BALTIMORE, MD (Monday, April 26, 2021) — This afternoon, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore City Health Department, and Johns Hopkins University and Medicine announced a partnership that will advise houses of worship on how to reopen safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership will involve two components: a virtual educational session and one-on-one guidance to help Baltimore faith institutions comply with the City’s public health mandates, learn about best practices, and receive resources. 

“Ensuring the health and wellbeing of Baltimore residents is my top priority. This partnership with Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, one of the institutions leading the global COVID-19 response, is critical to ensuring our houses of worship have the information and resources needed to safely return to worship," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "We thank our faith institutions for continuing to find ways to worship safely during this pandemic."

The virtual informational session will include information about the latest CDC guidance, safety actions, health and hygiene practices, cleaning protocol, and guidance for monitoring the wellbeing of congregants. A date for the initial session is forthcoming. 

Additionally, the Mayor’s Office, Baltimore City Health Department, and Johns Hopkins University and Medicine have established a pilot program to pair health professionals with faith institutions. These health professionals will perform building walkthroughs and provide individualized guidance to interested houses of worship to support the development of health and safety protocol for congregants and staff. 

“Johns Hopkins Medicine and University are proud to collaborate with The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and the Baltimore City Health Department on this vital COVID-19 education initiative,” said Sherita Golden, M.D., M.H.S., vice president and chief diversity officer at Johns Hopkins Medicine and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “This initiative is a part of a broader scope of work we have been leading aimed at partnering with Baltimore City, faith leaders and our community to bring relief to residents facing economic hardships due to the pandemic and to provide information about COVID-19, vaccines and testing.”

"The Baltimore City Health Department is proud to partner with Johns Hopkins and our institutions of faith, to ensure that our residents continue to be informed of the most up-to-date COVID-19 guidance,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa. “Working with our houses of worship ensures that Baltimore residents are receiving the latest COVID-19 guidance from trusted messengers, as we look towards increasing vaccination rates, reducing disease transmission, and keeping our residents safe and healthy.”