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Documenting Maryland's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

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Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains a general timeline of noteworthy state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020. It also includes details on three specific types of state responses to the pandemic:

Additionally, the article includes:


Response news updates

The following section provides a timeline of Maryland's reopening activity beginning in April 2020. The entries, which come from our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter, are sorted by month in reverse chronological order. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. They appear exactly as they appeared in the newsletter.

July 2021

  • July 13: On Tuesday, July 13, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill ruled the state must continue participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ended participation in those programs on July 3. The programs are scheduled to end in September. Hogan said he would not challenge the ruling.
  • July 6: On July 3, Baltimore Circuit Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill issued a temporary order requiring the state to continue participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) had said the state would stop participating in such programs on July 3.
  • July 1: The statewide COVID-19 state of emergency ended effective July 1. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) made the announcement on June 15, and said some emergency measures, such as an eviction moratorium and a grace period for drivers with expired licenses, will stay in place for an additional 45 days.

June 2021

  • June 16: On Tuesday, June 15, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he would end the statewide COVID-19 state of emergency on July 1. Hogan said some emergency measures, such as an eviction moratorium and a grace period for drivers with expired licenses, will stay in place for 45 days after the emergency ends.
  • June 4: On Thursday, June 3, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state will begin closing its mass vaccination sites. A site in Aberdeen will close June 19, with others around the state closing on July 2, July 3, and July 17. A few have not been given closing dates. Hogan said the state would shift resources to community and mobile clinics.
  • June 2: On Tuesday, June 1, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that Maryland would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on July 3. Hogan also said he would reinstate weekly work-search requirements starting July 4.

May 2021

  • May 25: On Tuesday, May 25, the Maryland Lottery held its first VaxCash drawing, resulting in one vaccinated resident receiving a $40,000 prize. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the initiative, which he established to encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, on May 20. The daily drawing lasts from May 25 to July 4, and will award $2 million to 41 vaccinated residents.
  • May 17:
    • Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ended all statewide COVID-19 restrictions on businesses May 15, including indoor and outdoor capacity limits.
    • On May 15, Hogan ended the statewide mask mandate for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The state still requires masks in schools and hospitals, as well as on public transportation.
  • May 13: On Wednesday, May 12, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he would end all statewide COVID-19 restrictions on businesses May 15, including indoor and outdoor capacity limits. Hogan also said he would lift the statewide indoor mask mandate once 70% of adult residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. At the time of the announcement, that figure stood at 65%.
  • May 6: On Wednesday, May 5, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that appointments will no longer be necessary to receive a coronavirus vaccine at the 13 mass vaccination sites dotted around the state.
  • May 4: On Monday, May 3, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced an initiative to pay state employees who receive a coronavirus vaccine $100. The program will apply retroactively to state employees who have already gotten vaccinated.
  • May 3: All restrictions on outdoor dining endedMay 1.

April 2021

  • April 29: On Wednesday, April 28, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ended the statewide outdoor mask mandate, effective immediately. People are still required to wear a mask at large venues and in public and private businesses. Hogan also announced that all restrictions on outdoor dining will end May 1.
  • April 12: All providers are permitted to offer vaccines to residents 16 and older starting April 12. Previously, residents 16 and older could only get vaccinated at mass vaccination sites.
  • April 6: Effective April 6, residents 16 and older are eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination site. All providers will be permitted to offer vaccines to residents 16 and older on Monday, April 12.
  • April 5: On Thursday, April 1, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that residents 16 and older can pre-register to receive a coronavirus vaccine. People who pre-register will be notified when they become eligible to receive a vaccine.

