Reopened After Coronavirus Violations, Market Fixes Infractions

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — After being shut down for violating coronavirus regulations, the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market has the green light to reopen. The Annapolis business was the first food vendor in the county closed for violating coronavirus prevention orders.

The closure followed several reports of maskless employees. The health department gave the business multiple warnings before officially closing the Amish Market last Friday, an agency spokesperson said in an email.

The market is an indoor facility where several merchants sell carry-out food. It is located beneath the Bow Tie Cinemas in the Annapolis Harbour Center.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health inspected the establishment on Thursday and found the vendor "in total compliance, with all employees wearing masks and face coverings properly." The health department reinstated the market's license, and it reopened for business the same day.

Hours after the closure announcement, County Executive Steuart Pittman tightened coronavirus regulations. Whereas his previous orders focused on educating violators, his most recent mandate included a list of potential fines for noncompliance.

The executive order institutes a $500 fine for businesses that break these coronavirus regulations. A second infraction wields a $1,000 fine. A third breach carries a $5,000 fine. With any more offenses, a business owner could face up to year in prison.

Effective Friday at 5 p.m., Pittman's policy also reinstated limits on late-night dining and social gatherings. Restaurants and bars must stop all indoor service by 10 p.m., Pittman’s executive order originally said. Pittman amended that declaration later Friday evening, however. Now, the 10 p.m. indoor curfew only applies to restaurants and bars that serve alcohol.

Indoor gatherings are capped at 25 people. Outdoor gatherings are restricted to 50.

The mandate says social gatherings are congregations of people that do not involve patronizing or operating a business or spiritual facility. Restaurants, bars, stores, casinos, offices, religious buildings and youth sports teams do not fall under the social gathering restrictions.

Restaurants and bars still must operate at 50 percent capacity and keep tables at least 6 feet apart. Customers and workers are still required to wear a mask in all public places where they cannot socially distance. This includes indoor and outdoor venues, as well as busy common areas like sidewalks.

Under the new regulation, food courts inside shopping malls can no longer have dine-in seating, but they may continue serving carry-out. Malls and the stores inside can stay open.

RELATED:

• Coronavirus Violations Shut Down First Anne Arundel Eatery
• Gatherings Limited, Violators Face Fines: Anne Arundel Order
• Pittman Sounds Coronavirus Alarm At Town Hall As Cases Pass 6,000
• Masks Required Outside, County Gives Debit Cards To Unemployed
• Free Coronavirus Test Sites In Anne Arundel County: Full List

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