May 10, 2021


Media Contact:

Deidre McCabe, Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-3536

Charlie Gischlar, Deputy Director, Media Relations, 443-463-7234

Maryland Department of Health launches ‘Don’t Invite COVID’ campaign to encourage continued COVID testing, contact tracing

Baltimore, MD – The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today launched “Don’t Invite COVID,” a new statewide campaign encouraging Marylanders to continue to get tested for COVID-19 and to continue to participate in contact tracing if they test positive for or were exposed to COVID-19. The campaign is the latest effort from MDH to help slow the spread of COVID-19, especially as vaccination remains key to ending the pandemic.

“As more Marylanders are vaccinated against COVID-19, we know more and more people will begin to return to doing the things that we’ve all missed over the last year, especially when it comes to gathering with family and friends,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “While vaccines are highly effective, testing and contact tracing remain critical to protecting the most vulnerable among us, until we reach herd immunity.”

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Because no vaccine is 100 percent effective, even fully vaccinated individuals are encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms or suspect exposure. The new campaign’s messaging will encourage such vigilance especially around events—including holidays, like Father’s Day and Independence Day and summer traditions, like beach weekends and family reunions—when people are especially likely to get together.

The new campaign debuted on social media and will run through October, featuring TV and radio public service announcements as well as outdoor and other digital media. MDH will release appropriately themed messaging as the campaign progresses into the summer and early fall months.

To date, Maryland has reported 453,401 cases of COVID-19 and today reports a 3.06 percent 7-day average positivity rate. Contact tracing is fully operational throughout the state as MDH continues to evolve Maryland’s COVID-19 testing strategy to become more community-based.


For more information about COVID-19 cases and vaccinations in Maryland, including contact tracing trends and metrics, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov.​



The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.