March 2021

  • March 30: Residents 16 and older with medical conditions are eligible for vaccination starting March 30.
  • March 24: On Tuesday, March 23, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state would open six mass vaccination sites in the counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery. The first sites will open in Baltimore County by April 5, with more openings throughout the month.
  • March 23: Residents 60 and older are eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine starting March 23.
  • March 19: On Thursday, March 18, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that anyone 60 and older will become eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine on March 23. Hogan also announced that people 16 and older with medical conditions will become eligible March 30. On April 13, eligibility will expand to include people 55 and older, as well as workers in critical industries. Eligibility will expand to everyone 16 and older on April 27.
  • March 16: On Monday, March 15, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an order prohibiting the garnishment of the American Rescue Act’s relief checks.
  • March 12 : Gov. Larry Hogan (R) will end capacity limits on most types of businesses, including restaurants, bars, and fitness centers, on March 12 at 5 p.m. Large outdoor and indoor venues, including wedding and sports venues and theaters, will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Additionally, Hogan said he will end the state’s quarantine requirements for out-of-state travelers and allow adult daycare centers to reopen. The statewide mask mandate will remain in effect.
  • March 10: On Tuesday, March 9, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he would end capacity limits on most types of businesses, including restaurants, bars, and fitness centers, on March 12 at 5 p.m. Large outdoor and indoor venues, including theaters, wedding venues, and sporting venues, will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Additionally, Hogan said he will end the state’s quarantine requirements for out-of-state travelers and allow adult daycare centers to reopen. The statewide mask mandate will remain in effect.
  • March 4: On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state will open three more mass vaccination sites in March. The first opens March 4 at the Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. A site in Salisbury will open March 18, while a site in Hagerstown will open at the end of the month. By the end of March, Hogan said the state will have six mass vaccination sites.
  • March 1:
    • On Thursday, Feb. 11, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that indoor visits at nursing homes and hospitals can resume March 1. Hospitals can set their own policies but must follow CDC guidelines. Nursing homes can allow visitors so long as the facilities follow the rules put in place for testing and there are no active cases at the facility.
    • Schools in counties across the state could return students to the classroom March 1. In January, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said school districts that don’t offer some in-person instruction could face legal action. Districts can decide how many days a week to offer in-person instruction. Students can still opt for virtual schooling.

February 2021

  • February 24: On Tuesday, Feb. 23, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an executive order requiring all people over the age of five to wear masks on school property, including in hallways, gyms, and on buses.
  • February 16: On Monday, Feb. 15, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed into law the RELIEF Act of 2021. The $1 billion relief measure includes direct stimulus payments to families and individuals and tax relief and grants for small businesses and nonprofits.
  • February 12: On Thursday, Feb. 11, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that indoor visitations at nursing homes and hospitals can resume March 1. Hospitals will set their own policies but must follow CDC guidelines. Nursing homes can allow visitors so long as they follow rules put in place for testing and there are no active cases at the facility.
  • February 1: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is ending the order requiring bars and restaurants to close nightly by 10 p.m. effective Feb. 1. The order was first implemented Nov. 17.

January 2021

  • January 27: On Jan. 26, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state would open six mass vaccination sites with the assistance of the National Guard beginning next week. Hogan also announced that Safeway and Rite Aid locations had been added to the state’s vaccine partnership program as distributors.
  • January 26: On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced COVID-19 relief funding for public and private schools. He announced $20.7 million to assist public schools in reopening and $35.8 million to assist private schools in reopening.
  • January 22: On Thursday, Jan. 21, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said school districts that don’t reopen to in-person instruction by March 1 could face legal action. Hogan did not specify in what form that legal action could take but said he would explore his options.
  • January 19: The state moved to Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan beginning Monday, Jan. 18. In Phase 1B, all residents over the age of 75 are eligible for the vaccine. Additionally, people in assisted living facilities, teachers, daycare providers, and inmates in correctional facilities also become eligible.
  • January 12: On Monday, Jan. 11, Gov. Larry Hogan announced a $1 billion COVID-19 relief bill he plans to introduce in the spring legislative session. The bill includes $267 million in direct payments to low- and moderate-income residents and $180 million in tax relief for those who were laid off in the pandemic. The bill also includes sales tax credits for small businesses.

December 2020

  • December 18: On Thursday, Dec. 17, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an order requiring out-of-state travelers and returning residents to obtain a negative COVID-19 test or self-quarantine for 10 days upon entering the state. Hogan issued a follow-up order clarifying the travel restrictions do not apply to Santa Clause, non-human elves, or reindeer. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Health issued an advisory against gatherings of more than 10 people.
  • December 16: On Tuesday, Dec. 15, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he was activating the National Guard to help distribute coronavirus vaccines around the state.

