​More Coronavirus Regulations Hit Prince George's As Cases Soar​​

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — With coronavirus cases multiplying at their fastest rate yet, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced a new round of regulations Thursday. Her latest executive order adds restrictions for eateries and social gatherings and expands the county's mask order.

"We really have to hunker down, Alsobrooks said. "That is the message of today."

Starting Sunday, restaurants and bars must reduce their indoor operating capacities to 25 percent. They may have half-capacity service outside.

Social gatherings also took a hit. Indoor gatherings will be limited 10 people or one person per 200 square feet of space, whichever is lower. Outdoor gatherings are now capped at 25 visitors or one person per 200 square feet of space, whichever is lower.

Masks are now required in all public places. Prince Georgians must wear a face covering anytime they leave their house and are not practicing vigorous exercise, Alsobrooks added.

"All of us are tired of COVID-19," Alsobrooks said. "But it is so imperative that we just stay the course."

Economic Resources

The county executive also announced a series of economic relief efforts.

A $6 million Restaurant Resiliency Fund will help eateries with grants of up to $25,000. The money will help cover personal protective equipment, winterization for outdoor seating and interior improvements for social distancing

The application opens Friday and closes on Dec. 18. The requests will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

Additionally, Alsobrooks debuted the COVID-19 Rapid Re-Employment Grant program, which is operated by Employ Prince George's. Through this initiative, businesses that hire county residents before Dec. 15 could earn grants of up to $15,000.

The funds will cover 50 to 90 percent of each new employee's salary for an agreed upon period. Business can earn multiple grants through this effort, but they may not collect more than $50,000. Intrested businesses can apply at this link.

Employ Prince George's is also expanding its COVID-19 Hourly Employee Relief Fund. The organization has raised more than $700,000 for this effort. It has distributed more than $380,000, in the form of $200 Visa gift cards, to residents who lost their jobs.

The group recently upped its disbursement to $300-per-person. More information is available here.

"We know that you are fatigued of COVID-19," Alsobrooks said. "I am fatigued of COVID-19."

A full list of coronavirus regulations in Prince George's County is posted here.

Holiday Travel

Prince George's County Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter strongly discouraged traveling during this holiday season. He said families should only celebrate with the members of their household.

"The virus is spreading rapidly," Carter said, noting that the fall surge is here. "This is not the time."

The health officer instead suggested that residents schedule video chats with relatives on special days. Carter knows it's tough to hear, but he believes family members will understand the changes.

"You’re loved ones will still love you," Carter said. "I know mine do."

Case Rate

Health officials focus on several metrics to evaluate the coronavirus pandemic. The most frequently-used are the case rate, hospitalizations and percent positivity.

The case rate is a per-capita measure that makes it easy to compare places with different populations.

A jurisdiction's case rate is the average number of new coronavirus infections-per-day that it registers over a rolling week per 100,000 people.

As a barometer, Maryland health officials say expanded in-person classes are probably safe when the local case rate dips below 5. Prince George's County's case rate has spiked to 23.49. That's the county's highest mark since June 3.

Prince George's case rate hit previous highs of 38.85 on May 7 and 19.04 on Aug. 4. It reached lows of 7.57 on July 2 and 9.96 on Sept. 25, but it's been an upward climb since then.

Hospitalizations

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations have also pointed upward. They are down from their high of 244 in the week of May 3, but hospitalizations are starting to grow.

The disease left 69 people hospitalized in Prince George's County in the last reported week. That's the most since the week of June 14. Hospitalizations hit an overall low of 44 in the week of Sept. 20.

Covid ActNow, a coronavirus statistics website, estimates that Prince George's County has 122 beds in the intensive care unit. Hospitals need to save some of these beds for emergencies that aren't related to coronavirus.

Last week, Prince George's had 23 patients in the ICU with the virus. That is the most since the week of June 28. ICU hospitalizations maxed out at 69 in the week of May 3 and receded to 11 by the week of Aug. 2.

Positivity Rate

The county's positivity rate is also on the upswing. This is the percentage of coronavirus tests that come back positive over a moving seven days. The statistic also measures whether an area has enough tests to identify most of its infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a positivity rate of less than 5 percent demonstrates that a region has enough testing to control its outbreak. The Maryland Department of Health says hybrid learning should be safe when jurisdictions fall beneath this benchmark.

Prince George's County's positivity rate has ascended to 6.91 percent. That's down from its May 2 high of 41.95 percent, but it's up from its Sept. 24 low of 3.46 percent.

Total Cases And Deaths

Prince George's County's 35,336 coronavirus infections are the most in the state. The virus is blamed for the death of 854 county residents.

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