He says it will help keep people healthy and monitor future COVID variants and surges.
Annapolis, Md. (KM) – Maryland’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic have gone from an emergency to an ongoing operation of state government. That’s’ according to Governor Larry Hogan, who held a news conference Thursday in Annapolis.; . “Today, I’m announcing our COVID-Ready Maryland Plan to maximize all of the available tools and treatments for preventing severe illness and keeping people from being hospitalized,” he said.
The Governor also said COVID-Ready will maintain a state of readiness over the long term so Maryland can respond to any future variants and surges.
During his news conference, Hogan said there are several pillars to COVID-Ready Maryland. “The first pillar in the COVID-Ready Maryland Plan will expand the federal ‘test to treat’ program,” he said. “To make it easier to get tested and to start treatment in the same visit.”
There are currently 88 “test to treat” centers around the state.
“The second pillar of our COVID-Ready Plan is increasing and maximizing the utilization of therapeutics which are relatively new and effective tool in our arsenal in fighting the virus, and are rapidly becoming more prevalent and more important,” says Governor Hogan.
Another pillar in the COVID-Ready Plan is making sure more eligible members of the population get their booster shots. Right now, Maryland is the most vaccinated and boosted state in the country. he says. . There are well over 900 providers in Maryland.
Enhance awareness and outreach are also part of the COVID-Ready Plan. The GoVAX Call Center continues to be available seven days a week, and has booked nearly two-million appointments. The GoVAX number is 1-855-MD-GOVAX.
The final pillar of COVID-Ready is keeping on top of new variants and waves of the COVID-19. Maryland’s multi-agency COVID-19 task force continues to meet on a daily basis and monitor key metrics about the virus, keeping abreast of any new variants or surges in this virus.
By Kevin McManus
