ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Larry Hogan on Monday took a drastic step in the fight against COVID-19, by issuing a stay at home order for all Maryland residents.
Only essential employees and those with an emergency are exempted. Hogan said citizens are still allowed to go to the store for food and prescriptions.
The order also allows for outdoor exercise such as walking, hiking, running, and biking, as long as it complies with the CDC's social distancing guidelines.
Campgrounds have also been ordered to close for everyone except those living in an RV with no other home.
Violators could face up to a year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. The order is effective 8 p.m. Monday.
Hogan also said Marylanders should not leave the state and those who do, must quarantine for 14-days.
While the shelter-in-place order remains in effect, Hogan says no one except for essential workers should be riding public transportation.
Monday's order comes on top of already existing ones that forced all non-essential businesses to close, including; restaurants, movie theaters, bars, malls, and gyms.
Restaurants can still stay open for carry-out, drive-thru, or delivery.
This latest step by Hogan comes amid a spike in cases in Maryland which includes an outbreak at a Carroll County nursing home and Howard County psychiatric hospital.
To help fight the pandemic, drive through test sites have been set up at Fed-Ex Field and at three MVA inspection locations in Waldorf, Bel Air, and Glen Burnie. Appointments must be made, and patients must have a referral from a doctor to be tested. The Governor also said several health facilities including Kaiser Permanente are working to expand the number of hospital beds available for patients who test positive.
Currently there are 1,413 confirmed cases in the state. The youngest being a one-month-old infant.
