Gov. Hogan good morning. Confirmed cases of covid19 in our state. Over the past weekend, we saw a 678 increase in positive cases. Ofnow have cases in 21 out 24 of marylands jurisdictions. Sadly, a Montgomery County woman in her 40s became the third marylander so far to have died as a result of the coronavirus. Cases in the 635 Capital Region of maryland, dcm. C. And virginia. 32,000 cases across america and more than 340 2000 cases around the globe. Over the past several weeks, we decisive, some swift, unprecedented actions in our state in order to slow the spread of covid19 and to save lives. I just want to take a moment to majority overwhelming of marylanders who have taken this situation seriously and who have remained at home, avoided crowds, and practiced muchneeded social distancing. Arertunately, many people still not taking seriously. There were crowds of people visiting the Cherry Blossoms in washington, d. C. And large gatherings on the beach at ocean city and on the boardwalk. And that many at the county and local parks across the state. Again aspeat once strongly as i possibly can if you are engaged in this kind of activity, you are breaking the law and you are literally endangering the lives of your family, your friends, and your fellow citizens. Because of this irresponsible and reckless behavior, beginning today, even further and more aggressive Enforcement Actions will be taken by state and local authorities to disperse these gatherings. In the continuing effort to protect the health and safety of all marylanders, we are also taking immediate additional mitigation and social distancing actions. Ans morning, i have enacted executive order which closes all nonessential businesses, organizations, establishments, and facilities in maryland, effective at 5 00 today. In addition to those businesses which have already been closed by our prior executive orders, this new executive order closes all those businesses not covered by federal guidelines, which were issued thursday by the federal government, as defined as Critical Infrastructure sectors, including health care and food and agriculture, energy, public works, communitybased government operations, and the defense and Industrial Base to sectors, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, transportation, critical manufacturing, financial services, and water and wastewater. Let me be clear. Ordering aissuing or shelterinplace directive. Or forcing people to stay home. However, we are telling all to follow all of the directives we have issued and follow state law against crowds of more than 10 people. And we are telling you, unless you have an essential reason to leave your house, then you should stay in your homes. Todays actions of closing nonessential businesses are absolutely necessary to protect the health of marylanders and to save lives. Exceptionally challenging time for marylanders and for all americans. And, that includes those who are out of work and our Small Business community. Our First Priority is saving the lives of thousands of marylanders. And while we are fighting this unprecedented worldwide pandemic, at the same time, we are also facing another huge oftle against the potential tremendous economic harm. We must tackle both of these problems aggressively and simultaneously. Both of these battles are going to take all of us at the federal, state and local levels, and the private sector are to this challenge and working together. Over the last several weeks, governors in both parties from all across america have come together and pushed for more robust and aggressive federal response. As chairman of the National Governors association, we submitted several priorities to the president and Vice President last thursday based on all of the important priorities of the governors. While we have seen some progress on some of these requests, including the invoking of title 32 so that fema can cover the cost of the National GuardsRelief Missions and giving us xibility and some progress to ramp up the production of and delivery of ppes, necessary equipment, and on extending the deadline for the 2020 census, we are still awaiting for additional action on title 32 for all the states and still pushing for the extension of the real id. And, we are still pushing very Major Economic stimulus and for monies to go directly to the states so that we can help these businesses and individuals that are impacted. And there is still no action on that. We are going to raise these issues again on our call with the president and Vice President this afternoon. Times overseveral the past couple of days with u. S. Labor secretary jean scalia about helping unemployed and displaced workers. Last week, Congress Passed a second stimulus package which included paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave for workers, enhanced Unemployment Insurance, and enhanced Food Security programs. I also spoke with secretary scalia about the availability of 100 million in dislocated worker grants in response to this health emergency. In addition, i urged both the white house and the congress to include in their stimulus package direct aid to the states who are on the frontline of this crisis. Over the weekend, i spoke with Vice President pence, treasury secretary steven mnuchin, and the leaders of both the senate and the house. And on friday, i spoke with our entire federal delegation that represents maryland about the importance of this muchneeded assistance. The package currently being 300 billionudes a dollar emergency Economic Relief plan to help Small Businesses make payroll and cover expenses. This legislation would provide cash flow assistance through federally guaranteed loans to employers to maintain their payroll during this emergency. This will help workers to remain employed and help Small Businesses to ramp back up after this crisis. As i have said repeatedly, governors are leading on the front lines of this crisis and we need congress to Work Together to support our efforts. This is no time for partisan dysfunction. It is going to take all of us working together in order to save thousands of lives. Will beernoon, i leading another one of these teleconferences with the president , the Vice President with all the nations governors. We will continue to press for further coordination and for further resources when the federal government. This will be our fifth such conference with the governors. All of federal assistance is critically needed and the effort so far are appreciated. But, the states continue to need more assistance and more action. However, maryland is not just going to rely on or wait for actions from the federal government. As we have time and time again, we will continue to lead and continue to take action in this crisis. Three weeks ago, i submitted a supplemental budget to provide an additional immediate 10 million in resources to prepare the states response to covid19. Two weeks ago, i submitted emergency legislation to tap fundthe states rainy day in order to respond to this crisis. Thursday, i signed emergency legislation into law which provides relief to maryland workers by allowing them to collect Unemployment Insurance if the business has been closed due to covid19, if they have been quarantined, or if a Family Member had been quarantined. Also on thursday, we were successful in receiving a statewide disaster declaration from the Small Business administration so that Small Businesses in our state that had been affected by the coronavirus kit immediately applied to can immediately apply directly to lowinterest federal disaster loans to help cover the cost, including payroll bills and accounts payable with longterm payments stretching up to 30 years. Today, we are taking additional major steps to help support the states Small Businesses and workers. Were