Local leaders react to Maryland lifting stay-at-home order Friday

MARYLAND– Local leaders are voicing their opinions after Governor Larry Hogan announced he is lifting the State’s stay at home order this Friday at 5 p.m.,  as part of stage one of Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery.

“This is good news in that we’re working towards a safe recovery and reopening of so many of our businesses right here in Ocean City and across the Shore,” Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Republican, District 38, said.

Under the Governor’s Roadmap to Recovery, businesses like retail stores, pet groomers, adoption centers, car washes, and galleries will be able to open under certain guidelines.

“They have been really hard hit during this time and we’re glad that they will be able to reopen this weekend,” Sen. Carozza said.

Right now, Salisbury Mayor Jake Day said they are working collectively to make sure businesses will follow guidelines when reopening.

“We now have a 23 person reopening task force that is advising us from every industry on the Lower Shore that is advising us on the reopening process,” Mayor Day said.

Mayor Day hopes stage one of reopening will help our local economy to start getting back on track.

“We’re going to decisively act to resuscitate our economy, try to pump some blood back into our economy,” Mayor Day said.

But with local restaurants being hit hard, leaders like Sen.Carozza said they hope to see outdoor dining services be able to open up soon as well.

“We were working hard on the outdoor restaurants seating and really are going to try to push and see if we can bring that online as soon as possible,” Sen. Carozza said.

Although Gov. Larry Hogan is lifting the statewide stay-at-home order on Friday, he’s left the decision up to counties on when they will enter stage one of the recovery.

47 ABC reached out to counties on the Eastern Shore as to what they will do.

We’re told that Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and Dorchester officials will be discussing what they will do going forward this week.

Meanwhile, we’ve also reached out to Somerset county officials, but have not yet heard back on their plans.