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1) @GovLarryHogan is holding a press conference at the State House in Annapolis with Secretary Bobby Neall, COO Dennis Schrader, and Dr. Jinlene Chan from @MDHealthDept and Dr. David Marcozzi from @umms.
I will thread the governor’s announcements and new actions. https://twitter.com/GovLarryHogan/status/1333878893460279297
I will thread the governor’s announcements and new actions. https://twitter.com/GovLarryHogan/status/1333878893460279297
2) Yesterday, the governor contacted the Biden-Harris transition team to lay out Maryland’s most urgent priorities, especially the need for a stimulus relief package for small businesses and struggling families.
Read the governor’s letter here: https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Letter-to-Biden-Transition-Team-11.23.20.pdf
Read the governor’s letter here: https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Letter-to-Biden-Transition-Team-11.23.20.pdf
3) Also yesterday, the governor participated in a meeting with VP Pence and the White House Coronavirus Task Force regarding vaccine production and distribution.
He also led a meeting of the Maryland Coronavirus Task Force, and a discussion with leadership of MACo and MML.
He also led a meeting of the Maryland Coronavirus Task Force, and a discussion with leadership of MACo and MML.
4) DATA UPDATE. As of this morning, Maryland has 201,135 confirmed cases of #COVID19, including 2,765 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Maryland’s 7-day statewide positivity rate is 7.33%, and our case rate is now 34.4.
Maryland’s 7-day statewide positivity rate is 7.33%, and our case rate is now 34.4.
4a) COVID hospitalizations have increased by 51% over the past 2 weeks, and according to our modeling, we expect to reach a new record high for hospitalizations in the coming days.
More than 130 surge beds are currently in use at the expansion sites we added in the spring.
More than 130 surge beds are currently in use at the expansion sites we added in the spring.
4b) 1,583 COVID patients are hospitalized in Maryland today (highest since May 10), 350 Marylanders are currently in the ICU, and 21 hospitals in the state have reached more than 90% capacity.
4c) The virus has taken the lives of 4,516 Marylanders, and yesterday we lost our youngest #COVID19 victim, a one-year-old boy.
5) During the initial #COVID19 surge in the spring, the governor issued an executive order to fast-track the licensing process for out-of-state health care practitioners and those with an expired medical license.
6) The governor issued another order to provide broader authority to credential emergency medical technicians and paramedics so that they could work in clinics and field hospitals.
6a) We also activated the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, and @MarylandEMS instituted a program to allow medical and nursing students to become part of this staffing surge.
7) Last month, we increased the capacity of alternate care sites, provided additional clinical care and staffing support to nursing homes, and issued an order limiting hospital visitation and guidance on elective procedures.
8) @GovLarryHogan: “The current surge is not only increasing the burden on our healthcare system and filling available hospital beds, but it is also affecting our healthcare workers who are already spread thin and operating under immense strain and stress.”
9) STAFFING SURGE. The governor announces the launch of MarylandMedNow to staff up hospitals, nursing homes, testing sites, and vaccination clinics across the state.
Anyone interested in serving can go to: http://www.marylandmednow.com
Anyone interested in serving can go to: http://www.marylandmednow.com
9a) The state is requesting that all colleges and universities immediately develop emergency policies and procedures to award academic credit to students who are willing to serve in healthcare during this pandemic.
9b) Colleges and universities are also encouraged to allow healthcare students who are in their final semester and have satisfied graduation requirements to be eligible for “early exit” in order to quickly enter the workforce.
9c) The governor urges counties to tap non-deployed school nurses, health services staff, and other county employees to help staff the state’s testing and vaccination sites.
9d) Hospitals and nursing homes are urged to begin utilizing unlicensed individuals to perform certain less critical tasks in order to free up nursing staff.
10) HOSPITAL SURGE. Effective immediately, hospitals are required to submit a Patient Surge Plan with strategies to expand hospital beds and make staffing surge adjustments. These plans must be submitted to @MDHealthDept by December 8.
10a) Hospitals should immediately begin adding or redeploying staff, reducing noncritical elective procedures that require a bed or ventilator, and transferring patients to other appropriate treatment facilities.
10b) We currently have 6,816 Marylanders in our state’s hospitals. If and when we reach 8,000 hospitalizations statewide, all hospitals will be required to expand their staffed bed capacity by 10% within 7 days.
10c) Read the @MDHealthDept order: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Documents/2020.12.01.01_MDH_Order_Amended_Various_Health_Care_Matters_Order_Patient_Surge_ManagementIII.pdf
10d) The Health Services Cost Review Commission is reinstating emergency policies to provide more financial stability to hospitals as they navigate this pandemic.
11) STAFFING ANNOUNCEMENTS. After more than 40 years of public service, @MDHealthDept Secretary Bobby Neall is retiring, effective today.
The governor names current COO Dennis Schrader as Acting Secretary of Health.
The governor names current COO Dennis Schrader as Acting Secretary of Health.
11a) Dr. Jinlene Chan will be leading our #COVID19 vaccine acquisition and distribution efforts.
Dr. David Marcozzi will serve as Senior Medical Advisor to the Governor on COVID-19.
Dr. David Marcozzi will serve as Senior Medical Advisor to the Governor on COVID-19.
11b) @GovLarryHogan: “I’m really proud of this incredibly capable and talented team, and all the people who work under them. They will be playing a key role in guiding us through this critical and hopefully final phase of the pandemic."
