By Garrett County Joint Information Center Team
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced Wednesday that he will lift the order requiring closure of non-essential businesses at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 5th, marking the beginning of Stage Two of his Roadmap to Recovery.
Despite Stage Two beginning in Garrett County tomorrow and testing for COVID-19 increasing, the positive results for county residents continues to remain at 10. A total of 1,730 COVID-19 tests were completed, with 1,349 negative results received locally. Results are pending for many recently tested staff and residents of local long-term care facilities.
The revised Governor’s Order prohibits social gatherings of more than 10 people and requires both social distancing and wearing facemasks in retail stores and public spaces.
The reopening of “non-essential” businesses includes:
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Large and small retail shops
- Specialty vendors
- Wholesalers
- Warehouses
- Offices
- Information technology firms
- Legal offices
- Accounting
- Banking and financial institutions
- Insurance agencies
- Design studios
- Advertising and architectural firms
- Media production companies
- Real Estate
- Travel agencies
- Auto dealer showrooms
- Bank branches
Various other offices may all safely reopen with public health and safety guidance recommendations in place, including:
- Wearing face coverings whenever face-to-face interaction takes place.
- Conducting temperature checks for workers and other personnel.
- Limiting the proximity of employees by rotating employee hours.
- Instituting split schedules, shifts, or shorter work weeks.
- Staggering start, break, or shift times.
Additional personal services may resume operations at up to 50 percent capacity, by appointment only, and with appropriate health and safety guidelines.
- Nail salons
- Massage therapists
- Tanning salons
- Tattoo parlors
Businesses or locations that are not yet allowed to open include:
- Senior centers
- Restaurants and bars for indoor dining
- Fitness centers
- Theaters
- Malls
- Recreational establishments subject to the admission and amusement tax such as bowling alleys and miniature golf courses
Maryland state government will also begin returning to more normal operations on Monday, June 8. The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and other customer-facing agencies will begin reopening select branches to customers on a limited basis by appointment only. Staff will be required to wear face coverings and will have plexiglass dividers at each station. The LaVale branch of MVA is included in the list to open, but the Garrett County branch is not.
Garrett County Government is under normal operation with the notice that employees continue to work remotely. In-person interaction is limited and with safeguards in place. Also, appointments must be made to meet with any County office.
The Garrett Health Department is currently open for limited services. Please call for an appointment. Clients will not be admitted without an appointment. Many services are available via telehealth. Many staff members continue to work from home. Visit garretthealth.org/status for updated information about each division of the Health Department.
The Maryland Department of Commerce provides guidance and best practices to help businesses reopen safely at open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness. Visit governor.maryland.gov/recovery for more information about the ‘Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery.’
COVID-19 information for Garrett County is available at garretthealth.org. Anyone with medical questions about the virus may call the Health Department COVID-19 Hotline at 301-334-7698.
