ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Larry Hogan has ordered all non-essential businesses in the state to close and for all Marylanders to stay at home unless they have an essential trip to make.
The closures in the state includes bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, golf courses and other places where crowds could gather that are not critical to infrastructure of day-to-day life.
"We are no longer asking or suggesting for Marylanders to stay home. We are ordering them to do so," Hogan said during a news conference on Monday.
Hogan said it's a difficult decision having to close businesses, but his administration is trying to be aggressive to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"It's the twin battles, so we don't take any of these steps, and hundreds of thousands or millions of people are going to die in America," Hogan said. "We do take these steps and hundreds of thousands are going to be hurt economically, so it’s a terrible choice, and so the solution is we try to do both. We try to save lives, and then we try to help save the economy."
He said they have set up multiple funds to help small businesses weather the storm.
At least one of the funds provides up to $10,000 in the form of a direct, immediate grant to help businesses with fewer than 50 employees. His administration said they are also offering up to $50,000 in low-interest loans, with a 0 percent interest rate in the first 12 months.
To help families as they try to stock up on supplies, the Governor also signed an executive order Monday to ban price gauging.
“Retailers who attempt to exploit this crisis for profit and gain will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," the Governor said.
Below is a list of businesses that are considered essential and will remain open, according to a release from the Office of Legal Counsel of Maryland.
The Chemical Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Pharmaceutical manufacturers.
ii. Chemical manufacturers.
iii. Distributors of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
The Commercial Facilities Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Lodging.
ii. Building and property maintenance companies, including without limitation plumbers, electricians, HVAC service companies, roofers, environmental services companies, exterminators, arborists, and landscapers.
iii. Janitorial firms.
iv. Companies that sell supplies and materials for maintenance of commercial and residential buildings, including “big box” home improvement supply stores, plumbing distributors, electrical distributors, and HVAC distributors.
v. Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry services.
vi. Commercial and residential construction companies.
vii. Self-storage facilities.
The Communications Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Broadcasting companies and stations.
ii. Cable TV companies.
iii. Telephone (cellular and landline) companies.
iv. Internet service providers.
The Critical Manufacturing Sector includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing of:
i. Steel, iron, and aluminum products.
ii. Engines, motors, turbines, generators, and power transmission equipment.
iii. Earth-moving, mining, agricultural, and construction equipment.
iv. Parts for water, electric, and telecommunications utility infrastructure.
v. Land, air, and water vehicles, and related parts.
vi. Medical equipment.
vii. Personal protective equipment.
viii. Cleaning and sanitation equipment and supplies.
The Defense Industrial Base Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies that research, develop, manufacture, or integrate weapons, defense, or intelligence systems or assets.
ii. Private contractors that support defense and intelligence agencies.
The Emergency Services Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Law enforcement.
ii. Emergency medical services.
iii. Emergency management.
iv. Fire and rescue services.
v. Private ambulance companies.
The Energy Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies engaged in electricity production (excluding hydroelectric and nuclear, which are included in other sectors).
ii. Companies engaged in the production, refining, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of oil, gas, and propane products, including gas stations and truck stops.
iii. Companies that provide utility maintenance services.
The Financial Services Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Banks and credit unions.
ii. Non-bank lenders.
iii. Payroll processing companies.
iv. Payment processing companies.
v. Armored car companies.
vi. Insurance companies.
vii. Securities and investment companies.
viii. Accounting and bookkeeping firms.
The Food and Agriculture Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Grocery stores.
ii. Farmers markets.
iii. Convenience stores.
iv. Alcoholic beverage stores and distributors, distilleries, and wineries.
v. Institutional food service and supply companies.
vi. Farms.
vii. Food manufacturing and processing.
viii. Pet supply stores.
ix. Veterinary hospitals, clinics, and kennels.
x. Companies that manufacture, maintain, and sell agricultural equipment.
xi. Companies that manufacture, or support the manufacturing of paper products.
