Governor Hogan Orders All ‘Non-Essential’ Maryland Businesses to Close

At a press conference this morning, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said he enacted an executive order that all of Maryland’s non-essential businesses, organizations, establishments, and facilities must close at 5pm today. Governor Hogan took this measure to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Maryland.

Governor Hogan said he took this measure due to “irresponsible and reckless” behavior by some Marylanders who have gathered at places including the beach in Ocean City and the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. “You are breaking the law and endangering the lives of your friends, your family, and your fellow citizens,” he said.

Governor Hogan said this not a “shelter in place” directive or forcing people to stay home, but said people must avoid crowds of more than 1o people. “Unless you have an essential reason to leave your house, you should stay at home.”

“This is absolutely necessary to protect the health of Marylanders and to save lives,” said Governor Hogan.

Maryland is defining non-essential businesses according to Federal guidelines.

Essential businesses include sectors such as critical infrastructure, healthcare, food, agriculture, energy, public works, community-based government operations, defense and industrial-based sectors, law enforcement, public safety, transportation, critical manufacturing, financial services, and water and waste water. 

The Baltimore Sun’s Luke Broadwater reported businesses such as daycares, restaurant carryouts, and liquor stores are allowed to remain open.

SouthBMore.com partnered on a database of South Baltimore restaurants that have remained open for carryout and the delivery of food and alcohol.

Maryland now has 288 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three Marylanders have died.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.