November 2020

  • November 30: On Monday, Nov. 23, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the Maryland State Police would deploy High Visibility Compliance Units to downtown areas in several cities to help enforce COVID-19 restrictions at bars, restaurants, and venues that host gatherings. Hogan said the operation, which would include education efforts as well as enforcement, would start Wednesday, Nov. 25.
  • November 23: On Monday, Nov. 23, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) had awarded 17 cities and counties $19.3 million in grants to prevent evictions.
  • November 19: On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed an executive order allowing some prisoners to become eligible for early release. The order is intended to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in state prisons. It allows officials to expedite parole and home-detention decisions for those scheduled to be released within 120 days.
  • November 18: On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an emergency order that requires bars and restaurants to end indoor service by 10 p.m. and limits capacity at retail stores and religious facilities to 50%. Additionally, the order prohibits fans from attending racetracks or sports stadiums. The order takes effect Nov. 20 at 5 p.m.
  • November 12: On Nov. 10, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that restaurants and bars offering indoor service must reduce their operating capacity from 75% to 50%. He also issued an advisory that discourages indoor gatherings of more than 25 people.
  • November 6: On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced financial support for restaurants, independent artists, arts organizations, entertainment venues, and businesses. The assistance is part of Hogan’s $250 million economic recovery package announced in October.

October 2020

  • October 27: On Friday, Oct. 30, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) extended Maryland’s state of emergency.
  • October 23: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the allocation of $250 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund for grants and loans to small businesses and nonprofits.
  • October 20: On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Gov. Larry Hogan released a draft of the state’s plan for distributing a coronavirus vaccine once one becomes available. The plan was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week.
  • October 19: On Monday, Oct. 19, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the creation of the Maryland Farmer COVID-19 Relief Program, which will offer $10 million in relief to Maryland farmers.
  • October 8: On Thursday, Oct. 8, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Attorney General Brian Frosch (D) announced that $12 million was being directed to the Maryland Legal Services Corporations to assist families facing eviction.
  • October 6: On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) extended Maryland’s state of emergency. Hogan first declared the state of emergency on March 5.
  • October 2: On Oct. 1, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced nursing homes can resume visitations. A facility that registers a coronavirus case must close to visitors for two weeks. Any facility in a county with a positivity rate of 10% or more must also close to visitors. Karen Salmon, the state superintendent of schools, also announced that daycares can reopen at full capacity.

September 2020

  • September 23: On Sept. 22, Karen Salmon, the Maryland Superintendent of Schools, announced that she had approved in-person reopening plans for every school district in Maryland.
  • September 21: On Sept. 18, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an executive order expanding indoor dining to 75% capacity. Local governments have the authority to either follow the governor’s guidelines or maintain stricter guidelines.
  • September 10: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state acquired 250,000 rapid antigen tests, becoming the first member of the 10-state testing compact partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation to acquire rapid tests. The 10-state group has a stated goal to acquire five million rapid antigen tests.
  • September 8: Public schools were allowed to reopen virtually. How long virtual instruction will last varies by district.
  • September 2: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that the state would enter Phase Three of reopening on Sept. 4. Retail stores and religious services will be allowed to increase capacity from 50 to 75 percent. Outdoor entertainment venues may reopen with a capacity of 250 people. Movie theaters and indoor entertainment venues may reopen at 50 percent capacity or up to 100 people.
  • September 1: The state Board of Education approved new minimum requirements for instruction. Schools must be open at least 180 days and offer at least six hours of instruction, of which 3.5 hours must be synchronous instruction (all students taught at the same time) for grades K-12.

