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Montgomery County Reminds Businesses of Governor’s Executive Order Requiring Face Coverings and Other COVID-19 Protective Measures

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 27, 2020

Essential food and retail businesses in Montgomery County are being reminded to follow Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s April 15 executive order regarding measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That means face coverings must be worn and measures must be taken to allow for physical distancing for employees and customers. 

The executive order also says:

  • Businesses that sell food on a delivery, carry-out or drive-through basis must require staff who interact with customers (including delivery personnel) to wear face coverings while working.
  • Retail establishments that remain open must require staff to wear face coverings while working in areas open to the general public and areas where they interact with other staff.
  • Businesses should post signs at every entrance alerting customers that anyone over the age of nine must wear a face covering and that adult customers are expected to ensure that children from ages two to nine wear face coverings while in the store.

In addition, the Governor’s order requires all retail establishments that remain open to:

  • Designate at least six-foot spacing for customers waiting in line.
  • Either sanitize, or provide customers with a means to sanitize, the handles of carts and baskets.
  • Provide staff and customers with clean restrooms stocked with soap or sanitizer.
  • Allow staff members to wash their hands at least once every 30 minutes.

Full text of the executive order is available at  https://tinyurl.com/vuxjf9.

Anyone knowingly and willingly violating the executive order is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $5,000—or both.

For more information about the regulations, call 311. 

For the latest updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

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Release ID: 20-225
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915