Charles Recovery Resources

Added 11/18/2020: 

The governor issued an emergency order that takes the following actions—effective Friday, November 20 at 5 p.m.

• 10 pm Closure for Bars and Restaurants. All bars, restaurants, and venues serving food and alcohol must close between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for the purposes of carryout and delivery.
• Limited Capacity for Retail Establishments and Religious Facilities. Capacity at retail establishments and religious facilities reduced to 50%, bringing them into line with indoor dining and personal services businesses, as well as bingo halls, bowling alleys, pool halls, roller and ice skating rinks, fitness centers, and social and fraternal clubs.
  
  

Governor’s resource page: https://governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus/

Where can I get a Covid test near me? https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/symptoms-testing

What do I do if I test positive? https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/slow-the-spread/if-you-test-positive/

Latest Executive Orders >> Read the Emergency Orders and Legal Guidance Including 11/17/20 - NEW: Regulating Certain Businesses And Facilities, Requiring Face Coverings

Added 9/2/2020:  Governor Hogan Announces Beginning of Stage Three of Maryland’s COVID-19 Recovery, Additional Safe and Gradual Reopenings

Commissioners Announce Move to Stage Three  on Sept. 4

Added 7/13/2020: SBDC Survival Guides

Then the Maryland SBDC released the COVID-19 Small Business Survival Guide, it became a go-to resource for always up-to-date financial resources, guidelines, and tips to help guide business owners through the pandemic's economic impact. The MDSBDC is now pleased to present part two of the guide: Post COVID-19 Small Business Recovery & Sustainability Guide.

Temporary Sign Regulations:  To assist local businesses during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Planning and Growth Management is offering an expedited, free, streamlined approval process for portable signs or banners to be displayed continuously until Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020.  To apply for a free temporary sign permit, visit the Citizen Self Service Portal to create an account or to sign in at https://land.CharlesCountyMD.gov/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService#/home. Once in the CSS Portal, choose the option to apply for a “Banner” permit.

On Friday, June 12, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with reopening plans for Stage Two of Maryland’s “Roadmap to Recovery,” which includes reopening limited indoor dining at restaurants, outdoor amusement activities, and expanded capacity at outdoor pools in accordance with Stage Two of Governor Hogan’s executive order.

Orders, Guidance, and FAQs from the State of Maryland

PERMITTED TO OPEN June 19, 2020

Executive Order (June 10, 2020)

• Shopping centers that have one or more enclosed pedestrian concourses may open to the general public.
• Indoor Recreation Establishments to include: bingo halls, bowling alleys, pool halls, roller and ice skating rinks, social and fraternal clubs (VFW, Elks, etc), indoor areas of any other establishment subject to the admission and amusement tax.
  • Indoor area is defined in COMAR 10.19.04.02B(9).
  • 50% Occupancy AND social distancing compliance
• Fitness Centers, Health Clubs, Health Spas, Gyms, Aquatic Centers and Self Defense Schools at 50% occupancy and social distancing
• Casinos, Racetracks and Simulcast Betting facilities at 50% occupancy and social distancing (if allowed by local orders)
• Racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, Timonium Race Course, Fair Hill Races, Rosecroft Raceway and Ocean Downs with no general public

FACE COVERINGS

Face Coverings are required by order at several locations. Click on the bullet point to be routed to the appropriate order that sets the requirement.

• Retail Establishments
• Public Transportation
• Food Service Facilities
• Alcohol Manufacturer/Sales - Outdoor Dining
• Personal Services (Salons, Tanning, Tattoos, Massage Parlors)
• Indoor & Outdoor Sport Activities (when feasible)
• Youth Camps (when feasible)
• Swimming Pools (when possible)

FOOD SERVICE & ENTERTAINMENT FAQs

• Any food service establishment shall require its customers over the age of nine, and visitors over the age of nine to wear face coverings indoors, except during the consumption of food and drink.
• Nothing in the orders prohibit live entertainment, DJs, dancing or similar activity. However, the facility is still required to comply with the other requirements:
  • Indoor food service establishments must have face coverings on those not seated and eating/drinking.
  • Food and beverages are restricted to seated customers only.
  • Occupancy and social distancing still applies at food service facilities, entertainment venues and/or indoor recreation facilities.
• Guidance for catering events will be released in the near future.

ENTERTAINMENT FAQs

• Live performance and motion picture theaters (except drive-in) are required to remain closed.
• Senior Centers are required to remain closed.

• Adult Sport Gatherings, including motor-cross and car racing, may resume but may not be open to spectators or the general public.

• Convention events are prohibited until further notice.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Social Gathering FAQs
• Face Covering Exemptions & FAQs
• Best Practice Documents for Several Businesses
• MDH Secretary Orders
• Governor's Executive Orders

 
Federal Guidance to Re-opening Business

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for preparing businesses and workplaces
• CDC's Resuming Business Toolkit
• Latest COVID-19 Information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition COVID-19 Updates

State of Maryland Guidance to Re-opening Business

Back to Business: Best practices for Maryland’s companies reopening in correlation with the COVID-19 outbreak. This page also includes industry-specific guidelines.

Industry-Specific Guidance

• CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT BUSINESSES: Guidance and best practices to reopen.
• RETAIL STORES: Governor Hogan announced that retail stores may reopen at up to 50 percent capacity, with curbside pickup and delivery strongly encouraged, and all public health precautions in place. Examples of businesses that may reopen include clothing and shoe stores, vape and tobacco, pet groomers, animal adoption shelters, car washes, art galleries, and bookstores. Guidance and best practices for retail stores.
• PERSONAL SERVICES BUSINESSES: This is applicable to barber shops and hair salons only and only to provide hair services, per Governor Hogan's executive order.  Guidance and best practices for personal service businesses.
• MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES: This includes establishments engaged in the assembly or transformation of materials into new products. 
   Guidance and best practices for manufacturing businesses.
• MARINAS: Guidance and best practices to reopen.
• CHURCHES AND HOUSES OF WORSHIP: Churches and houses of worship may begin to safely hold religious services, at up to 50 percent capacity, with outdoor services strongly encouraged. Religious leaders are strongly urged to do everything possible to keep their congregants safe, and particularly to protect the elderly and vulnerable within their congregations. Guidance and best practices for religious services.

Charles County Department of Health Back to Business Page

Industry-Specific Guidance from Trade Organizations

• Pandemic Guide for Real Estate Managers: Resources for Reopening Your Property
• Recovery Readiness: A How-to Guide for Reopening your Workplace
• Guidance from the National Retail Federation
• Guidance from the International Spa Association
• AMA Guidance for Physician Practices