August 2020

  • August 28: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that all 24 school districts met the state’s benchmarks for opening to at least some in-person instruction. All school districts have previously announced a return to school with full online learning, while 16 have announced plans to resume at least some in-person instruction starting in mid-September.
  • August 25: The state school board delayed a vote on a requirement that districts offer at least 3.5 hours of live online instruction while campuses remain closed. Chairman Clarence Crawford said the board would consider the matter at a special meeting on Sept. 1.
  • August 7: Montgomery County rescinded its ban on in-person instruction at private schools. The county's policy was in conflict with Gov. Larry Hogan's (R), and a hearing for a lawsuit on the matter was scheduled for this week.
  • August 3: On Aug. 3, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said that private and religious schools could choose when to reopen. He issued an emergency order preventing county officials from requiring such schools to remain closed. On July 31, Montgomery County Health Officer Travis Gayles ordered private schools to close. Hogan called the order “overly broad and inconsistent with the powers intended to be delegated to the county health officer.”

July 2020

  • July 23: Maryland Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that school boards had until Aug. 14 to submit reopening plans to the state board of education. Districts will be allowed to open in-person so long as they follow specific CDC and state health guidelines and meet state benchmarks.
  • July 21: Health officers in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City sent a letter to Maryland Deputy Secretary of Health Fran Phillips asking the state to roll back some of its reopenings. The letter focused on reducing gathering sizes, mandating face coverings for indoor and outdoor activities, and closing indoor service at restaurants and bars.

June 2020

  • June 22: On June 19, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that nursing home facilities could begin offering limited outdoor visits, provided that the facilities are not experiencing an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and have not recorded a facility-onset case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
  • June 19: The following businesses were allowed to reopen at 5:00 p.m. on June 19: indoor fitness centers, gyms, martial arts studios, and dance studios; casinos; arcades; and malls. All reopenings are subject to local approval.
  • June 12: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced additional reopenings as part of Phase 2 of his reopening plan. Beginning June 12 at 5:00 p.m, the following are permitted to reopen: indoor dining (50% capacity) and outdoor amusements such as go-karts and miniature golf. Beginning June 19 at 5:00 p.m., the following are permitted to reopen: indoor fitness activities (50% capacity), casinos, arcades, and malls with safety protocols. On June 10, Hogan encouraged local school systems to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies with appropriate capacity and social distancing measures. Maryland State Superintendent Karen Salmon announced on June 10 that school systems could bring small groups of 10-15 students and staff into school buildings. Child care providers could reopen June 10 so long as they follow Maryland Department of Health protocols.
  • June 8: On June 8, the city of Baltimore entered a modified phase 1 reopening. However, the city will remain under more restrictions than the rest of the state. Under this phase, churches may hold outdoor services for up to 50 people with social distancing measures. Childcare centers and day camps may open for up to 10 people. Hair salons and barbershops can reopen by appointment only with no more than five people allowed for every 1,000 square feet of space. Retail may also be open for curbside pick up only. On June 8, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s offices reopened with restrictions such as requiring face masks for staff and the public and social distancing measures.
  • June 5: Maryland moves into Stage 2 of its reopening at 5 p.m. on June 5. Most businesses that were not reopened under Stage 1 are allowed to resume operations. Personal service businesses, including nail salons, massage parlors, tanning salons, and tattoo parlors, are allowed to resume operations at 50% capacity, by appointment only. State government offices are also resuming operations. The following businesses remain closed: indoor entertainment facilities (e.g., bingo halls, bowling alleys); theaters; malls; fitness centers; and senior citizen activities.

May 2020

  • May 29: The following businesses and activities are allowed to reopen or resume on May 29: outdoor dining at restaurants and social clubs; outdoor youth sports and outdoor activities at youth day camps; drive-in movie theaters; and other outdoor activities.
  • May 15:
    • Phase 1 of Maryland's reopening took effect on May 15. The following businesses were allowed to reopen: retail stores (50% capacity), manufacturing, churches and houses of worship (50% capacity), and personal services (by appointment only).
    • Statewide stay-at-home orders in five states—Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, and Vermont—ended on May 15. These became the 19th through 23rd states where stay-at-home orders have ended. Of those five states, three have Republican governors and two have Democratic governors.
  • May 13: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he would make an announcement at 5 p.m. local time today on Phase 1 of Maryland's reopening plan. We will have more details in tomorrow's edition. Also, the Maryland Department of Education released a 54-page guide for the state’s 24 school systems to transition from remote to in-person learning.
  • May 7: Effective today, healthcare facilities and providers are permitted to resume elective and non-urgent medical procedures, subject to conditions established by the state department of health. The number and types of permitted outdoor activities have also been expanded. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) made the announcement Wednesday.

