Baltimore City Council Favors Coronavirus Measure Requiring Masks

BALTIMORE, MD — The Baltimore City Council reviewed and unanimously support four measures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus at Monday's virtual council meeting.

During their second online meeting, the council considered these measures to support residents during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• An Ordinance making it illegal to falsel impersonate city officials and make false statements during a declared state of emergency.
• A resolution calling on Mayor Jack Young to issue an executive order requiring essental businesses to enforce social distancing, requiring residents and visitors to use face coverings in public, and requiring city employees to also wear face coverings in public.
• A resolution (20-0209R) supporting the release of nonviolent offenders to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons.
• A resolution calling on the Mayor Young to make hotels and non-shelter housing options available for people experiencing homelessness.

Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott tweeted that all four bills would move forward after unanimous council support.

As of Monday morning, Baltimore City had 873 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 26 deaths from COVID-19. The Maryland Department of Health reported that almost 9,000 people statewide had tested positive and 262 had died.