immediately launching a 175 million comprehensive Business Relief Program here in maryland. This will bring together resources from two of our key state agencies the Maryland Department of commerce and the Maryland Department of labor to help hardpressed marylanders and Small Businesses help them get through this difficult period. Our Unemployment Insurance program is ramped up and is dedicated to helping employees and employers who have been affected by covid19. If you have been laid off, you can immediately file a claim by phone or email or by submitting an application online. Unlike other states, maryland has no waiting period whatsoever so claims can be filed right away, immediately. And, we are launching the covid19 layoff aversion fund. Additional 7n million is available to help Small Businesses retain their employees during this crisis. Maryland Small Businesses can apply for up to 50,000 in Flexible Funding to help continue operations and keep their employees on the payroll. These resources are available businessexpress. Ma ryland. Gov coronavirus. Through the Maryland Department of commerce, today, we are introducing the maryland Small Business covid19 relief fund. A 75 million fund that will provide working capital to Small Businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees that have lost revenue due to this pandemic. These funds can be used by Small Businesses to pay their employees, their suppliers, their rent and to cover critical operating costs to help them stay in business. We are also establishing a 50 million maryland Small Business covid19 relief grant fund, which will provide not longterm loans, but direct immediate 10,000 to Small Businesses that have lost revenue because of the coronavirus. We are also immediately developing a 5 million fund to provide incentives to maryland Small Businesses to manufacture masks, personal protective equipment, and other supplies to immediately help meet the critical demand of our health care workers. We are deploying another 40 million in emergency money through all of our existing commerce finance programs. To specifically target assistance to maryland Small Businesses to help them survive this covid19 crisis and to help them preserve the jobs of their employees. Today, i also issued an executive order to protect families from price gouging. This covers all essential Household Items and commodities. Retailers who attempt to exploit this crisis for profit and gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Marshalingration is every tool in the arsenal of Public Health to combat and slow the spread of this pandemic. Plank ago, we launched our to increase Hospital Capacity by an additional 6000 beds in order to meet the demand created by the escalating spread of this virus. Phase one of this plan has already made 900 beds immediately available. We expect an additional 1400 beds by early april. Speak,re underway, as we to establish a Field Hospital at the Baltimore Convention center as an alternate care and an alternate care at the adjacent hilton hotel in baltimore city. The Maryland National guard will be setting up these sites in coordination with the army corps of engineers. These will be operated through a joint partnership with the university of maryland medical system and Johns Hopkins. At my direction, fema will be delivering 250 hospital bed packages and Everything Associated with them in the coming days. We also worked with the university of maryland medical system to reopen the Laurel Hospital which will make an additional 135 hospital beds available in short order. The Maryland National guard, in partnership with the Maryland Department of health and the Prince Georges County health department, is establishing a pilot coronavirus drivethrough screening location at fedex field in landover. We also have five vehicle emissions Inspection Centers ready to immediately open as drivethrough screening and Testing Centers as soon as the necessary testing kits, ppes, and lab capability becomes available. Today, i have issued orders to authorize a fasttrack process which will bring more testing capability directly here in maryland without waiting for federal action or fda approval. This will dramatically shorten the process which would have taken several months. Healthcare providers are now tests foro prioritize hospitalized patients and Health Care Providers will cease elective procedures to free up capacity. O just want to take a moment t say thank you to the Countless Health care professionals, the doctors and the nurses, the First Responders who are on the front lines every day, working aroundtheclock to help keep us safe. And, i want to thank the soldiers and airmen of the Maryland National guard. We deployed these citizen soldiers to assist with humanitarian missions all across the state and they never hesitate to answer the call to help their fellow maile marylanders. I want to thank all the Small Businesses who have to close their doors during these uncertain times. I can assure you that these actions, while incredibly savecult financially, will the lives of thousands of your fellow marylanders. And, we will have your backs in the weeks ahead and we will do everything we can to help get you back on your feet and to help all of your employees recover. Finally, i want to sincerely thank the people of maryland who have helped their fellow marylanders just by staying home and those who have volunteered their time to distribute school upls, who have picked groceries for an older neighbor, or given blood to the red cross. And, i encourage all marylanders to visit our maryland new nights website unites website to find out what you can do to help your neighbors and your communities. I also ask that you keep giving to your local churches who are not able to pass the collection baskets on sundays and to all the other volunteer organizations, all of whom are desperately in need of your donations so that they can continue to help others in our community. Marylanders,low let me say that i know how incredibly difficult this is on each and every one of you. There is a great deal of fear and anxiety. And the truth is that none of us really know how bad it is going to get or how long its going to last. But i can promise you that there are a great deal, a great many dedicated people doing some tremendous things, working aroundtheclock and doing their very best to help keep the people of maryland save. Fe. And, we are all in this together and we will, together, we will get through this. God bless each and every one of you and may god continue to bless the great state of maryland. At this time, im going to turn it over to our commerce secretary who will provide some more detail on our comprehensive Relief Program for maryland Small Businesses and workers. Kelly . Thank you, governor. And, good morning. Coronavirus has really presented a series of challenges that we will be facing together in the coming months. We know this is frightening. We know people and not just worried about their health and the health of their loved ones. We know you are worrying about your jobs and whether the stores will be open and about taking care of your families. We are doing everything we can and we are balancing the need to slow the spread of the virus with the need for businesses to keep operating. Thats why we are encouraging restaurants to continue providing carry out services, for example. We have also worked closely with our Small Business community and several partners to ensure will approve Small Business assistance. Small businesses across the state can apply for Disaster Relief funding through the sba. That is an important resource, but we do know we will need to do much more than that. If we do not act to support our Business Community during this emergency, that the economic risk to our industrie