April 2020

  • April 27: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) released a three-phase plan for reopening businesses and activities in the state tied to benchmarks as opposed to a start date. See the "Plan to know" section below for an in-depth look at Maryland's plan. Maryland is under divided government.


Vaccine distribution

This section contains a table of quick facts on the state’s vaccine distribution plan and a timeline of noteworthy events, including updates on vaccine availability for new groups of individuals, changes to state distribution plans, and much more. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

The Maryland Department of Health released a distribution plan on October 16, 2020.

Quick facts

Maryland state vaccination plan quick information
What governing entities are responsible for vaccine allocation and distribution?[1] Maryland Department of Health
Where can I find a quick breakdown of phases in my state? Vaccination phases
Where can I find the distribution plan? COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
When was the plan first released to the public? October 16, 2020
When was the plan most recently updated? October 16, 2020
Where can I find answers to frequently asked questions? FAQs about the Maryland COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and COVID-19 Vaccination
Where can I find data related to the coronavirus in my state? COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard
Where is the state health department's homepage? Maryland Department of Health
Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Maryland - AARP

Timeline

  • Sept. 24, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) authorized COVID-19 booster shots for people 64 and older and people 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Sept. 23 announcement, Hogan also authorized booster shots on a case-by-case basis for people 18 to 49 with underlying conditions and on a case-by-case basis for frontline workers 18 to 64.[2]
  • Sept. 8, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that residents 65 and older who lived in congregate care settings, like nursing homes and residential drug treatment centers, were eligible to get a third COVID-19 shot.[3]
  • June 3, 2021: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state would begin closing its mass vaccination sites. Hogan said the state would shift resources to community and mobile clinics.[4]
  • May 25, 2021: The Maryland Lottery held its first VaxCash drawing, resulting in one vaccinated resident receiving a $40,000 prize. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the initiative, which he established to encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine, on May 20. The daily drawing was scheduled to last from May 25 to July 4 and award $2 million to 41 vaccinated residents.[5]
  • May 5, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that appointments would no longer be necessary to receive a coronavirus vaccine at the state's 13 mass vaccination sites.[6]
  • May 3, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced an initiative to pay $100 to state employees who received a coronavirus vaccine $100. The program was scheduled to apply retroactively to state employees who had already gotten vaccinated.[7]
  • April 12, 2021: All Maryland vaccine providers were permitted to start offering vaccines to residents 16 and older. Previously, residents 16 and older could only get vaccinated at mass vaccination sites.[8]
  • April 6, 2021: Maryland residents 16 and older became eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine at a mass vaccination site.[9]
  • April 1, 2021: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that residents 16 and older can pre-register to receive a coronavirus vaccine. People who pre-registered were notified when they became eligible to receive a vaccine.[10]
  • March 30, 2021: Maryland residents 16 and older with medical conditions became eligible for vaccination.[11]
  • March 23, 2021: Maryland residents 60 and older became eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.[12]
  • March 18, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that anyone 60 and older would become eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine on March 23. Hogan also announced that people 16 and older with medical conditions would become eligible March 30. On April 13, eligibility was scheduled to expand to include people 55 and older, as well as workers in critical industries. Eligibility was scheduled to expand to everyone 16 and older on April 27.[13]
  • January 26, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state would open six mass vaccination sites with the assistance of the National Guard beginning the week of Jan. 31. Hogan also announced that Safeway and Rite Aid locations had been added to the state’s vaccine partnership program as distributors.[14]
  • January 18, 2021: Maryland moved to Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan. In Phase 1B, all residents over the age of 75 became eligible for the vaccine. Additionally, people in assisted living facilities, teachers, daycare providers, and inmates in correctional facilities also became eligible.[15]

Statewide travel restrictions

See also: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021


Does Maryland have restrictions on travel? No. On March 12, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ended the requirement that out-of-state travelers and returning residents self-quarantine or test negative. An advisory remained in place encouraging travelers to get tested upon arrival in the state.[16]

More information can be found at the Maryland Office of Tourism.

