Here is a link to a Capital gazette article regarding the restraining order to keep indoor dining open in Anne Arundel County.

The County Executive has spoken and the following restrictions will be instituted effective 12/16/20

List of all new or amended actions, effective Wednesday, December 16 at 5:00 p.m. until January 13 at 8:00 a.m.:

• Personal Services Establishments (hair stylist, nail salons, barbers) – decreased to 25% of that Establishment’s Maximum Occupancy.

• Religious Facility – decreased to 33% of that Religious Facility’s Maximum Occupancy. A Religious Facility may hold outdoor services for Christmas, Hanukkah or other recognized religious holidays with a gathering limit of no more than 250 persons, provided the Facility requires strict adherence to the Mandatory Health and Safety Protocols.

• Retail Establishment – decreased to 25% capacity.

• Fellowship Addiction Recovery– decreased to 25% capacity or 50 persons, whichever is less.

• Foodservice Establishments located in food courts in indoor shopping malls – restricted to carryout, delivery or curbside service only.

• Foodservice Establishments– restricted to carryout, delivery or curbside service only. No indoor or outdoor seating is permitted.

• Food distribution sites (food pantries, etc.) that serve or donate food to people in need at no cost may continue to operate subject to Mandatory Health and Safety Protocols.

• Social Clubs including American Legion posts, VFW posts, and Elks Clubs, restricted to 25% capacity and no food or beverages service.

• Indoor social gatherings of more than 10 people remain prohibited. Outdoor social gatherings of more than 25 people remain prohibited.

• “Social gatherings” does not include activities, facilities or venues that have a specific capacity limit or are ordered closed under this Local Executive Order No. 39.

• “Social gatherings” includes family gatherings, parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, flea markets, yard sales, and other gatherings that are not associated with operating or patronizing a business that sells merchandise from a location with a posted Maximum

• All organized sports play or practice is suspended, including private schools, and school or church gyms.

• Fitness Centers are restricted to 25% capacity and may not conduct classes or group fitness activities; all staff and customers must wear face coverings at all times.

• Gaming Facilities (casinos) are restricted to 25% capacity and no alcohol or food service except for carryout, delivery or curbside service.

• Indoor Theaters are closed.

• Indoor or outdoor venues for live performances are closed.

• Bingo, bowling alleys, pool halls, roller rinks, and indoor ice rinks shall close.

• All outdoor sporting venues including professional, semi-professional, amateur, recreational, collegiate, high school and motor sports venues are closed.

• Adult Entertainment venues are closed.

• Cigar and hookah lounges are closed but may sell retail products.

• Local annual license fees for Foodservice Establishments are waived and deemed paid for calendar year 2021.

 

Anne Arundel County Acts to Limit COVID-19 Surge 

County announces new actions on social gatherings, youth athletics and indoor dining capacity

Glen Burnie, MD (November 12, 2020) Taking action to attempt to curb a sudden increase in COVID cases, County Executive Steuart Pittman announced several new restrictions today at the county’s Emergency Operation Center with County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, and top county public safety officials.

 

Anne Arundel County will impose new social gathering limits of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors starting on Friday, and suspend youth athletics beginning on Monday. Maximum capacity for indoor dining operations in bars and restaurants will also be reduced from 50 percent to 25 percent beginning on Friday, November 20. 

 

“Waiting is not an option,” said County Executive Pittman.”Like our neighboring jurisdictions, we are acting now to slow the spread that will inevitably lead to a hospitalization surge at a time when our hospitals are operating near capacity. This is a more dangerous moment than we faced in the spring, so there is no question that we must take action.”  

 

At a November 10 media event, Governor Larry Hogan emphasized the alarming trend of Maryland’s COVID case rate and positivity rate, and reinforced local jurisdictions’ authority to take action. With state and county health metrics spiking, County Executive Pittman and Dr. Kalyanaraman acted today, rather than await additional measures from the state.

 

“We’re hitting a new case rate high each day,” said Dr. Kalyanaraman. “We know what we need to do to control this surge. In addition to today’s actions, each of us must commit to wearing a mask, watching our distance, washing our hands and limiting activity. It will take sacrifice, but we crushed the curve once and we can do it again.” 

 

 

Effective Friday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m.

· Maximum number of people permitted at a social gathering are 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. (A social gathering is any informal gathering of people that is not explicitly covered in other current executive orders.)

 

Effective Monday, November 16 at 8:00 a.m.

· Youth athletics are suspended for all county fields and facilities.

 

Effective Friday, November 20 at 5:00 p.m.

· Maximum capacity for indoor dining operations in restaurants, bars and any food establishment  will also be reduced from 50 percent to 25 percent.

Both the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are reviewing their enforcement protocols and assessing options for enhancements. County Executive Pittman will also continue to monitor the COVID-19 metrics and consult with Dr. Kalyanaraman to determine when and if additional interventions are needed to protect the health and safety of county residents. 

 

The County Executive will sign an executive order implementing the new restrictions later today. The executive order and an updated version of the county’s Frequently Asked Questions document will be available shortly at https://www.aacounty.org/coronavirus/road-to-recovery.

 

The Anne Arundel County Health Department has issued the following guidance for handling COVID-19 in the workplace. 

Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the guidance and to create a plan of action for your business should any of your employees or customers contract COVID-19 and have contact withing your place of business.

Guidance: COVID-19 Cases in the Workplace and

Building Operations

There are no requirements for businesses to close if an employee tests positive for COVID-19. The Anne Arundel County Department of Health, once notified of a positive case, initiates contact tracing usually within 24 hours of notification. Contact tracing is an in-depth conversation about where a person has been and where the individual could possibly have exposed others, so that appropriate parties can be notified. It is at this time that the health department would advise the business the best way to proceed which could include closing.

Local health departments and the State of Maryland continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation and make recommendations for businesses accordingly. At this time, if a business remains open it is expected to follow safe practices as set out by the state and county. The county is committed to working with businesses to help them understand these best practices

Notification of Cases in the Workplace
Promptly identifying and isolating potentially infectious individuals is critical in protecting workers, customers and visitors.

• Health departments investigate COVID-19 cases, trace contacts and notify contacts of exposure. Jurisdictions may actively monitor clients daily or have clients self-monitor and communicate remotely to notify public health authorities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/investigating-covid-19-case.html
• The workplace should inform and encourage employees to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 if they suspect possible exposure.
• The workplace should develop policies and procedures for employees if and when they are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Keeping a Building Open
Local and state health departments monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation and make recommendations. If a business remains open, it are expected to follow safe practices as set out by the state and county. The county is committed to working with businesses to help them understand these best practices.

In the event of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the workplace:

• Close off areas visited by the ill persons. Open outside doors and windows and use ventilating fans to increase air circulation in the area. Wait 24 hours or as long as practical before beginning cleaning and disinfection (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html).
• Employers should work with local and state health departments to ensure there are appropriate protocols and guidelines.
  • Educate staff performing cleaning activities to recognize symptoms of COVID-19 and provide instructions on what to do if they develop symptoms within 14 days after their last possible exposure. At a minimum, staff should immediately notify their supervisor and local health department if they develop symptoms of COVID-19.
    • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
    • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/general-business-faq.html
  • Develop policies for worker protection and provide training to all cleaning staff. Training should include when to use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), what PPE is necessary, and how to properly put on, use, take off and dispose of PPE.
  • Ensure staff are trained on the hazards of the cleaning chemicals used in the workplace in accordance with OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf)
  • Comply with OSHA’s standards on bloodborne pathogens, including proper disposal of regulated waste, and PPE.

Educate Employees and Supervisors about Steps They Can Take to Protect Themselves at Work

• Provide easy to understand communication and training in preferred languages spoken or read by the employees, and include accurate and timely information. Topics should include signs and symptoms of infection, staying home when ill, social distancing, face coverings, hand hygiene practices, and identifying and minimizing potential routes of transmission at work, at home and in the community.
• Staff should stay home if they are sick with a mild cough or low-grade fever. Staff should also consider staying home (or working from home) if they have had to take simple medications, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, which may mask symptoms of a fever.
• Provide information and training on what actions employees should take when they are not feeling well (e.g., workplace leave policies, local and state health department information).
  • https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/COVID19/employeeFAQ.aspx
  • https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/pandemic
• Financial Assistance:
  • https://www.aacounty.org/coronavirus/housing-utilities-bills/index.html
  • https://www.aacounty.org/coronavirus/food/index.html
  • https://www.aaedc.org/disaster-assistance-faq

Closing a Building
Guidelines vary for different types of businesses and establishments. There is no exact number of cases that determine a decision to close an establishment. Local health departments investigate all complaints from the public and utilize data collected from contact tracing to guide decision-making. Closures are determined on a case-by-case basis. Closures depend on the level of disease transmission in the community and readiness to protect the safety and health of employees and customers.

In the result of a closure due to COVID-19:

• Follow CDC guidance for cleaning and disinfection.
• Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize the potential for exposure to respiratory droplets. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
• Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
• Clean and disinfect all areas including offices, bathrooms and common areas, focusing especially on frequently touched surfaces. Operations can resume as soon as the following cleaning and disinfection are completed.
  • Wash surfaces with soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • Disinfect surfaces using EPA approved products (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html) for use against SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and that are appropriate for the surface.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products for concentration, application method, contact time and required PPE.

Outdoor Masks Required In AA County When Social Distancing Is Not Possible

Anne Arundel County Executive announced in a press conference today that in order to keep our numbers going in the right direction, Anne Arundel County will require masks to be worn in outside public areas where social distancing is not possible,

From our understanding, if you are in an outside area and are able to maintain at least 6 feet of separation, then the mask would not be required.  But if the 6 feet of separation is not possible, then the mask would be required.

There are a few other announcements in the press release, which is below:

Annapolis, Md. (July 9, 2020)

Today, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced two new initiatives designed to protect county residents from the resurgent COVID-19 coronavirus and address the economic hardships the virus is creating.

The first initiative, Keep Anne Arundel Open, includes three actions that aim to prevent a new surge of COVID-19 cases and avert any reversal of the county’s Stage Two reopening actions.

·         A detailed plan to test 2 percent of the county population (about 11,600 people) every week.

·         A new public safety order requiring face coverings to be worn in outdoor public spaces where six-foot social distancing is not feasible.

·         Increased complaint-driven enforcement activity to ensure proper safety protocols in bars and restaurants during evening hours.

“Right now, in Anne Arundel County, our positivity rate is low and our hospitalization numbers look good,” said County Executive Pittman. “It took a lot of work to get here. But we can do better. By acting now to isolate this virus further, we can finish the job we started, protect our businesses and our workforce, and Keep Anne Arundel Open.”

County Executive Pittman was joined by Anne Arundel Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, who outlined the details of the Keep Anne Arundel Open plan. Dr. Kalyanaraman will sign the public health order later today, and it will be effective Friday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. The order will be posted shortly on the county health department website and the county's Road to Recovery webpage.

“Anne Arundel County has come a long way in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Kalyanaraman. “Thanks to the county residents who are wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, getting tested and cooperating with our contact tracers, we have seen a decline in cases and hospitalizations. Still, the disease remains in our communities, and we cannot become complacent about our health and our county’s recovery.”

The county’s 7-day rolling average for percent positive testing on July 9 was 3.47 percent, more than a point below the statewide average of 4.53 and the lowest of the six largest Maryland counties with a population over 300,000. Anne Arundel was also the first Maryland county to implement universal contact tracing for positive cases and the first to create a Coronavirus Health Equity Initiative.

County Executive Pittman credited the low positivity numbers to Health Officer Dr. Kalyanaraman and his team at the Anne Arundel County Health Department, the local businesses who have worked diligently to implement safe practices, and county residents who have worn face coverings and practiced social distancing in compliance with local and state recommendations.    

The second initiative includes a series of workforce assistance programs designed to help laid-off workers and connect them with job training and placement support. While 70,000 county residents have managed to navigate the state Unemployment Insurance program, thousands more have either been left out due to bureaucratic failure or ineligibility.

The workforce assistance initiative has three components:

The Excluded Worker Humanitarian Fund will provide cash assistance in the form of a $500 debit card to up to 4,000 laid off workers who do not have access to state unemployment benefits.

The Rapid Re-employment program will bring on additional staff to provide traditional job readiness and placement services and pay for the cost of occupational training programs in high-growth industries. 

The Youth Employment Program will offer opportunity to 100 young people (age 16-24). Some will participate in an online job readiness program and others will work with county agencies in the community. All will be paid a stipend of $11 per hour.

“The economic impacts of this pandemic have hit the hard-working families who are the foundation of our economy - the low wage workers,” said County Executive Pittman. “These workforce assistance programs, particularly our Excluded Worker Humanitarian Fund, offer direct support to the people who need it most.”

These programs will be managed by Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation and the application period opens at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13. Individuals can sign up and find more information at www.aawdc.org.