FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — Frederick County Health Officer Dr. Barbara Brookmyer has announced that beginning Thursday, April 16, customers and employees at essential retail businesses will be required to wear face coverings.
This comes after Anne Arundel County announced that they will make the same order mandatory beginning on Wednesday!
RELATED: Anne Arundel County to order customers, workers to wear masks inside stores
“We are working on many fronts to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Brookmyer. “Face coverings are one more way we can help to protect each other. When people wear a cloth face covering when working or shopping in public, they are helping to contain droplets they may be breathing out, which reduces the risk for the people around them. Additionally, these social distancing measures will help our community maintain the recommended space between individuals, reducing everyone’s risk.”
“To protect public health, including the safety of our essential workers, I urge all residents to follow the directive of Frederick County Health Officer Barbara Brookmyer to wear a face covering when you leave your home to buy groceries or go to the pharmacy,” said Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. “Public health is a community responsibility and it is important for every Frederick County resident to do their part to protect the health of their family, neighbors and community.”
Brookmyer also stated in the announcement that essential retail businesses are required to provide employees with access to clean restrooms stocked with soap and sanitizer. They must allow employees to wash their hands at least every 30 minutes.
Employees must be allowed to wear masks or face coverings, and employers must provide such coverings or make provisions for employees to obtain them.
Essential retail businesses must also continue to comply with existing state and local sanitation requirements and statutes.
There should also be additional safety measures including physical distancing, including signs and markings to reinforce social distancing.
Masks are not advised for children under two years of age, or for people who have difficulty breathing.
Masks made for use in health care settings, such as N95 masks, should be reserved for health care workers. Cloth masks are an acceptable alternative for face coverings.