Timeline

  • March 12, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ended the requirement that out-of-state travelers and returning residents self-quarantine or test negative.[17]
  • March 9, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced he would ease some coronavirus restrictions beginning March 12 at 5 p.m., including the quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers.[18]
  • December 17, 2020: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an order requiring out-of-state travelers and returning residents to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result or quarantine for 10 days. The order does not apply to people traveling to or from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. The order requires Maryland residents to limit nonessential travel.[19]
  • November 10, 2020: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued a travel advisory asking Maryland residents to avoid non-essential travel to other states, especially states with a COVID-19 positivity rate greater than 10%. Residents or out-of-state travelers who arrive in Maryland from a state that meets that threshold are asked to get tested and self-quarantine until the results come back.[20]
  • July 29, 2020: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued a travel advisory asking Maryland residents to refrain from traveling to Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas. The percentage of positive test results in those states is over 10%. Hogan urged people who have traveled to one of those states to get a coronavirus test.[21]
  • March 19, 2020: Gov. Larry Hogan (R) instructed the Maryland Transportation Authority Police to restrict traffic at BWI Marshall Airport Terminal to only ticketed passengers, those helping disabled passengers, and employees. Hogan also urged residents to limit transit use to essential travel.[22]


School reopenings and closures

See also: School responses in Maryland to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Schools in Maryland were closed to in-person instruction on March 16, 2020, and remained closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. To notify us of when schools were allowed to reopen statewide, email us. The timeline below lists statewide responses we tracked.

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported a majority of schools were in-person in Maryland .[23][24]
  • March 1, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) encouraged schools in counties across the state to return students to the classroom. In January, Hogan said school districts that didn’t offer some in-person instruction could face legal action. Districts were allowed to decide how many days a week to offer in-person instruction. Students could still opt for virtual schooling.[25]
  • September 22, 2020: Karen Salmon, the Maryland Superintendent of Schools, announced that she had approved in-person reopening plans for every school district in Maryland.[26]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were using virtual or hybrid learning in Maryland .[27][28]
  • September 8, 2020: Schools in Maryland were allowed to reopen virtually. How long virtual instruction would last varied by district.[3]
  • September 1, 2020: The Maryland Board of Education approved new minimums for instruction. Schools needed to be open at least 180 days and offer at least a total of six hours of instruction, of which 3.5 hours needed to be synchronous instruction (all students taught at the same time) for grades K-12.[29]
  • July 22, 2020: Maryland Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that schools had until Aug. 14 to submit reopening plans to the state board of education. Schools were allowed to open in-person so long as they followed specific CDC and state health guidelines and met benchmarks set by the state.[30]
  • June 10, 2020: The Maryland Department of Education released Maryland Together, the state's school reopening plan.[31]


  • May 6, 2020: Salmon announced that schools would be closed to in-person instruction for the rest of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through May 15.[32]
  • April 17, 2020: Salmon announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end April 24, was extended through May 15.[33]
  • March 25, 2020: Salmon announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 27, was extended through April 24.[34]
  • March 12, 2020: Officials ordered all schools in the state to close from March 16 to March 27.[35]

Statewide mask requirements

See also: State-level mask requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


On April 15, 2020, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed an executive order including a face-covering requirement for individuals in retail and foodservice businesses and while using public transit. On August 3, the mask mandate was expanded to require everyone older than five to wear masks in all indoor public spaces, including churches, gyms, and stores. On April 29, 2021, Hogan ended the statewide outdoor mask mandate.[36]

On May 15, Hogan ended the statewide mask mandate for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The state still required masks in schools and hospitals, as well as on public transportation.[37]

The August 3 order is embedded below:


