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What is an essential business in Maryland, D.C. or Virginia? Open or closed? Essential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic
(7 days later)
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What is an essential business? As of Wednesday, April 1, the entire national capital region will be under “stay-at-home” orders, which ban residents from leaving their homes except to perform “essential activities” and interact with “essential businesses.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) ordered the closure of nonessential businesses effective 10 p.m. Wednesday and banned gatherings of 10 or more people after leaders in the Washington region made similar moves to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. What exactly is an essential business?
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ordered the closure of all nonessential businesses Monday, the same day Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) significantly restricted operations of businesses in his state. Each jurisdiction has its own list, but in general, local and state officials are abiding by guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. An advisory from the agency lists jobs and industries that are essential to the country’s coronavirus response, including health care, communications and government facilities.
But it isn’t always obvious what businesses are considered essential. In Maryland and D.C., most retail stores have been asked to close, but big box stores like Home Depot are allowed to remain open, along with auto-repair shops and bike shops. Virginia allows brick-and-mortar retail stores to stay open as long as they serve fewer than 10 people at a time.
Here’s a rundown of businesses that are open and closed, according to the orders in place in Maryland, Virginia and the District. Food is still considered essential, so is alcohol. In addition to supermarkets, groceries and liquor stores being open, restaurants can still offer delivery and takeout, though table service is prohibited.
●Hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities. Here are the official orders from the District, Maryland and Virginia. And here’s a quick listing of what you need to know throughout the region:
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●Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, farmers markets with restrictions ●●●Healthcare providers like hospitals and clinics.
●Child-care facilities. ●Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, and farmers markets with restrictions.
●State parks in Virginia and Maryland, and Rock Creek Park in the District.●State parks in Virginia and Maryland, and Rock Creek Park in the District.
●Banks and other financial institutions.●Banks and other financial institutions.
●Laundromats and dry cleaners.●Laundromats and dry cleaners.
●Home improvement, hardware, building supply retailers, auto repair shops. ●Home improvement stores (like Home Depot), hardware stores, building supply retailers, auto repair shops.
●Plumbers, electricians, HVAC service and cable, phone and Internet providers.●Plumbers, electricians, HVAC service and cable, phone and Internet providers.
●Pet stores.●Pet stores.
●Liquor stores. ●Restaurant takeout and delivery. Food trucks are also allowed to continue operating.
In Maryland and the District, table service at restaurants, food courts, bars and taverns, including fast-food and fast-casual establishments, is prohibited. Takeout and delivery are allowed. ●Beer, wine and liquor stores.
In Virginia, effective 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, restaurant dining rooms, other dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries and tasting rooms will be closed. Takeout and delivery are allowed. ● Stores that help people maintain modes of transport, such as bike shops and auto-repair shops.
Other brick-and-mortar retail stores in Virginia, such as bike shops, may stay open as long as they serve fewer than 10 people at a time. What the stay-at-home orders in the DMV mean for you
●Theaters, performing arts centers, nightclubs, concert venues, museums and other indoor entertainment centers.●Theaters, performing arts centers, nightclubs, concert venues, museums and other indoor entertainment centers.
●Fitness centers, gyms and other indoor sports facilities.●Fitness centers, gyms and other indoor sports facilities.
●Beauty salons, barbershops, tanning salons, tattoo shops, spas, massage studios. ●Beauty salons, barbershops, tanning salons, tattoo shops, spas, massage studios. (In Maryland, they do not need to close but must regularly disinfect and follow CDC guidelines on social distancing.)
●Casinos (Maryland only), racetracks and historic horse-racing facilities. ●Casinos, racetracks and historic horse-racing facilities.
●Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs.●Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs.
●Recreation centers and playgrounds, gated parks and athletic fields. ●Recreation centers and playgrounds, public parks, athletic fields and basketball courts.
●Door-to-door solicitations and tour services.●Door-to-door solicitations and tour services.
●Clothing stores.●Clothing stores.
This file will be updated as new information becomes available.This file will be updated as new information becomes available.
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