Council President Responds to COVID-19 Nursing Home Outbreak and Executive Face Covering Mandates

Council President Responds to COVID-19 Nursing Home Outbreak and Executive Face Covering Mandates

Face Covering Mandates Adopted as COVID-Outbreak Spreads Through a Baltimore Nursing Home

BALTIMORE, MD (April 15, 2020) -- Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott released the following statement regarding the outbreak of COVID-19 at a nursing home in Baltimore and today's executive orders from the Governor and Mayor mandating facial coverings:

"For those who may not be taking this pandemic seriously, I hope news of one of the worst outbreaks in the country being here in our backyard makes you reconsider. I have stressed from the very beginning that our seniors are our most vulnerable population and would be disproportionately affected if we failed to follow the mandates put in place. The news of FutureCare Lochearn is disheartening and terrifying. The fact that Baltimore is home to the second largest nursing home outbreak in the country should stand as a wake up call for those who are not social distancing, staying home, or covering their faces while outside. The patients, staff, and their families will remain in my thoughts and prayers as we all continue to navigate through this difficult time. 

On Monday, the City Council unanimously adopted a resolution I introduced calling for Mayor Young to issue an executive order requiring mandatory face coverings. Today, Mayor Young fulfilled this recommendation. Effective immediately, all Baltimore residents are advised to wear cloth masks or other facial coverings, as defined by the CDC, when out in the community and when social distancing measures are not possible. This order will remain in effect until Governor Hogan terminates the state of emergency or until Mayor Young rescinds the Stay at Home Order. All public and private employers are also being directed to develop internal policies around the use of face coverings to promote health and safety of the workforce. 

Governor Hogan also issued an executive order mandating the State of Maryland to adhere to the CDC face covering guidance. Read his full order here. 

I will continue to use my platform to communicate measures put in place for our safety, and will continue to craft legislation that is responsive to the ever-changing advice of our public health professionals. I thank the Governor and Mayor for their quick action in implementing this recommendation, in accordance with the science."