Governor Larry Hogan’s Executive Order includes a Stay at Home Directive that went into effect at 8 P.M. March 30, 2020. With this order, only essential businesses are permitted to remain open in the state, and Governor Hogan asked those businesses to limit staff interaction with customers and use telework for as many employees as practical.
Also, employers are asked to give their employees documentation that the employee is an essential staff member working for an essential business.
In order to provide resources to our businesses, Garrett County is providing a sample “authorization letter” for those businesses that are considered “essential”.
The letter is not considered legal advice and each organization should independently determine whether the business being conducted is an “essential” business under Governor Hogan’s Executive Orders. If a business is not addressed in the Executive Orders, then businesses need to look to the US Dept of Homeland Security Cyber-Infrastructure Division (CISA) for guidance at:
https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce
According to the Governor in a press conference, “No Maryland resident should be leaving their home unless it is for an essential job, or for an essential reason such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention, or for other necessary purposes. This is a deadly public health crisis. We are no longer asking or suggesting that Marylanders stay home—we are directing them to do so.”
Anyone who violates this, and other orders Governor Hogan issued concerning the virus, will be guilty of a misdemeanor and face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
To obtain a template of the employee “authorization letter” or to discuss details, please contact Kim Durst at kdurst@garrettcounty.org or 301-334-1992.
Accurate COVID-19 information is critical to the community. For the most current and accurate information about the situation, please refer to the Garrett County Government’s COVID-19 Page: garrettcounty.org/covid-19
Please call 911 only for medical emergencies, not for coronavirus information or questions.
