Around Maryland

Officials announced Friday Prince George’s County will end its indoor mask mandate Monday, a directive which has been in effect since last August. The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases decline locally and nationally following a surge caused by the highly transmissible omicron strain of the virus. Prince George’s County has the lowest transmission rate of any jurisdiction in Maryland, according to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; its transmission rate is categorized as “moderate” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while all other Maryland jurisdictions are currently “substantial” or “high.”

Lawyers for Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby have filed a trio of legal motions as they seek to mount a defense against the federal charges she faces. Mosby’s defense attorneys attached a range of documents to support their pleadings, the most expansive being a long-shot legal argument for a federal judge to dismiss the case because of alleged prosecutorial bias.

Maryland’s reported 718 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths, according to data released Sunday by the Maryland Department of Health. The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate dipped to 4.32% over the past 24 hours, a 0.17% decrease since Friday. The statewide positivity rate peaked on Jan. 7 when it flirted with 30%.

In a letter to parents and guardians, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said they will transition all archdiocesan schools, where jurisdictions allow, to optional masking. The move will take place starting on Feb. 14. For students, this option will be based on parental choice, according to the letter. Staff and visitors will also have the option to wear a mask or not and the change applies to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

Masks are no longer required in Frederick County, Maryland, under the board of health mandate as COVID-19 case numbers drop. As of Saturday, the COVID-19 case rate in Frederick County has fallen below 20 per 100,000 people. This was the threshold set by the Frederick County Board of Health. Because this metric was met, the mask mandate is no longer in effect, as announced by the Board of Health in a news release.

They pulled out all the stops at the 41st annual Black History Month Breakfast. Maryland’s 4th and 5th Congressional Districts hosted the event. It was held virtually for the second year in a row but featured musical performances and guest speakers. “This year we have so many dedicated and inspirational leaders to deliver messages of hope and joy,” Emcee Kelby Funn said.

Maryland’s top court will consider whether a criminal defendant’s right to an unbiased jury is inherently violated by the courtroom presence of a bailiff wearing a face mask emblazoned with the pro-police “thin blue line” flag during trial. The Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday to review a lower court decision that the symbol does not necessarily indicate the trial court’s bias toward the prosecution and law enforcement in violation of a defendant’s constitutional right to due process.