Community Corner

Annapolis Mayor Warns People Not To Ignore Safer-At-Home Rules

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said only 25 percent of people wore face coverings and very few adhered to physical distancing Saturday.

Annapolis businesses were serving diners outdoors, which is still banned because of coronavirus measures, Mayor Gavin Buckley said.
Annapolis businesses were serving diners outdoors, which is still banned because of coronavirus measures, Mayor Gavin Buckley said. (Shutterstock)

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley issued a stern reminder to residents who failed to follow the rules of the partial phase one reopening of Maryland last weekend. Guidelines were issued to prevent spikes in coronavirus outbreaks once Gov. Larry Hogan's stay-at-home order lifted Friday.

Buckley reminded residents and business owners that the partial reopening of retailers and restuarants on Friday was not a reopening for the state, the county or the city.

“What we saw in downtown Saturday was an unsuccessful test,” Buckley said. “We have reports of businesses operating with outdoor table service, residents and visitors drinking alcohol in open containers, maybe 25 percent of people wearing face coverings and very few adhering to physical distancing.”

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Buckley reiterated the guidelines in the city as the following:

  • Bars and restaurants are not open for any table service (inside or out). Restaurants are permitted to operate with carryout and delivery service only.
  • Open drinks purchased at bars and restaurants are to be consumed at home, not in public.
  • People are encouraged to practice physical distancing, at least six feet apart.
  • People are required to wear masks inside of businesses and are encouraged to wear them out-of-doors.

"These measures are in place for protection of the public health," Buckley said.

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The following actions took effect in Anne Arundel County May 15 at 5 p.m. in accordance with Hogan's executive order:

  • Retail businesses as defined in section III b) of the state executive order will be allowed to reopen - but for curbside pickup only. Customers are not permitted inside the establishment and employees must follow physical distancing guidelines.
    • Only automatic carwashes are allowed to open at this time.
    • Pet groomers are allowed to open for pet drop-off or pick-up only.
  • Beauty salons and barber shops as described in section III d) of the state executive order are allowed to open under the April 20 interpretive guidance (by appointment only with a maximum of one customer in the premises at one time) but customers are no longer required to be "essential" personnel.
  • Manufacturing businesses and facilities within the county are allowed to open.
  • Religious facilities are not allowed to open. Gatherings of more than 10 people are not permitted.
  • Face coverings are still required for customers and employees in any retail businesses (including those already permitted to be open prior to 5/15) and residents are encouraged to wear them whenever interaction with others is possible.

Hogan lifted the stay-at-home order May 15 and moved to a "safer-at-home" public health advisory.

"Maryland has achieved the 14-day trend of plateauing and declining numbers," Hogan said at a May 13 news conference. "The number of coronavirus hospitalizations is down from two weeks ago," with intensive care unit patients plateauing for "a significant period of time" and the rate of new deaths slowing from the virus.

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks signed a local stay-at-home order effective through Monday, June 1. In Prince George's County alone, nearly 10,800 people have tested positive for the virus.

In Montgomery County, where almost 8,000 people have tested positive for the virus, the county executive extended the local stay-at-home order until several benchmarks — such as a 14-day period with decreasing numbers of cases — are met.

Other areas, such as Carroll and Harford counties — which have fewer than 700 confirmed cases of the virus in their jurisdictions — are reopening to the fullest extent permitted by the governor.


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