ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Gov. Larry Hogan urged county officials to rigorously enforce his executive order aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus in bars and restaurants as infections surge among Maryland’s young people.

“An increasing number of COVID-19 cases have been connected to non-compliance with public health requirements particularly in bars and restaurants,” Hogan wrote in a letter to county officials Tuesday. “We cannot allow a small segment of willful violators to squander the collective efforts of the overwhelming majority of Maryland citizens and businesses.”

Hogan’s executive order last month prohibits standing and congregating at a bar. The directive also says social distancing must be practiced and all staff must wear face masks.

An analysis by The Baltimore Sun found more than 100 new coronavirus infections have been confirmed per day among people in their 20s in Maryland during the past week. Also, the positivity rate for the virus among people under 35 is 84% higher than people over 35, Hogan noted.

“The vast majority of bars and restaurants in our state are in compliance, but some are flagrantly violating the law and endangering public health,” the letter said.

Amid the surge in cases, the governor told local officials to go after violators so Maryland is not “forced to take the same action” as other states that have recently closed down bars.

In Baltimore, county officials have taken an “education-based approach” in responding to complaints about the lack of social distancing in restaurants, Baltimore County spokesman Sean Naron told the newspaper.

Thomas Akras, an official with Baltimore City’s Board of Liquor License Commissioners, told the newspaper some bars and restaurants in the city have been issued citations for violating the executive order.

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