March 23rd, Governor Larry Hogan has issued an order closing all non-essential businesses throughout the state of Maryland in an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. The order goes into effect Monday at 5 p.m. and lasts indefinitely.
The order, which takes effect at 5 p.m. today, does not include essential or critical industries as defined by the federal government: health care, law enforcement, emergency workers, food, energy, water, transportation, public works, communications, government, critical manufacturing, financial services, chemicals and defense. Liquor stores are exempted from the order. Daycare centers are not required to close.
Big box stores will remain open, but Hogan said he has asked local law enforcement to help those retailers deal with crowd control.
Hogan says the order does not include a stay-at-home or shelter in place order, but he urged residents to practice social distancing and to stay home whenever possible.