Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited during this emergency.
Annapolis, Md (DG) Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has ordered all restaurants, bars, movie theaters and gyms in the state to close effective at 5:00 PM on Monday. He says some drive-thrus can remain open, and carry out food delivery service will still be available.
He says this is all in response to the coronavirus emergency. “This weekend, we shut all Maryland casinos, racetracks and simulcast betting facilities,” the Governor says. “As I have repeatedly stressed, we should continue to expect the number of cases to dramatically and rapidly rise.”
Grocery stores and pharmacies can remain open.
“We have never faced anything like this before,” the Governor continues. “This is going to much harder, take much longer and be much worse than almost anyone is currently understanding.”
He also emphasized that Marylanders need to take this situation very seriously. “And, unfortunately, far too many people have continued to ignore those warnings, and are crowding into bars and restaurants, willingly putting the health and safety of others in grave danger,” Hogan said.
Maryland has reported 38 case of the coronavirus, including a woman in her 30’s in Frederick County.
Under the Governor’s order, gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.
Governor Hogan has also directed the Maryland Department of Health to work with providers to reopen closed hospital facilities across Maryland and take other measures to increase capacity by 6,000 additional beds.
An emergency order has also been issued by the Governor prohibiting utilities from shutting off electric, gas, water, sewage, phone, cable TV and interent service, or imposing any late fees on customers. Landlord also cannot evict a tenant, if that tenant can show that failure to rent was a result of the coronavirus, or because of lost or reduced employment due to the virus, and or needing to care for a school-aged child whose is been diagnosed or investigated for COVID-19.
The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a global pandemic
For more information on COVID-19, you can go on line to cornavirus.marlyand.gov.
By Dianah Gibson