By India Wise
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan Wednesday announced that he will lift in two days the stay-at-home order he instituted in March to allow for a gradual reopening of retail, manufacturing, houses of worship, and some personal services.
Stage One of the “Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery” takes effect on Friday at 5 p.m. when Maryland will move from a Stay-at-Home order to a “Safer at Home public health advisory, ” Hogan said.
“As we begin Stage One of our recovery, I want to assure every Marylander who may feel uneasy, and anyone who is concerned that we are moving either too quickly or too slowly, that each and every decision we make is both fact-based and science-based and made only after extensive consultation with our expect Coronavirus Recovery Team,” Hogan said.
Hogan strongly advised older and more vulnerable Marylanders to continue staying home as much as possible. He said employers should continue to encourage telework for their employees when possible. And, he stressed that individuals who can work from home should continue to do so.
Maryland citizens should continue wearing masks in indoor public areas, retail stores, and on public transportation. And, citizens should continue practicing physical distancing, avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, and washing their hands often.
Hogan said that retail stores and some personal barbershops and hair salons may reopen with 50% capacity, manufacturing companies will resume operations using physical distancing and safety precautions. He also announced that churches will be able to reopen with outside service recommended or indoor services permitted with 50% capacity.
“Based on extensive input from our COVID-19 recovery team and with guidance provided by the comprehensive reports from our 15 industry advisory groups, we are also issuing guidelines for the safe reopening of retail stores,” Hogan said. “Manufacturing may resume operations in a safe manner which helps protect the safety of their employees.”
Hogan stressed that not all counties are in the same position to be able to reopen, especially Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. He described step one as “a flexible, community-based approach” to empower individual jurisdictions to make decisions regarding the timing of openings.
“We are continually monitoring this crisis, we remain focused on the clusters, outbreaks, and hotspots, and I can assure you that we remain ready to quickly and decisively respond to any changes in the facts on the ground, and that we will continue to attack this virus with every single tool at our disposal,” Hogan said.
Hogan said people should exercise personal responsibility, “each and every one of us has an obligation to exercise personal responsibility for ourselves, our families, for our coworkers, and for our fellow Marylanders.”
“Low risk does not mean no risk,” the governor said.