The Maryland Department of Health has posted an update regarding the “network security incident” that caused its website to be offline several weeks last December, confirming that the incident was the result of a ransomware attack.
During that time the MDH was not able to update its COVID-19 portal with daily case rates, testing, and deaths.
All three cities in Montgomery County have announced that mask requirements will stay in place in city buildings after Montgomery County’s mask mandate expires tomorrow, February 21 at 11:59pm.
On Friday, Takoma Park released the following information:
Per the State of Maryland:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations at Maryland’s six casinos. The casino-based vaccination clinics further expands locations where Marylanders can get fully protected from COVID-19 and its variants. The expansion is part of the governor’s booster action plan, which includes the $2 million VaxCash 2.0 Promotion with the Maryland Lottery to further incentivize Marylanders to get a booster shot.
The City of Takoma Park announced today that the city will keep its mask mandate in place until further notice.
This will apply to all employees and visitors of city buildings and facilities, including:
Per the State of Maryland:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced continued declines in the state’s COVID-19 health metrics, including hospitalizations dropping below 700—now more than five times lower than the Omicron peak last month.
Per the State of Maryland:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—With the state’s health metrics continuing to substantially decline, Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the requirement for masks and face coverings to be worn in state buildings will end next week.
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 10, 2022/PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced that NVX-CoV2373, its recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, achieved its primary effectiveness endpoint in the pediatric expansion of its PREVENT-19 pivotal Phase 3 trial and demonstrated 80% efficacy overall at a time when the Delta variant was the predominant circulating strain in the U.S. The study enrolled 2,247 adolescents aged 12 through 17-years across 73 sites in the U.S. to evaluate safety, effectiveness (immunogenicity), and efficacy, with an emphasis on ensuring well balanced racial and ethnic representation among participants.
“We are encouraged by the results in this adolescent population given the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options for COVID-19,” said Filip Dubovsky, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Novavax. “We believe the Novavax vaccine offers a differentiated technology and option for this younger population given its established protein-based technology already used in other vaccines, and the positive responses demonstrated against variants.”
Per Montgomery County:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped below 5%—another critical milestone as Maryland’s health metrics continue to substantially decline.
Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Press release from Governor Hogan’s office:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today called on the Maryland State Board of Education to rescind its school mask policy, citing the state’s dramatically improved health metrics, the widespread availability of vaccines for school age children, and the growing consensus among medical professionals, parents, and bipartisan state officials.
Per the State of Maryland:
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that, according to official CDC data, more than 95% of Maryland adults have now been vaccinated against COVID-19—another major milestone for one of the most successful vaccination campaigns in the country.