Please note: Restaurants and bars are required to close except for carryout, delivery, and drive-through sales.
The Government Facilities Sector also encompasses private persons and entities that support the judicial system including, but not limited to:
i. Lawyers and law firms.
ii. Court reporters.
iii. Bail bondsmen.
The Healthcare and Public Health Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Hospitals.
ii. Healthcare systems and clinics.
iii. Offices of health care providers, including physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
iv. Physical, occupation, and speech therapists.
v. Behavioral health facilities and professionals, including psychologists, mental health counselors, and substance abuse counselors
vi. Rehabilitation facilities.
vii. Diagnostic facilities, including radiology, imaging, and laboratory facilities.
viii. Health plans, payers, and billing companies.
ix. Funeral homes and crematoriums.
x. Senior living facilities, including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing.
xi. Manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment and supplies.
xii. Medical cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries.
xiii. Home health care companies.
xiv. Pharmacies.
The Information Technology Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Companies that design, develop, distribute, host, sell, and support information technology software and hardware.
ii. Companies that provide network routing, access, and configuration services.
The Transportation Systems Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Airlines and operators of commercial aircraft (manned and unmanned).
ii. Airports, air strips, heliports, and seaplane bases.
iii. Railroads.
iv. Motor carriers.
v. Carriers of marine freight, including ocean carriers and inland carriers.
vi. Marine, rail, truck, and intermodal terminals, and operators thereof.
vii. Stevedores, longshoremen, baggage handlers, and others who handle cargo at transportation hubs.
viii. Courier, package delivery, mail service, and mail management companies.
ix. Warehousing and distribution companies.
x. Pipeline owners, operators and maintenance companies.
xi. Lessors of transportation assets, including railcars and truck trailers.
xii. Companies that supply parts, or provide maintenance and repair services for transportation assets and infrastructure, including aircraft, marine vessels, locomotives, rail cars, trucks, buses, cars, heavy equipment, roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, air strips, marine terminals, railroads.
xiii. Automotive supply stores and repair shops.
The Water and Wastewater Systems Sector includes, but is not limited to:
i. Municipal, community, and other drinking water and wastewater systems and facilities.
ii. Well drillers.
iii. Companies that provide maintenance and inspection services for water and wastewater assets, including treatment works, residential water treatment systems, piping, pumps,
tanks, drains, conveyances, and monitoring systems.
iv. Water testing companies.
Supporting Firms. The federal critical infrastructure sectors include firms providing the following to any other business, organization, or facility included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors:
i. Staffing and/or payroll services.
ii. Essential raw materials, products, or services.
Additional Businesses, Organizations, and Facilities That May Remain Open
a. Businesses and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of (i) pharmaceuticals; (ii) biotechnology therapies; and (iii) medical devices, diagnostics, equipment, and services.
b. Auto and truck dealerships.
c. Bicycle shops.
d. Private security firms.
f. Companies providing moving and storage of household items.
g. Printers and sign shops.
h. Companies and organizations providing support for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
i. Engineering, surveying, architectural, and interior design firms.
j. Title companies.
k. Motorcycle parts stores and repair shops.
l. Companies that provide portable tents, portable flooring, portable lighting, portable toilets, portable handwashing stations, portable HVAC and other related equipment.
m. Companies that rent tools and/or equipment.
2. Higher Education Institutions. The Order does not require colleges and universities that provide on-campus housing to displace students remaining in dormitories who have no other reasonably accessible place of residence, e.g., international students who are unable to return home due to travel restrictions, or students who are otherwise homeless.
Door-to-Door Solicitation, even by businesses that are permitted to remain open, is likely to violate social-distancing guidelines and should be discontinued.
Please consult https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19 for additional guidance about what is and is not included in the federal critical infrastructure sectors.
What precautions should you take?
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Check the status of the virus in your state with your state health department's websites by tapping below: