Annapolis New Year's Eve Parties, Fireworks Plans Adjusted For COVID

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis canceled its city-sponsored New Year's Eve parties, Mayor Gavin Buckley announced Monday. Buckley said he is concerned about large gatherings as the new omicron coronavirus variant surges in Anne Arundel County. The state capital will still host its two fireworks displays, however.

“This wave of infections is putting a strain on resources in public safety and health care,” Buckley said in a press release. “We want people to celebrate, but to do so safely and in a way that doesn’t further tax hospitals and public safety personnel.”

The city originally planned two family-friendly parties with bands and DJs at Susan Campbell Park. The first celebration was scheduled to run from 4 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. The second was slated for 9 p.m.

Although these events won't happen, fireworks will shoot off Friday near City Dock at 5:30 p.m. and at midnight. Annapolis offered this advice to boaters hoping to catch the show from the water:

Because of the potential for crowded conditions, boaters are urged to select their preferred viewing-area anchorage early and are also warned to avoid the 1,000-foot safety zone around the fireworks barge. The 1,000-foot safety zone covers all of Spa Creek from Susan Campbell Park to the Chart House. You will not be able to transit that entire portion of Spa Creek from 4 p.m. to midnight. Please note: Immediately after the fireworks, the barge will be underway to clear the harbor. All boaters are urged to heed the instructions of safety and law enforcement officials including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, the Annapolis Police, the Annapolis Fire Department, the Annapolis Harbormaster and others.

Buckley asked restaurants to serve patrons outside when possible to combat the latest highly contagious variant. He also encouraged establishments to require proof of vaccination or a negative test. The mayor additionally suggested indoor and outdoor masking.

Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and Maryland do not currently have mask mandates, so face coverings are still optional in these areas. None of these jurisdictions have reinstated business capacity restrictions or social gathering caps either.

The New Year's Eve parties are the most recent Annapolis events called off during the current COVID-19 spike.

The town was also supposed to host the Military Bowl, a college football postseason game, on Monday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. That contest was scrapped on Sunday, as the Boston College Eagles had too many players in the coronavirus protocols before their match-up with the East Carolina University Pirates. The Military Bowl parade scheduled for Monday morning was also nixed.

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley announced Sunday that he is quarantining after close contact with somebody who has the virus. Buckley, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, tested negative the same day. He does not have any symptoms.

Rising Metrics

Maryland's case rate has skyrocketed to 112.23 new infections per day per 100,000 residents. That's more than double the previous record-high of 53.39 set on Jan. 12. The case rate is also well above its recent minimum of 11.16 reported on Nov. 5 and its overall low of 0.9 recorded on June 25.

The state's positivity rate is up to 16.54 percent. It was as low as 2.91 percent on Nov. 4. The all-time minimum of 0.54 percent was set on June 28. The positivity rate is still below its April 17, 2020 peak of 26.88 percent. That metric was artificially inflated, however, because tests were scarce early in the pandemic.

This omicron spike prompted an increase in hospitalizations. Maryland's 1,714 patients are up from the recent minimum of 490 registered on Nov. 14 and the record low of 97 posted on July 1. The current total is nearing the Jan. 11 all-time high of 1,952 hospitalizations.

The state has reported 11,022 COVID-19 deaths.

Vaccine Update

Maryland has 4,247,566 fully vaccinated residents. About 96.76 percent of Maryland seniors and 91.3 percent of adults have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Maryland has also made some headway on the newest group eligible for the shot. About 31.82 percent of kids aged 5 to 11 have gotten their first injection since they were cleared for immunization in late October.

The state has given 1,524,879 booster shots.

Maryland's health and vaccine metrics are updated daily at coronavirus.maryland.gov/.

Who's Eligible For Booster

Here is a chart explaining who is eligible for a booster shot and when they can take it:

Residents don't have to get their booster from the same immunization manufacturer they used for their initial inoculation(s). Marylanders are allowed to pick any additional dose they want.

The CDC recommended getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster, not the Johnson & Johnson. Experts urged locals to still get Johnson & Johnson's extra dose if Pfizer and Moderna are not available.

Who's Eligible For First Doses

The Pfizer immunization is the only one with full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That clearance is good for residents 16 and up. Pfizer also has emergency-use authorization for anybody aged 5 to 15 for their first two doses

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson inoculations have emergency-use authorization for locals 18 and up.

Emergency-use authorization requires less FDA review than full approval, which is the golden stamp of support from regulators.

Residents can book a vaccine by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling Maryland's multilingual call center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

RELATED:

• Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley Quarantining After Close COVID-19 Contact
• Fenway Bowl, Military Bowl Canceled Because Of COVID-19
• 100K At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Available In Anne Arundel County
• Omicron Cases Explode In Maryland: See Latest CDC Data
• New Year's Eve In Annapolis: Officials Announce City Dock Party

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