Mayor Jack Young Says Local Officials 'Don't Feel Comfortable' Reopening, As Gov. Hogan Expected To Discuss More On Recovery Plan

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Gov. Larry Hogan plans to speak Wednesday about when he will start the first phase of Maryland's recovery, but some local leaders may not be onboard with a quick reopening.

Gov. Hogan spoke to mayors and county executives from around the state Tuesday including Baltimore City Mayor Jack Young who says it is not time yet.

"We don't feel comfortable right now to really open up so we are going to continue to follow the advice of our health professionals, and when they say it's time for us to relax some things, we'll do it," Mayor Young said during a press briefing.

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The mayor said the largest jurisdictions in Maryland, which he dubbed the 'Big Eight,' will decide when to reopen their communities.

"We are all going to make that decision jointly as the 'Big Eight' so we are going to talk to each other and make sure any phasing in of openings is coordinated with all of us," he said.

Prince George's and Montgomery County executives said last week they are not ready to reopen.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren asked Mayor Young if he supported parts of the state with fewer cases opening first.

"We are going to take the advice of our healthcare professionals to tell us when they feel it is safe to reopen, and then we can talk about phasing things in," Young responded.

Pennsylvania has relaxed restrictions in some rural counties, and Virginia's governor said he is open to doing the same thing after some Northern Virginia counties with more cases objected to starting the first reopening phase.

Gov. Hogan said last month he was not in favor of a piecemeal approach to reopening Maryland.

The first stage of Maryland's recovery involves lifting Hogan's stay-at-home order.

Small retail shops could reopen. Retailers could use curbside drop-off and pick up. The state would allow limited-attendance outdoor religious activities, limited-attendance outdoor gym classes, and some personal service businesses could resume.

State lawmakers heard last month this phase could last until just before Labor Day.

Stage two would allow the reopening of restaurants and bars with restrictions, the reopening of gyms, and normal transit use.

The governor outlined the phases last month. You can read the 30-page plan here.

Tuesday, Maryland hospitalizations were up by 19 people to 1,563 patients—a number that has not seen large spikes and a key metric for Gov. Hogan as he makes his reopening decision.

He will speak at 5pm Wednesday.

WJZ will have live coverage both on air and online.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

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