This year, massive, communitywide Easter egg hunts are not on the calendar. Maryland's stay-at-home order has barred such large-scale gatherings and limited those who leave their homes to workers who are deemed "essential."

According to Gov. Larry Hogan, you can add the Easter Bunny to the critical workforce.

"For the kids out there who have been concerned, I want to offer some reassuring news: Today I am officially proclaiming the Easter Bunny as an essential worker in Maryland," Hogan said. "He, therefore, will be able to proceed with his hopping across the state delivering Easter baskets to Maryland children."

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Hogan said the character will be able to "proceed with his hopping across the state." He added that despite the changes to how Easter and other religious holidays like Passover and Ramadan would be observed this month, it should not diminish the message of such observances.

"Easter really is a day of hope, which is something that all of us could desperately use right now," Hogan said. So this weekend, I ask all Marylanders, regardless of their faith, to reflect on that spirit of hope and to carry it forward in these difficult days and weeks ahead.

Nate Chute is a producer with the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter at @nchute.