Coronavirus Latest: MARC Trains Reduce By 50 Percent, BWI Takes Steps, More On Travel In Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- The governor is urging citizens to avoid any unnecessary travel to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The move to keep large groups of people from gathering in the same spot has reached BWI Marshall Airport.
The governor wants people to stay away unless they absolutely have to travel or they are reporting to a job.
On top of that travelers will also see other changes.
The airport is taking immediate steps to enact increased social distancing and is discouraging anyone to enter the terminal unless they are a traveling passenger or reporting to a job, eliminating check-in lines, and changing hours of operation to allow for deeper cleaning of the terminal.
In addition, there will only be carry-out options at the BWI Airport for those traveling.
Passengers had to wait in lines for up to six hours at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago over the weekend, after a rush of Americans tried to get back into the country.
Eugene Botsoe was on his way back to Chicago via BWI, he said he had a tough decision to make.
"I actually cut my trip short because I wanted to make sure I would be back home in the U.S. and home before this thing continued and blew up," Botsoe said.
The Maryland Transportation Authority also said it will close all of its customer service centers, move to 100 percent cashless tolling statewide.
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MARC train service is being reduced by 50 percent and beginning Wednesday, they will reduce all local bus, LightRail and commuter bus services while continuing to prioritize medical trips.
MVA is reducing hours and suspending all non-commercial driver's license tests.
On behalf of nation's governors, he sent a letter requesting the deadline for federal REAL ID compliance be extended.
The state of Maryland has been under a state of emergency for nearly two weeks.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
