AA County executive considers rolling back reopenings as COVID-19 cases rise

As COVID-19 cases surge in Anne Arundel County, officials are exploring ways to stop the spread of the virus from getting worse, including possibly rolling back some reopenings.

RULING OUT ROLLING BACK SOMEREOPENINGS AS THE COUNTYEXPERIENCES A RISING NUMBER OFNEW COVI━19 CASES.

PITTMAN,ALONG WITH HIS HEALTH OFFICER,HELD AN EMERGENCY VIRTUAL TOWNHALL TONIGHT.

WMA━2 NEWS RAYSTRICKLAND IS IN LIVEANNAPOLIS WITH REACTION FROMBUSINESSES ON A POSSIBILITY OFSHUTTING DOWN AGAIN.AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEUARTPITTMAN SAYS THATTHING HE WANTS TO DO BUT WITHVIRUS NUMBERS RISING, HE SAYSITTO CONSIDER.5: 43 We really are in adifficult position in havingto make some difficult choices.Anne Arundel County ExecutiveSteuart Pittman says thecounty HAS SEEN a surge inCOVI━19 cases for the pastcouple of weeks.

Just threedays ago, the county reported89 new cases That's thelargest single day increase inmore than a month.

5:22“anything we can do to slowthe spread without puttingpeople out of work we have toweigh the cost, the economiccost and the cost of peoplelosing their jobs” To date,the county has more than 6,000total cases, including morethan 200 deaths.

Thepositivity remains below thestate average, buthospitalizations are beginningto tick upcounty executive says could betoo much for area hospitals.1:02 If behavior, continuesthe way it has continued, theway it has been during themonth of July, we are likelyto see a surge that is goingto eventually get us to apoint our hospitals areoverwhelmed”emergency virtual town hall,Pittman says he could rollback some r━ openings becauof the uptick in cases.

Hesuggested businesses reopeningin June as the source of thesurge 24: 39“If we want tokeep our people working andour businesses operating, weneed to keep our numbers downperiod” Health officer Dr.Nilesh Kalyanaraman saysanother option for the countyis ramping up enforcement& 1523“There would be a fine onthe first infraction and aclosure on the second.

Thatwhat we are discussing rightnow.

We are losing time rightnow” Business like Federalhouse in annapolis say itwould be a mistake to shutbusinesses down again but themanager there says he supportsharsher penalties forbusinesses not following therules.

7:19“I think therebeen a few bars, few gymsthroughout the state that havenot been following any ofthose policies and causingthis spike”AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE PITTMSAYS HE WILL MEET WITH THECOUNTY'S RECOVERY WORKGROUPAND ALSO WILL CONSULT WITH THESTATE ON NEXT STEPS HE SAYS ADECISION COULD BE MADE A SOONAS THURSDAY.

WHILE THE CITY OFANNAPOLIS HAS FOLLOWED THECOUNTY'S LEAD ON RESTRICTIONS,IT COULD CHOOSE TO CHANGECOURSE IF ANNE ARUNDEL ROLLSBACK R━ OPENINGS.

LIVE INANNAPOLIS, RAY STRICKLANDWMA━2 NEWS.THE SUPERINTENDEN