To fight the coronavirus and flatten the curve of new cases, leaving your home on the Route 1 corridor, or anywhere else in Maryland, for non-essential reasons is now prohibited, as of 8 p.m. last night.
The new order echos previous executive orders, it just strengthens them, backing up restrictions with the threat of fines and even jail time. DC and VA area also issuing similar orders.
Under a “stay-at-home” directive issued by Gov. Larry Hogan Monday morning, Maryland residents may only leave home for a limited number of specific reasons. Violating the order “knowingly and willfully” will be a misdemeanor, subject to a maximum of a year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.
“We are no longer asking or suggesting that Marylanders stay home,” Hogan said. “We are directing them to do so.”
Acceptable reasons to leave home include traveling to work, buying necessities like groceries or prescription drugs, working as a delivery person, caring for a family member or animal, picking up a meal or educational material from a school, exercising such as walk, running or biking (within limits) and traveling to a government building, among a handful of others.
While residents may leave home for “outdoor exercise activities” such as walking, hiking, running and biking, they must maintain six feet of distance from others, avoid crowded paths and trails and skip post-workout high fives and other contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. State officials are also urging people to only exercise alone or with people they live with, and for short durations.
The order strongly discourages Maryland residents from traveling to other states unless “absolutely necessary” and encourages those who must travel to voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days.
Gatherings of more than 10 people for any reason are still barred. Non-essential businesses remain closed except for upkeep, and gathering places like malls, movie theaters and fitness centers remain closed. Cherry Hill Park, a campground in College Park, remains open to those residing in recreational vehicles (RVs) and people on essential travel.
The list of essential businesses that are allowed to remain open — grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores, convenience stores, bike shops and liquor stores, among others — remains the same, although owners are encouraged to “make every effort” to scale down operations, reduce staffing needed and limit interactions with customers.
Restaurants may continue selling takeout and delivery. But non-essential businesses such as many retail stores may no longer offer curbside pickup and instead can only do home delivery.
While Cafe Azul-Caracas de Ayer in Hyattsville, Burtons Grill and Bar at the Station at Riverdale Park, and Taqueria Habanero in College Park have all closed temporarily due to the coronavirus, many restaurants and other eateries along the Route 1 corridor are still offering pickup and delivery for food and drinks. Click here to see our list, which we are updating regularly.
For a list of area gyms and other fitness studios that now offer classes and other instruction online, click here.
As always, let us know in the comments if we missed any. Remember to ask the delivery person to leave your order outside your door to minimize the person-to-person contact and tip well. And if you go in person to pick up, be sure to practice social distancing and stay six-feet apart from others.
