162 Social Distancing Complaints In Baltimore County: Olszewski

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A task force in Baltimore County has investigated complaints of those violating the governor's order against gatherings of more than 10 people, County Executive Johnny Olszewski said Tuesday. While there have been more than 150 complaints in recent weeks, he said only two cease-and-desist orders were issued and no police action has been required.

Members of the Baltimore County health, police and fire departments serve on the task force, which is part of the county's emergency operations center.

"To date, we've had 162 complaints for social distancing across the county," Olszewski said at a news conference Tuesday. "Fortunately, people have been complying voluntarily by and large. We've only had to issue two cease-and-desist orders."

While he declined to identify them at a news conference Tuesday, WBAL reported a Nottingham barbershop and Rosedale gym were the businesses in violation.

"They have since been followed," Olszewski said of the orders, "and those businesses are no longer having those gatherings that were of concern."

Most people had been abiding by the order, which Gov. Larry Hogan issued March 19, limiting people from congregating in groups of 10 or more, according to the county executive.

"We would just continue to urge our retailers, our businesses and individuals out there to use common sense in their interactions out there," Olszewski said.

There are 1,660 confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland as of Tuesday, March 31, according to state health officials, including 227 positive cases in Baltimore County. One person in Baltimore County has died from the virus, a man in his 60s who had underlying medical conditions. His death was reported March 20.

"We've lost thousands to COVID-19, including a Baltimore County resident," Olszewski said, adding there would be more deaths in the days to come. More than 4,000 people in the United States and 43,000 people worldwide have died from the coronavirus as of Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins data.

"We know that we are talking about weeks of ongoing challenges, if not months," Olszewski said.

If there are complaints about gatherings, people can call 911 or call the Baltimore County coronavirus hotline at 410-887-3816. Said Olszewski: "All complaints are investigated."

There will be a virtual town hall at baltimorecountymd.gov/townhall. Residents can also call in at 833-946-1803.

People may send questions to townhall@baltimorecountymd.gov.

Editor's note: We have corrected this article to reflect there have been more than 4,000 deaths in the United States and more than 43,000 worldwide, not 41,000 in the United States.