Tag: Coronavirus

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Government Montgomery County

Updates: Montgomery County Restaurant lawsuit against indoor dining ban will be heard Wednesday

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The lawsuit against Montgomery County’s most recent indoor dining ban brought by the Restaurant Association of Maryland with several local restaurants signing on as Plaintiffs will be heard on Wednesday.

Despite contact tracing data showing that many cases within Montgomery County have come from indoor dining, as well as additional data and guidance from the CDC and elsewhere, these restaurants argue that there isn’t sufficient evidence to warrant indoor dining closure.

The restaurants who have signed on in the lawsuit are:

  • Silver Diner – Multiple locations
  • Outta the Way Cafe in Rockville
  • Gringos & Mariachis – Multiple locations
  • Olazzo – Multiple locations
  • Duck Duck Goose in Rockville
  • Trattoria Sorrento in Takoma Park
  • Social Heights Restaurant, LLC which owns Tommy Joe’s in Bethesda
  • DTI, LLC which includes restaurants like Cava Mezze
  • Medium Rare in Bethesda
  • Il Pizzico in Rockville
  • BTI Hospitality, LLC which includes owns Julii
  • Coty Group, LLC, Quincy Group, LLC, The Rat Pack of MD, LLC, The Rat Pack of MD II, LLC which owns Quincy’s South in Rockville
  • Bassett’s Restaurant in Poolesville
  • Raw Bar LLC in Baltimore
  • The Barking Dog in Bethesda
  • Potomac Pizza in Chevy Chase, Potomac, and Traville
  • Clementine Cafe in Chevy Chase
  • D.G. Holdings which owns Raku in Bethesda
  • Sheger Spring Cafe in Silver Spring
  • Palisades Lounge in Silver Spring
  • Barrell and Crow in Kensington
  • JMGM Group LLC which owns Dogfish Head Alehouse in Gaithersburg
  • Clare, Inc which owns Lahinch Tavern in Potomac
  • Unique Asset, LLC which owns Persimmon in Bethesda
  • Tally-Ho Restaurant in Potomac
Montgomery County Restaurant Lawsuit

Correction: An earlier report listed RW Restaurants instead of Tommy Joe’s. This article has been corrected.

Categories
Federal Montgomery County State

Montgomery County Restaurants join Restaurant Association of Maryland’s lawsuit against Montgomery County

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According to Bethesda Beat reporting, 35 restaurants in Montgomery County have signed on to the lawsuit brought forth by the Restaurant Association of Maryland. RAM successfully reversed a similar order in Anne Arundel County so they have moved to reverse orders in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.

I am very sympathetic to small businesses and how they are barely surviving during the pandemic, but to risk more lives is unconscionable. County health officials have analyzed contact tracing data to determine that enough cases of the coronavirus were transmitted during indoor dining to warrant suspending indoor dining. What we need is federal funding for small businesses, not corporations, and pandemic assistance to individuals so that they can afford to support small businesses. Montgomery County is facing a budget deficit due to funding several grants and programs related to the pandemic. I’ve argued previously that tax hikes are needed instead of austerity measures.

While 35 restaurants in the county have signed onto the lawsuit as Plaintiffs, only a few are currently known: Tommy Joe’s in Bethesda, Duck Duck Goose in Bethesda, and Seibel’s Restaurant and UpTown Pub in Burtonsville.

If you feel that this helped you in any way, consider buying MoCo Local a coffee or beer. You can do so through Venmo (@Vito-Anastasia).

Categories
Government State

COVID-19 Exposure Notifications are now available in Maryland on iOS and Android devices

COVID-19 Exposure Notifications are now available for Maryland. The notification system is an API developed by Apple and Google in conjunction with health departments to help alert individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19. For privacy reasons, these alerts are turned off by default but you can turn them on if you’d like to be notified.

On iOS, go to Settings -> Exposure Notifications

On Android, go to Settings -> Google -> COVID-19 Exposure Notifications

COVID-19 Exposure Notification Settings on iOS
Categories
State

51 House Delegates ask Hogan for Rent and Mortgage Relief

51 House Democrats have asked Governor Larry Hogan to provide rent and mortgage relief to Marylanders that have been effected by COVID-19. Read the letter below:

House Democrats as for Rent and Mortgage ReliefDownload
Categories
State

Governor Hogan Orders Stay at Home

On March 30th, 2020 Governor Larry Hogan announced a new “Stay at Home” order. This is not a shelter in place. Below are some the guidelines.

