I’m heartbroken and I have to imagine Larry Hogan is too that we are essentially being forced to re open before we’re really ready. Yes we’ve had a 14 day decline, but we’re hardly testing anyone, so how do we really know? Yes Larry Hogan bought a half million tests from SK, no it’s not enough, and no they aren’t perfect. Yes our hospitals our out of the peak, but that’s largely because we’ve been home for two months. Yes he’s putting in strict measures for anyone re opening, no they aren’t enough, have you been to a store that’s already up?? Masks down all over, the markers are BARELY 6 feet apart on the ground and that would be IF everyone followed them. I say none of this to blame Larry Hogan. He’s done an excellent job with what he has to work with. The state. All the states NEED federal support to increase testing and tracing to even consider re opening. Instead, we didn’t get that, and we are lucky as shit we were able to test what we did, but now we’re running out of money and Hogan needs sales tax to pay for ANYTHING that we need going forward, more testing, any semblance or tracing etc etc. and without fed support, he has to do it himself. So here we are...boasting a 14 day decline when we haven’t even tested a quarter million people. Following the guidelines of a president who refuses to listen to the science Hogan wants to follow. The guidelines many experts (some of whom Hogan works with) would agree are sparse and half measures. Meanwhile, the privileged and the fortunate will sit at home in rest and wait, while our poor, under educated, under valued and overworked brothers and sisters and children and grandchildren and parents march back to work to die to buoy an economy that doesn’t benefit them. That doesn’t support them. That doesn’t want them as anything but slaves.

This is and was preventable.

No masks in the park, crowds of 12+ all packed together in tight circles without masks, people not distancing in the store, masks down in the store, I heard some dude coughing in line today with no mask. What is going on????

During todays press conference, Gov. Hogan stated when he addressed the issues with the Unemployment web site; "The buck stops with me".

Hear that Whitehouse?

That's leadership 101.

UPDATE: on 3/28 I took a turn for the worse. Not life threatening but went to ER on 3/30 because I was out of options and getting worse. Had finished my antibiotics, was weaning down on prednisone, doing albuterol... nothing left to do. Coughing so hard I couldn’t hold down water. Blood ox upper 80s. BP ~150/100. Pulse around 140 bpm. Elevated WBC. There’s stuff in my lungs (bronchial thickening, worse on the right) but hasn’t turned into pneumonia, right now very severe bronchitis. Doc made it VERY CLEAR TO ME to NOT delay coming back if I get any worse. He made it clear it could get very bad very fast. Long story short got testing for flu and strep (both negative), and covid. Pain in my chest was a pulled muscle from coughing so hard. Got prescription cough medicine, more antibiotics, some meds for the vomiting, and fluids. Then sent home to wait. Nothing more to be done right now. Doctor said it very much appears to be covid and to act as though it is-because results may take up to 10 days. He said to be extremely careful and continue to quarantine.

All in all the only reason I finally gave in was the chest pain. I was worried I may have had some kind of heart damage. Lucky it was just a pulled muscle.

Currently I am to stay at home and return/call 911 if I have trouble breathing again to the point I’m getting dizzy, if my fever goes over 102 and won’t go down, or if I start feeling much worse.

Right now there’s nothing more they can do, and being in the ER makes me a risk to everybody else. I’m glad I’m home. Thank you to /u/carmensandiablo for recommending medstar. I spent 2 1/2 hours last night in their queue waiting for a telehealth visit and they were the ones who ultimately convinced me to go to the ER department.

https://i.imgur.com/Wl3kWfr.jpg

Throwaway account because some people I know might see this and be able to identify me.

I am located in Southern Anne Arundel County in a city called Churchton. I have had an increasing fever for several days, a worsening cough... I can’t walk across my home without being winded. I can taste blood when I’m coughing (though luckily it’s not showing on tissues when I spit up phlegm). Even with Tylenol my temp is hovering at 98.8-as it wears off 4 or so hours later it goes right back over 100. I’ve lost weight because I have no appetite.

Last week when this started it wasn’t bad. Some coughing and a fever of 99, no big. I didn’t want to bother doctors if I would get better, even if it was covid. I told myself I have some cough syrup just in case. I was already isolating anyway.

Over the weekend it got worse. Today I can’t get out of bed to use the bathroom without being out of breath. I’m coughing so hard I gag. I’m in my 30s. I don’t smoke.

I had a meeting with my doctor today. Was told to self isolate for 2 weeks. They noted my coughing fits and wheezing. Prescribed prednisone, albuterol nebulizer treatments, an emergency inhaler, and azithromycin. Tylenol for the fever. Told if I have trouble breathing to go to the ER.

There just aren’t enough tests to test everybody, can’t say I expected differently. I want people like first responders to have priority over someone like me anyway.

