Face Coverings Must Be Worn By Anne Arundel Shoppers: Officials

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — All shoppers entering retail stores in Anne Arundel County must wear face coverings starting Wednesday after County Executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman issued an order for public safety. Also, employees at retail stores must wear face coverings, stores must limit the number of customers inside to allow for social distancing, and end all self-service food.

“Our most effective tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is for each of us to act as though we are carriers of the virus, because we could be,” Pittman said in a statement. “Face coverings in retail businesses by both shoppers and staff will save lives. I fully support Dr. Kalyanaraman’s decision to require this protection.”

The order was signed by Kalyanaraman, who acted on the authority granted to him as county health officer by Gov. Larry Hogan’s April 5 executive order. It applies to all retail establishments allowed to remain open as essential businesses under the governor's stay at home order issued March 30. The order does not apply to children younger than 2 years old or people who cannot wear a mask without harming their health.

Face coverings may be made of cloth or other materials and do not need to be surgical grade masks such as N95 masks, which officials said should be reserved for health workers instead.

“Masks protect you and those around you,” Kalyanaraman said in a news release. “It’s an important way each of us can slow the spread of the virus.”

In addition to the face-covering requirements, the order also requires retail businesses to:

• limit customer capacity to 50 percent of normal capacity;
• maintain six feet between customers in checkout lines;
• make aisles one-way wherever possible;
• clearly mark social distancing restrictions, including six-foot separations and one-way requirements, on the floor;
• provide access to sanitary restrooms and soap and or hand sanitizer for customers and workers;
• discontinue all self-service food counters; and
• the installation of a physical barrier or shield (e.g., clear Plexiglas or heavy plastic sheeting) between cashiers and customers is highly encouraged.

Any complaints or violations of this order will be investigated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. Violations are subject to a maximum $500 fine.

The department has the authority to issue closure orders to businesses who violate this policy if necessary, but Kalyanaraman said the department will first issue warnings.

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