Noteworthy lawsuits

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

R.V. v. Mnuchin: On June 19, 2020, Judge Paul Grimm, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, ruled that a group of children, who were U.S. citizens, and their parents, who were not, had standing to sue the Donald Trump (R) administration over the denial of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act benefits. In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs sought to "challenge the allegedly intentional and discriminatory denial to U.S. citizen children of the benefits of emergency cash assistance distributed ... in response to the COVID-19 pandemic solely because one or both of a child’s parents are undocumented immigrants." Grimm dismissed the government's argument that, because the children would not directly receive the benefits, the plaintiffs lacked standing to file suit. Instead, Grimm found that each child should be construed as a "qualifying child" under the CARES Act and, "but for the discrimination against them based on their parents’ alienage," would "have the opportunity to benefit from the economic impact payments." As such, Grimm found that the court had proper subject-matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs' claims, the plaintiffs had standing to sue, and the plaintiffs had adequately alleged an equal protection claim. The government was given until July 10, 2020, to file an answer to the plaintiffs' complaint.[38][39]

Antietam Battlefield KOA v. Hogan: On November 18, 2020, Judge Catherine Blake, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, dismissed a lawsuit over Governor Larry Hogan’s (R) COVID-19 restrictions. In their complaint, the plaintiffs (an array of business owners, religious leaders, state politicians, and other residents) alleged violations of the First Amendment’s prohibition against the establishment of religion, as well as its guarantees of free exercise of religion, freedom of assembly, and free speech. The plaintiffs also argued that Hogan’s actions violated their constitutional rights to equal protection and a republican form of government, as well as the interstate commerce clause and protections against uncompensated takings. In her order granting Hogan’s motion to dismiss, Blake said, "[It] is not the role of the judiciary to second-guess policy choices favoring one reasonable method of preventing the spread of disease over another."[40]

The Arc Maryland v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore: On March 8, 2021, The Arc Maryland, a nonprofit advocacy group for people with disabilities, sued the mayor and city council of Baltimore, along with five Maryland counties, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The plaintiff argued that the defendants' publicly available information and vaccine distribution websites omitted people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as eligible for vaccines under Phase 1B, in violation of state guidance and federal law: "People with I/DD are not aware that they are eligible for the vaccine; are unable to schedule appointments, register, pre-register, or complete interest forms for Defendants’ vaccines; and are delayed or denied access to critical health care services." The plaintiff further contended that this violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. After filing, The Arc Maryland has voluntarily dismissed the mayor and city council of Baltimore as defendants, along with Garrett, Queen Anne’s, and Somerset counties, citing improved COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The case remained pending against Carroll and Talbot counties. It was assigned to Judge George L. Russell III, an appointee of President Barack Obama (D).[41][42]

Catchings v. Wilson: On April 15, 2021, state officials in Maryland reached a settlement with detainees of Baltimore's Chesapeake Detention Facility, establishing COVID-19 safety protocols and a vaccination schedule for the prison. In their complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the detainees had sued Warden Calvin Wilson and Robert Green, secretary of Maryland’s Public Safety and Correctional Services (MDPSCS), alleging that inaction on the part of these officials had led to a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility. According to the terms of the settlement, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services agreed to provide educational materials on COVID-19, enforce mask-wearing and social distancing among staff and inmates, enact sanitization protocols for common areas "in full compliance with CDC guidelines," and "ensure that all detainees/residents, staff, and contracted staff are administered a ... COVID test on a weekly basis." The defendants agreed to institute a policy of isolation and quarantine for residents testing positive, and the Chesapeake Detention Facility agreed to provide COVID-19 vaccines to all detainees and staff by May 1, 2021. John Fowler of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, counsel for the detainees, said, "This settlement is a huge victory that is going to save lives." MDPSCS representative Mark Vernarelli said that the settlement agreement "reinforces the Department’s long-standing commitment to protecting its employees and the incarcerated men and women." The settlement was set to remain in force for 180 days after the conclusion of the state’s COVID-19 emergency.[43][44][45][46]

Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. The most recent announcements appear first.

