Marylanders can only go out if necessary.
Annapolis, Md (KM) Governor Larry Hogan on Monday issued an executive order mandating all Marylanders stay at home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. During a news conference in Annapolis on Monday, the Governor said residents are required to stay home, and only go out if they have an essential job, to obtain food and medicine, or for urgent medical care.
“Today’s order states that any person who knowingly and willfully violates the order is guilty of a misdemeanor,” Hogan said. “And upon conviction, is subject to imprisonment not to exceed one year, or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.”
The Governor says he’s taking this action because some Marylanders are not taking COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and have been gathering in groups of more than 10 people. “Anyone engaged in this type of reckless behavior is in violation of sate law, and s putting the lives their family, their friends and their fellow Marylanders at risk,” he says.
In answering reporters questions, the Governor said residents won’t be totally confined to their homes. “You should be able to get outside for your own physical and mental well being, go for a walk and take your dog for a walk. You should not be going out with a crowd of 100 people congregating in a park somewhere.”
During the nwes conference, Fran Phillips, Deputy Secretary of Health, said this coronavirus could be with us for a while. “This is indeed the greatest public health challenge of our lifetime, and we all need to face this together,” she said. “We have no vaccine to protect us against this virus. We have no treatment to cure this disease.”
The order went into affect at 8:00 PM on Monday.
Kevin McManus