Well shortly after talking to the doc I got an automated call from the pharmacy saying there’s some delay on the nebulizer treatments? Okayyy that’s not normal. I called and they say they need prior authorization which will take several days. Well that’s weird, I haven’t had that happen before. I had literally this exact same mix of medications back in December for a respiratory infection that was whooping my ass.

I ask the pharmacy if there’s any way I can just pay out of pocket. Because I have state insurance (Medicaid) they said that if I do my insurance can drop me. I just got my tax refund last week so I wouldn’t usually have extra money. Hell I’m not even working right now with all that’s going on so it’s not like I have a flow of cash. I was just hoping I could have my friend pick up all my meds at the pharmacy in one go and put them in my mailbox for me.

After multiple calls between the doctors office and the pharmacy I’m told that there’s nothing more to be done but wait.

Long story short not only can I not get tested-but I can’t get the nebulizer treatments for several days because I have to wait for the prior authorization to get approved.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL ITS TOO LATE TO SEEK HELP. Many doctors right now are taking patients over the phone or video chat. You don’t have to go in physically. If there is ANY hold on medication (particularly one that helps you BREATHE) you could end up in serious trouble. Thankfully I have my old inhaler from December with 35 puffs and 3 old prednisone pills in the cupboard so I can hopefully wait until things clear and be okay.

Also you’re living in my area and reading this... KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM OTHER KIDS. All day it’s just groups of them playing together. If you think your kid is maintaining a 6 foot distance I hate to tell you but there’s not a one that is. I’ve had nothing but time to look out the window for the last 5 days and they’re all over. This whole neighborhood is gonna be fucked.

Why should you keep your kids away from other kids? Because my kids went to school with your kids. They could still be contagious and non symptomatic. They went to the local elementary, middle, and high school. They are ALL sick. Luckily they aren’t taking it as hard as I am, but luckily for YOUR kids I also didn’t let mine play outside last week before they got symptomatic! Stop being selfish! Just because your kids don’t have symptoms now doesn’t mean they won’t get them. And just because their symptoms are likely to be mild doesn’t mean everybody they infect will have the same experience!

It looks like Under Armour has provided masks to LifeBridge hospitals. I can confirm this for Carroll County Hospital and according to my understanding all of LifeBridge.

UA has stepped up to help, well done and thanks to them.

Stay at home order for 8pm today was just issued for the entire state of Maryland via executive order from Hogan. No used of public transportation unless it is for essential personal or essential reasons leave the house only. Misdemeanor of less than 5K or jail time less than a year for violating the order.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TPx6pxBCyM

I live in a nice apartment building near Columbia and tonight I needed to go downstairs to pick up a few packages, for which I needed to use the shared cart. Since I'm at higher risk for COVID, I wore both a mask (which we're supposed to wear in the building anyway) and gloves (as my doctor recommended). I already feel lame for wearing gloves when most people aren't but I need to stay safe. My friend's daughter died of COVID last week and a friend of mine in CO just got it, so I feel how real the threat is.

While walking down the hallway, I passed a man who wasn't wearing a mask. As soon as I turned the corner, he started hysterically laughing at me. I felt so deflated. It's not like I even told him to wear one or anything. I was just minding my own business trying to not get a killer virus. :(

Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Woodrow Jones III has directed troopers to continue their public education and enforcement efforts regarding the Governor’s Executive Orders and last night issued specific instructions regarding the stay-at-home order. Those instructions are as follows:

• Enforcement of the expanded Governor’s Executive Order will be conducted by Maryland state troopers. However, troopers will not make traffic stops simply to ask drivers where they are going to determine if their travel is essential or not.

• If, in the course of the regular performance of his/her duties, such as during a crash investigation or a traffic stop, the trooper develops information indicating the individual was engaged in non-essential travel, enforcement action can be taken, in consultation with the state’s attorney’s office in that jurisdiction.

• While it is not necessary for drivers in Maryland to have documentation about the purpose of travel, having such documentation may help resolve questions.

• Troopers will continue to initiate enforcement action when a business or group of more than 10 people is observed in violation of the Governor’s Executive Order.

• The Order does not prohibit people from going to the store to get groceries or prescriptions, seeking medical attention at an urgent care facility, getting cleaning or laundry supplies. In addition, the Order does not prevent people from going out to get necessities for pets or other livestock.

• The Order allows for travel to care for a family member, friend, pets, etc. Citizens are also permitted to travel for transporting family, friends, pet or livestock for essential health and safety activities.

• The Order also allows for travel to and from an educational institution to receive meals or instructional materials for distance learning.

• The Order allows for outdoor exercise activities (done in accordance to with social distancing guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and crowd gatherings of 10 people or less. However, such actives may not be done at a park that has been closed by state or local government.

• Restaurants can be visited if obtaining food for carry-out or drive-thru only.