Name Office Date Status
Larry Hogan Governor of Maryland December 20, 2021 Hogan announced on December 20, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[47]

Paths to recovery by state

To read about other states’ responses and recoveries, click one of the links below:

Other state government responses

To view previous coverage areas, including changes to 2020 election dates and policies, initial stay-at-home orders, coronavirus-related legislation, and much more, click a state in the map below.

https://ballotpedia.org/Government_responses_to_and_political_effects_of_the_coronavirus_pandemic,_2020_(STATE)

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named section7
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD924
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 WBAL, "Maryland Public School Students Start School Year Virtually," September 8, 2020
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD63
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD525
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD55
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD54
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD412
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD46
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD41
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD330
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD323
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD318
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD126
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD118
  16. ↑ The Office of Governor Larry Hogan, "Governor Hogan Announces Lifting of Capacity Limits, Masking and Distancing Protocols Maintained," accessed March 11, 2021
  17. ↑ The Office of Governor Larry Hogan, "Governor Hogan Announces Lifting of Capacity Limits, Masking and Distancing Protocols Maintained," accessed March 11, 2021
  18. ↑ The Office of Governor Larry Hogan, "Governor Hogan Announces Lifting of Capacity Limits, Masking and Distancing Protocols Maintained," accessed March 11, 2021
  19. ↑ Baltimore Sun, "Maryland Gov. Hogan issues new restrictions on nonessential travel to fight coronavirus spread during holidays," December 17, 2020
  20. ↑ The Office of Governor Larry Hogan, "Governor Hogan Announces Series of Actions to Slow the Spread of COVID-19," November 10, 2020
  21. ↑ Baltimore Sun, "Hogan tightens mask restrictions, discourages travel to 9 states to ‘continue making progress’ against coronavirus," July 29, 2020
  22. ↑ Maryland.gov, "Governor Hogan Announces Further Actions To Slow The Spread of COVID-19, Relaunches ‘Maryland Unites’ Initiative," accessed April 1
  23. ↑ Burbio rated Maryland's in-person index at 65.2. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  24. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MD31
  26. ↑ WJZ 13, "In-Person Reopening Plans Approved For All Maryland Schools As Some Teachers And Parents Express Frustration: ‘Left Running In Circles’," accessed September 24, 2020
  27. ↑ Burbio rated Maryland's in-person index between 0-20. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  28. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  29. ↑ FOX Baltimore, "Maryland State Board of Education passes new recommendations on school schedules," September 1, 2020
  30. ↑ DCist, "Maryland Public School Systems Can Opt For In-Person Classes This Fall," July 22, 2020
  31. ↑ Maryland Department of Education, "Maryland Education Moves Forward as Part of State’s Overall Stage 2 Recovery," June 10, 2020
  32. ↑ Baltimore Sun, "Maryland schools to remain closed for the rest of academic year due to coronavirus pandemic," May 6, 2020
  33. ↑ Politico, "Maryland to keep schools closed through May 15," April 17, 2020
  34. ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Maryland school closures extended a month due to coronavirus threat," March 25, 2020
  35. ↑ The New York Times, "Congress to Vote on Coronavirus Rescue Package," March 12, 2020
  36. ↑ Maryland Office of the Governor, "Governor Hogan Lifts Outdoor Mask Mandate, Ends Restrictions on Outdoor Dining," accessed April 29, 2021
  37. ↑ Capital Gazette, "Gov. Larry Hogan lifts mask mandate for all Maryland residents, Anne Arundel to follow," accessed May 17, 2021
  38. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "R.V. v. Mnuchin: Memorandum Opinion and Order," June 19, 2020
  39. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "R.V. v. Mnuchin: Class Action Complaint," May 5, 2020
  40. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "Antietam Battlefield KOA v. Hogan: Memorandum," November 18, 2020
  41. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "The Arc Maryland v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore: Complaint," March 8, 2021
  42. ↑ PacerMonitor, "The Arc Maryland v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore," accessed March 16, 2021
  43. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "Catchings v. Wilson: Joint Status Report Regarding Executed Settlement Agreement," April 15, 2021
  44. ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "Catchings v. Wilson: Class Action Complaint," February 20, 2021
  45. ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "State agrees to provide vaccines, cleaner conditions for inmates at Baltimore jail to end COVID-19 lawsuit," April 15, 2021
  46. ↑ The Washington Post, "Maryland settles class-action lawsuit over coronavirus cases at detention facility," April 16, 2021
  47. ↑ CNN, "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tests positive for Covid-19," December 20, 2021
v • e
Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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