indoor dining. Anne Arundel County is set to unveil new restrictions Thursday afternoon.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is set to discuss coronavirus efforts during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C.
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