Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday announced $70 million in federal coronavirus relief funds will be directed to bolstering the state's stockpile of protective equipment, supporting rental assistance and preparing for an anticipated coronavirus vaccine.

The governor announced no new restrictions on businesses at a news conference held the day after his latest order forced cutbacks to indoor dining.

Metrics in Maryland and nationwide continue to rise. Maryland's positivity rate is at 5.65%, with half of the state's jurisdictions above 5%. 

"The weeks and months ahead are going to be very difficult with more and more people getting infected, getting hospitalized and losing their lives," Hogan said. "Our collective action now will determine what further steps are needed."

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Hogan has not ruled out further actions similar to those taken in the spring to limit the spread of the virus.

 Of the money, $20 million will go toward building the strategic stockpile of protective equipment. Maryland will go beyond federal goals and build a 90-day supply of critical items like masks and gloves.

The state is putting $10 million into doubling rental housing assistance for low-income tenants. The state will spend $10 million on syringes and other supplies to administer the coronavirus vaccine when it is available. Hogan highlighted work on vaccines and therapeutics by 40 Maryland companies, including recent progress on a vaccine by Gaithersburg-based Novavax.

The governor announced $15 million for unemployment insurance funding to go to the Maryland Department of Labor's Division of Unemployment Insurance. Hogan said the resources will help expand call center staffing and adjudication staffing, improve customer service management software and provide additional fraud detection measures.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development with get an additional $10 million to cover rent payments for low-income tenants who have been negatively affected by the pandemic. To date, 4,500 rental payments have been through this program.

The money also includes $10 million for food banks, $2 million for foster care providers and $1 million to pilot a wastewater sampling program that could be able to detect outbreaks in vulnerable populations. Read more at WBAL