To end Pittman’s lockdown, rescind emergency powers

It’s been said history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. Before Anne Arundel County repeats history with a second lockdown, we need to consider what we’ve learned about COVID-19 since the first one.

The single most important fact about the coronavirus pandemic, in terms of deciding how to respond to it, is that while it can be deadly, it’s not equally dangerous for everyone.

For example, over 106,000 deaths, roughly four of 10 COVID-19 fatalities in America, were in nursing homes. People over retirement age (65) accounted for eight of 10 deaths; the average age of death in Anne Arundel County is 78. COVID-19 deaths under30are less than one in100. The COVID-19 infection survival rate is 98.2% and climbing. This is data that must inform our response.

So, what do we gain with another lockdown? Nursing homes are already effectively locked down. With staff testing and other protocols, we should be able to protect occupants. Retirees and people over 65 have a responsibility to protect themselves. What specific policies/programs do we have to require/help them do that? None. Instead of sheltering/protecting thosemost at risk, CountyExecutive Steuart Pittman’s lockdown treats everyone as equally at risk. They are not, as the scientific data clearly show.

Historically, lockdowns of healthy people have never been used to control a disease. Only sick peoplewere quarantined. Locking down healthy people and restricting their activities to contain a disease was an experiment. Did it work? In March, bars, restaurants, non- essential businesses, churches and schools were closed. Hospitals turned away all but COVID-19 patients and never came close to being full. Anne Arundel Medical Center laid off 1,000 employees as a result.

Now, despite nine months of masks, social distancing, and executive orders, which always exceeded Gov. Larry Hogan’s limitations on business capacity, church capacity and school closures, we’re back to square one: County Executive Steuart Pittman’s lockdown. Restaurants closed to indoor and outdoor dining for a month. Harsher restrictions on retail shopping and churches at Christmas.

Pittman claimsHogan’s restrictions must be tightened, because hospitals, “are on the verge of being overrun” by COVID-19 patients. That isn’t true. Based onMaryland HealthCareCommissionandAnneArundel County data, AAMC has an acute care capacity of 349 and a 90.5% occupancy rate. COVID-19 patients occupy only 65 of 349 acute care beds (19%). University of Maryland BaltimoreWashingtonMedical Center has similar numbers.

Hospitals are designed to operate at capacity and frequently do in flu season. Anne Arundel hospitals could reduce elective surgeries and open hundreds more beds. Statewide, only 56% of ICU beds are being used, if ICU overflow capacity is needed. We’re managing a pandemic, not panic-demic. Our response calls for balance and common sense, not drama and overreaction. Hogan’s restrictionswalk that line. Pittman’s lockdown crosses it.

If Pittman’s lockdown will “save lives,” why did he delay it aweek? Doesn’t Pittman realize that heavily restricted/inspected restaurants take far more precautions to ensure masks and distancing than will ever occur in homes?

Pittman’s lockdown will be the last straw for many restaurants, small businesses, and theiremployees. Hoganis as accountable for this second lockdownas Pittman.

Unless Hogan wants to be part of this farce, he needs to rescind Pittman’s emergency authority and end this lockdown.

Herb McMillan represented Annapolis in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2003-2007 and 2011-2019.