One day after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan lifted a stay-at-home order and allowed some businesses to reopen amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, leaders in Prince George's and Montgomery counties announced Thursday their respective jurisdictions aren't ready to join the rest of the state.
County executives and health officers from both jurisdictions laid out the benchmarks that would need to be met before attempting to reopen, including a two-week decline in coronavirus cases and deaths, adequate daily testing of residents, and an increase in testing kits, personal protective equipment and other materials.
Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said the stay-at-home order in the majority-Black jurisdiction will remain in effect through June 1.
Before she announced the order, Alsobrooks offered condolences to the family of an employee in the county health department who died this week after contracting COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced late Thursday afternoon that the county will follow Hogan’s order and allow some businesses to reopen at 5 p.m. Friday.
