Dear friend,

The ongoing public health emergency due to the spread of the coronavirus is a serious issue facing our communities. We must all take the necessary precautions to keep our families and loved ones safe. For information on how to protect yourself and your family from the coronavirus, visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/. A help line is available through the Maryland Health Department by calling 410-767-6500.

A special enrollment period is now open through April 15 for uninsured Marylanders to sign up for health insurance. Click here to learn more.

Governor Hogan announced necessary steps this week to keep Marylanders safe. As of Monday, March 16 at 5 p.m.:

All bars, restaurants, movie theatres, and gyms are closed;
Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited;
Utilities cannot be cut off and tenants cannot be evicted; and
Schools will provide 3 meals and one snack per day.

Information on how you can prevent the spread of the coronavirus is available through the Centers for Disease Control by clicking here. Additionally, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has prepared a list of frequently asked questions and resources on the coronavirus, which you can find here. I hosted a telephone town hall last week with Fifth District public health officials. Click here to listen.

Maryland public schools are providing meals to students while schools are shut down. Click here to find a meal distribution site in your community.

Information specific to counties in the Fifth District is available below:

If you are experiencing fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your health care professional to consult with them before going to an ER or a physician’s office, which could put you or others at risk. Additional information about the coronavirus can be found by visiting http://coronavirus.gov/.

I encourage all Marylanders to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family from the coronavirus. I will continue to work to ensure our communities have the necessary resources to protect our citizens.

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Steny H. Hoyer