Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a 30-day emergency on Tuesday in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases, mobilizing 1,000 members of the Maryland National Guard to help state and local health officials.

Hogan’s announcement came as the number of people hospitalized in Maryland due to COVID-19 reached 3,057—a record high in the state’s history and an increase of more than 500% in the past seven weeks. The governor said that forecasts indicate that the number of people hospitalized due to virus cases may exceed 5,000.

“The truth is that the next four to six weeks will be the most challenging of the entire pandemic,” Hogan said at a press conference. “All the urgent actions we are taking today are to prevent our hospitals from being overcrowded, to keep our children in school, and to keep Maryland open. We will continue to take any necessary actions in the very difficult days and weeks. “

Approximately 250 members of the National Guard will be deployed to support COVID-19 detection points in Maryland, including hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, and to assist in transporting patients.

Hogan also announced that more National Guard soldiers will be immediately assigned to support the two new state-run sites at the University of Maryland’s Upper Chesapeake Health Center in Bel Air and the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. action.

Maryland is opening 20 new testing sites adjacent to hospitals across the state. The National Guard will help to open these testing sites outside of hospitals across the state to meet the growing demand for testing and to shift the time for people to go to hospital emergency rooms for testing.

The governor implemented these actions by signing two executive orders. Another order authorizes the state secretary of health to manage hospital personnel, beds, and supplies. This will enable the secretary to guide and expedite the transfer of patients between facilities and create alternate care sites.

The order allows interstate reciprocity of medical licenses, allows inactive health care practitioners to practice without renewing their licenses, and supervises elective medical procedures when necessary.

Maryland also authorizes booster injections for teenagers between 12 and 15 years of age.

Hogan said he is scheduled to participate in a conference call with the White House on Tuesday. He said he would urge President Joe Biden’s government to increase the distribution of monoclonal antibodies, rapid COVID-19 testing and antiviral pills.

Hogan said that with the proliferation of omicron variants of COVID-19, people need to take stronger precautions again, “avoid crowds, keep distance, wash hands, yes, wear a damn mask”.

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The governor also stated that he “did well” after testing positive for COVID-19 last month. Hogan said he had a 10-day quarantine “stay” in the basement of the governor’s residence, where he worked and kept in touch with staff.

“For me, it’s like a very serious cold because I am fully vaccinated and strengthened,” Hogan said, while he continued to urge unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and urge those who qualify Get a booster vaccine.

The governor also said that he had received monoclonal antibody treatment very early.

Dr. Ted Delbridge, executive director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System, said that Maryland hospitals have felt the surge of pressure, with 3,006 adults and 51 children hospitalized due to the virus.

Delbridge said: “Our hospital is struggling to cope with the number of patients who come for treatment.” “As of yesterday afternoon, more than 600 people have been waiting in the emergency room for their turn to be admitted to the bed. In fact, our emergency room is the same as in the past. Just as busy.”