Coronavirus: Maryland resists pressure to reopen quickly as death toll rises

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “You see this happening around the country as states try to open in a safe way,” Mr Hogan said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. He continued: “Unfortunately, the pressure is to do it in a not-safe way, and that’s something that we’re very concerned about and one of the reasons we’re being cautious, and trying to do things in a slow, safe and effective manner.” Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia reported 85 additional Covid-19 deaths, along with 2,148 new coronavirus infections. In a message to residents, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, a Democrat, warned that the county is “in the exponential growth phase of our epidemic curve” and said residents could expect to see cases and deaths increase for several more weeks. “Sadly, we had far more people die yesterday in Maryland than we had protesters.” Separately, a coalition of Maryland religious leaders, business owners and state lawmakers have filed a federal lawsuit, asking a judge in Baltimore to intervene to block Hogan’s restrictions on certain businesses and religious gatherings.