STATE OF MARYLAND
Proclamation

Declaration of State of Emergency and
Existence of Catastrophic Health Emergency - COVID-19

WHEREAS, an outbreak of disease ("COVID-19") caused by the novel coronavirus occurred in Hubei province, China, in late 2019, and has currently been detected in more than 89 countries, including the United States;

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a severe respiratory disease, resulting in illness or death, caused by the person-to-person spread of the novel coronavirus, which was not previously found in humans;

WHEREAS, the novel coronavirus, as a viral agent capable of causing extensive loss of life or serious disability, is a deadly agent;

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization ("WHO") and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") have declared the COVID-19 outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern";

WHEREAS, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared that COVID-19 creates a public health emergency;

WHEREAS, the CDC has issued guidance to all state and local governments, and all citizens, recommending preparedness to prevent community spread and guard against the potential of a COVID-19 pandemic;

WHEREAS, as of March 5, 2020, the CDC found that COVID-19 has infected individuals in 17 states, and resulted in a total of 177 confirmed and presumed positive cases in the United States;

WHEREAS, the transmission of the novel coronavirus in the state is a threat to human health in all of Maryland;

WHEREAS, the person-to-person spread modeled by the CDC and WHO indicates that extensive loss of life or serious disability is threatened imminently in all of Maryland because of the transmission in the state of novel coronavirus;

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a public health catastrophe and public emergency;

WHEREAS, COVID-19 poses an immediate danger to public safety; and

WHEREAS, the impending threat to Maryland by COVID-19 is a catastrophic health emergency requiring the State to deploy resources and implement the emergency powers of the Governor to protect the health and safety of Marylanders;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF MARYLAND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TITLE1 4 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, AND, IN AN EFFORT TO CONTROL AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WITHIN THE STATE, HEREBY PROCLAIM, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THAT A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND CATASTROPHIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS WITHIN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the State of Maryland in the City of Annapolis, this 5th day of March, 2020.

Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST:

John C. Wobensmith
Secretary of State