No, I don’t have the Coronavirus (or at least I don’t think I do – but I guess we can’t really be sure). Less than an hour ago, Governor Larry Hogan ordered Bars, Restaurants, Movie Theaters, and Gyms to close for the state of Maryland.
- Grocery stores and Pharmacies will remain open.
- Restaurants may maintain drive-thrus, carry-outs, and food delivery services.
We have 37 known positive Coronavirus cases in the state. Last night, we saw flurry of orders from Governors and Mayors around the country ordering for the same thing, all the way from California, to New York City. I knew that there was a high chance of this happening in Maryland too, but I didn’t expect it to be this quick.
I tweeted this as soon as I found out (which was apparently about half an hour after the press conference):
According to CBS Baltimore, there are quite a few things occurring in the state:
- Schools are closed for 2 weeks.
- Limiting visitors to hospitals, nursing homes, senior living facilities.
- Prohibited all gatherings/events of more than 250 people.
- Instituted telework for state employees.
- Prohibited any social, community, religious, recreational sports, gatherings or events of more than 50 people.
- Essential services like grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, banks and food delivery services need to remain open.
- Prohibited utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, phone, cable TV and Internet service provider companies) from shutting off any residential customers or charging late fees.
- Prohibited the eviction of any tenant during the state of emergency.
- Maryland schools can now provide up to three free meals a day for students across the state during the school closure.
On top of that, there are many medical and defense related provisions made.
There’s a Mexican restaurant near me that I discovered last week, and was looking forward to eating through the menu… But I guess I’m either going to have to do take out or wait for a few weeks until it’s back open! Though I guess since it’s a small business, I SHOULD do take out to help them keep open…
I think in this time of crisis, the most heavily impacted are the small businesses, stores, and restaurants that don’t have the safety net of large corporations. If you have any business to bring, whether it be for a cup of take-out latte, groceries, or dinner… Might I suggest helping out the small businesses? (Restaurants especially have such notoriously small margins, from what I understand.)
As an immunocompromised person, one of my guilty pleasures was eating dinner at small restaurants in the area once or twice a week, but I guess that’s over now, too. All that’s left for me is my daily walks and grocery shopping… Though I’d imagine we are going to be limiting that now, too.
Reminds me – I need to request a refill for my medications (Methotrexate and Folic Acid)… Just in case.