Maryland is tightening its coronavirus restrictions by requiring residents to wear masks at all times while in public.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan made the announcement on Wednesday and said the new mandate was “fact-based, apolitical, and solidly grounded in science."

"While it can be an inconvenience, especially in the heat, wearing a mask is the single best mitigation strategy that we have to fight the virus,” Hogan said.

The rule also applies to office buildings, restaurants, gyms, houses of worship, and other commercial locations. Any violation of the order will be considered a misdemeanor offense, and residents will be subject to a maximum $5,000 fine if caught without a face covering.

Hogan also issued a travel warning for residents planning on visiting areas of the country where cases of the coronavirus have spiked recently, including Texas and Florida.

The mask mandate and travel advisory come as Maryland battles an uptick in the spread of the coronavirus. Hogan said the measures were being put in place to battle against fresh outbreaks in several states.

"We can either continue making progress and continue heading in the right direction or ignore the warnings and spike back up like much of the rest of the country," Hogan said.