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New COVID-19 mandates set for parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

In response to the rising numbers on positive COVID-19 cases and the hospitalization crisis, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has declared new COVID-19 protocols for all parishes effective Dec. 29, 2021, until Jan. 31, 2022.

Similarly, a declaration of a state of emergency in Baltimore County was issued Dec. 27 by Health Officer Gregory W. Branch and Baltimore County Executive John A. Olszewski Jr. enforcing masking mandates in public areas and noting alarming statistics of COVID-19 infections.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori noted that the archdiocese and the COVID-19 Task Force are closely monitoring rates of positive cases, trends and developments locally and abroad to ensure the safety of all individuals, while making progress.

“Now more than ever, it is important we remember to care for our health and safety and of those around us,” Archbishop Lori said. 

The following guidelines apply to all parishes in the archdiocese until Jan. 31, 2022, unless specified differently: 

According to the order for public safety, as of Dec. 25, Baltimore County’s seven-day positivity rate is 18.2 percent, whereas the current statewide seven-day COVID-19 positivity average increased from 4.36 percent to 15.85 percent from Nov. 26 to Dec. 25.

Over a one-month period, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland had a total increase of seven-day COVID-19 positivity average of 268 percent and 264 percent respectively.

The number of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in Baltimore County increased from 62 to 205 patients from Nov. 26 to Dec. 26, an increase of 231 percent.

As of Dec. 26, intensive care units countywide are at 87.25 percent of capacity, leaving only 13 ICU-beds available in all of Baltimore County, whereas ICUs statewide are at 89 percent of capacity.

The seven-day average of daily hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Baltimore County increased from 62 to 178.86 from Nov. 26 to Dec. 26, a total increase of 188.5 percent over a one-month period.

Although the ongoing issuing and lifting of Covid-19 mandates might be exhausting to follow, taking safety measures has been proven to prevent the spread of the virus. 

“In times of trial, especially long struggles, we see just how resilient we are,” Archbishop Lori said. “Hopefully, the pandemic has reminded us of our need for God’s grace and our need for each other.”

Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org.

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