Coronavirus Latest: Executive Order Requiring Face Coverings In All Maryland Businesses, Public Transit Goes Into Effect
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- An executive order signed by Gov. Larry Hogan Wednesday requiring all Marylanders to wear face coverings while in stores and on public transportation to limit the spread of COVID-19 went into effect Saturday at 7 a.m.
All essential business workers must also require their staff to wear face coverings and put into place appropriate social distancing measures in order to keep the customers and their own employees safe.
This includes when people are dealing with Uber, Lyft drivers or delivery workers, all of whom must wear a face covering when near a customer.
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Gov. Larry Hogan said at a press conference Friday:
"Some people have said that covering their faces infringes on their rights. But this isn't just about your rights or protecting yourself. It's about protecting your neighbors, and the best science that we have shows that people might not know that they're carriers of the virus, and through no fault of their own, they could infect other people, and spreading this disease infringes on your neighbor's rights."
Shoppers at the Giant Foods store in Hampden Saturday said they felt like the measure was an appropriate step to take
"It's like washing your hands or putting on clothes when it's cold, it's the same thing we do any time to preserve our own health," said Eric Thomas.
"I think it's an awesome idea to try to keep the virus down," Scharon Dickerson said.
READ MORE: Coronavirus Latest: Dozens Rally To 'Re-Open Maryland'; No Arrests Made
Others, though, are calling for a return to normal. Protesters flocked to downtown Annapolis Saturday, calling on Hogan to "re-open" Maryland.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
