Governor Hogan Announces End of COVID-19 State of Emergency

Source: Governor Larry Hogan - Official Website for the Governor of Maryland, June 15, 2021

Emergency Mandates and Restrictions to End July 1, Followed By 45-Day Administrative Grace Period

​ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency in the State of Maryland. As of today, Maryland has surpassed 6.5 million vaccinations, and the positivity rate is a record-low 0.82%.

“Thanks in large part to the hard work, the sacrifices, and the vigilance of the people of Maryland, we have finally reached the light at the end of that long tunnel,” said Governor Hogan. “Each and every one of you—your actions—have made this day possible. I am so proud of our state, and I’m grateful to have had this honor to serve as your governor. Thank you all for being Maryland Strong.”

Watch today’s press conference.

The COVID-19 state of emergency will end in two phases:

​EMERGENCY MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS END ON JULY 1
All emergency mandates and restrictions will be terminated as of July 1. There will no longer be any statewide mask order in effect for any settings, including schools, camps, and child care facilities.
​
45-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE GRACE PERIOD THROUGH AUGUST 15
Thursday, July 1 will mark the beginning of a 45-day grace period, where certain regulations will continue to be relaxed to complete the administrative transition out of the pandemic. This includes such provisions as renewing driver’s licenses, winding down emergency health operations, and the moratorium on evictions related to COVID-19.

• Read the order ending the state of emergency.
• Read the list of provisions in effect during the administrative grace period.
• Read answers to frequently asked questions related to today’s announcement.

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“Safe Stay” Initiative

MHLA has endorsed the national “Safe Stay” initiative (updated 6-4-20), which has been reviewed by the CDC and was developed with input from major brands and industry leaders as well as subject matter experts. ​

Relief Act includes $10M for Lodging Businesses

The Maryland Covid Relief Act of 2021 was signed into law on February 15, 2021. It includes $10 million to assist our industry through the Maryland Lodging and Accommodations COVID Relief Grant Program.  Applications will be available through each county and the City of Baltimore. 

$50M for Hotel Relief - announced Dec. 2020

$50 million in relief for lodging establishments and hospitality will be allocated to local jurisdictions in the form of a grant from the state. These grants can be used for things such as payroll expenses, rent, and utilities in order to keep operations going while travel is restricted.  All funds must be distributed by March 31, 2021.
 
It is important to note that businesses MUST apply through their local jurisdiction for the hotel relief. Click here for more information. 

​Vaccine Information

All Marylander's 12 and up are eligible for the vaccine.
Visit the links below for more information on Maryland's vaccine plan and stages:

• Maryland COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ's
• Find a Vaccination Clinic
• CDC Vaccine Information Page
• Bloomberg U.S. and Global Vaccine Tracker

Resources from MHLA Partners & Allied Members

General Information
Best Practices, Webinars & Other Relevant COVID-19 Related Topics

• What Hotel, Resort and Lodge Workers Need to Know about COVID-19, as published by the CDC (page updated Sep. 3, 2020)
• Visit https://www.ahla.com/covid-19-resource-center for COVID-19 webinars, federal legislative updates, industry stats, and more from our national partner, the American Hotel & Lodging Association
• HR Guidance & Best Practices Webinar – provided by Heartland Payment Systems
• Enhanced Safety Training – provided by HSS (Hospitality Staffing Solutions)​
• Contactless Parking and Camera Pay for Hospitality. -offered by Premium Parking. Learn more.

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Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Cleaning / Disinfecting Guidelines – provided by Ecolab
• Spray Disinfection Service – provided by Ecolab Pest Elimination. If interested contact the Ecolab Pest Customer Service Center by calling 800-325-1671 and request contact from the local manager.
• Multiple Disinfecting Options – provided by BMS CAT. You may contact Hal Hocking by email at hhocking@bmscat.com or by calling (240) 460-4813 to schedule an evaluation.
• ​COVID-19 Deep Clean for Hotels – provided by HSS (Hospitality Staffing Solutions) 

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General Operation / Inspections

• Complimentary Hotel Reopening Inspections – provided by Triple Crown Construction​​
• Installation of barriers, air purifiers with HVAC systems, and touchless faucets – provided by EMR Co. Contact your local branch for details.

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Cost Saving Resources

• Hotels may contact utilities directly to request deferred payment plans.  Click the following link for contact information for Maryland Utilities & COVID-19 Policies – provided by Sunlight Energy Group​

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Recovery and Crisis Management – Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management and Operations

• ​Crisis Management and Recovery Resources – provided by TravelClick, an Amadeus Company, to help hospitality members navigate turbulent economic times with various complementary resources, webinars, tools to maintain your business, connect with your guests, and plan for future recovery.
• Planning for Hospitality Recovery Playbooks – TravelClick has created customized guides for hospitality partners to use when planning strategic recovery for Marketing, Sales, Revenue Management and Operations.