General Guidelines

  • Effective at 8PM on 3/30, everyone must stay in their homes except for essential activities, travel to work, performing services related to work
  • Businesses can remain open if they are considered an essential service
  • Businesses can deliver goods still
  • Businesses that are non-essential can remain open for minimal operations (more info below)
  • Fitness centers, theaters, golf courses, senior centers, and other recreational establishments must remain closed
  • Tattoo parlors, barber shops, salons, etc should be closed
  • If you are a victim of domestic violence or your living situation is unsafe you are allowed to seek a safe space
  • If you are experiencing homelessness you are allowed to seek a safe space
  • If you violate this order you can be charged with a misdemeanor and/or receive a $5,000 fine

What is considered essential?

  • Obtaining supplies (food, medicine, other groceries) for you, your family, and pets
  • Going outside for activity (walking, walking pets, jogging, riding bikes, hiking)
  • Caring for a family member, friend, pet in another household or location (this includes providing transport to an essential service like medical care)
  • Travel required by law enforcement or court order
  • Travel to a federal, State, or local government building for a necessary purpose

Non-Essential Business Guidance

  • You must close to the general public
  • Staff and owners can work but only on minimal operations
  • Minimal operations include: facilitating remote work, maintaining property, preventing loss or damage to property (including ensuring perishables do not spoil)
  • Caring for live animals
  • FOR RETAIL: you can continue to sell products on a delivery basis

Restaurant and Bar Guidance

  • Restaurants and bars will remain closed to the general public except for pickup, carryout, drive-through, delivery
  • Must follow social-distancing recommendations
Download Governor Hogan’s Order hereDownload
Interpretive Guidance from Hogan’s OfficeDownload
Categories
Federal Government State

Federal Social Distance Guidelines Extended Through April

BreakingNews

Social distancing guidelines have been extended through the end of April, according to Pres. Trump. However, Maryland is following guidelines that lean more towards shelter in place. Governor Hogan has been reluctant to call the actions he and his administration have taken shelter-in-place.

How will this impact MoCo? Most existing Maryland guidelines from the governor have also extended to the end of April so this won’t change what we are doing.

Governor Hogan stated state officials expect an increase of cases in Maryland in 2-3 weeks. Models for Maryland suggest similar results using the restrictions and closures that Hogan implemented.

Categories
County Council Government State Yesterday's News

Yesterday’s News, Today – 3/17/2020

YesterdaysNews

The past few days have been a jumble. I’m not sure what time it is and I keep checking the calendar to make sure I have the right day. It’s stressful, but I’ve seen the community come together and that gives me hope.

There was a lot of news to digest yesterday so here is a condensed version. New updates will be posted on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.

How to help MoCo during the state of emergency

We are all in a tough spot, but none are getting hit as hard as small businesses and folks that work in the service industry. We’ve put together some ways that you can help them.

News Roundup

Coronavirus

County

State

State of Emergency

Governor Hogan issued new orders for the State of Emergency:

  • ordered bars, restaurants, gyms, and theaters to close as of 5PM on 3/16. Restaurants can still offer drive-thru, carryout, pickup, and delivery.
  • prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people but the CDC now recommends that gatherings be kept to fewer than 10 people
  • the Maryland Department of Health is working on adding an additional 6,000 beds
  • the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps have been activated
  • health practitioners with licenses in other states are now allowed to practice in Maryland
  • utilities are prohibited from being shut off and providers cannot charge late fees: this includes gas, electric, water, sewer, phone, cable, and internet
  • evictions are halted during the state of emergency
  • schools can now provide three meals and a snack to each student per day
  • the National Guard has been moved to a higher state of readiness

During the State of Emergency you can request a 30-day refill on your prescriptions. Health insurers are required to cover them and have to waive restrictions on time-limits.

Maryland Business Express released a list of resources for business

A special enrollment period has been opened for the Maryland Health Connection so if you need health insurance, sign up now

Business

I don’t have words to describe this chart showing how dramatic the change in U.S. restaurant customers is.

U.S. Restaurant Diners Disappear With Virus’s Social Distancing

The data doesn’t look better when you add some color to it.

Reminders

It’s important to take time for ourselves so we can reset. Delegate Eric Luedtke shared his experience with anxiety disorder and it was a reminder, to me, to take a few deep breaths.