Governor Hogan calls on Md. State Board of Education to rescind school mask mandate

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Larry Hogan has written a letter to the Maryland State Board of Education, calling on them to rescind the state’s school mask policy.

In his letter, the governor cited dramatically improved health metrics, the widespread availability of vaccines for school-age children, and the growing consensus among medical professionals, parents, and bipartisan state officials.

“A growing number of medical professionals, parents, and bipartisan state officials throughout the nation are calling for an end to school mask requirements,” writes Governor Hogan. “In light of dramatic improvements to our health metrics and the widespread availability of vaccines, I am calling on you to take action to rescind this policy.”

Governor Hogan also announced that as of Thursday morning, COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 in the state, as Maryland continues to emerge faster from the Omicron wave faster than essentially any state. Hospitalizations have dropped by 71% since peaking last month at just below 3,500. Maryland’s positivity rate has dropped a total of 82%, down to 5.12%, and the state continues to report the lowest COVID-19 case rate in the country.

Read Governor Hogan’s full letter the to the State Board of Education here.