Maryland Governor Larry Hogan today has enacted an emergency order to close all non-essential businesses across the state, effective March 23, 2020 at 5:00 P.M.
Today’s order was not a Shelter-in-Place Order; however, all Marylanders are urged to remain home, and employers are urged to promote work-from-home arrangements to the greatest extent possible. The Governor ‘s order stresses that enforcement actions will be taken to disperse any gatherings in violation of the orders. Please limit unnecessary travel and practice social distancing if you must go out of your home.
In addition to what is already closed by prior orders, the Governor’s office is closing anything that is not included in the new federal guidelines for critical infrastructure sectors.
The federally identified sectors that DO NOT close under this order are:
- Chemical Sector
- Commercial Facilities Sector
- Communications Sector
- Critical Manufacturing Sector
- Defense Industrial Base Sector
- Emergency Services Sector
- Energy Sector
- Financial Services Sector
- Food and Agriculture Sector
- Government Facilities Sector
- Healthcare and Public Health Sector
- Information Technology Sector
- Transportation Systems Sector
- Water and Wastewater Systems Sector
- Supporting Firms
Further guidance can be found at
https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/OLC-Interpretive-Guidance-COVID19-04.pdf
A person who knowingly violates this order can be subject to imprisonment to not exceed one year and or a $5,000 fine or both.
Please check the county website,
https://www.garrettcounty.org/covid-19, for the latest information.