“Yes it is about health, but it’s also about the economics of peoples lives”- Leaders respond to restrictions on bars and restaurants

MARYLAND–Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has made it clear that for now there will be no more coronavirus-related restrictions placed on bars and restaurants in the state.

That’s news that some in the hospitality industry said they can get behind.

“Restricting restaurants will not reduce the spread, but personal responsibility will,” Susan Jones, Executive Director of the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association, said.

Both Jones and Senator Mary Beth Carozza feel that restaurants are working proactively to ensure the safety of everyone during the pandemic. And they feel adding more restrictions would be a set back.

“Yes it is about health, but it’s also about the economics of peoples lives,” Jones said.

“Their staff are all wearing masks, they have the separation with the tables, and they are going out of their way with their cleaning their sanitation,” Senator Mary Beth Carozza, (R) Maryland, said.

Jones said she feels the restaurant industry has been unfairly targeted throughout the pandemic.

“Everybody’s looking to point their finger and to blame one specific aspect or one specific industry, and that’s not fair,” Jones said.

Meanwhile, Senator Carozza said all 15 Maryland state senators are on board with opposing more restrictions as well.

So much so, that they wrote a letter to Governor Larry Hogan Tuesday to re-enforce the recovery plan.

“We wanted to send a message to Governor Hogan that were abiding by his recovery plan, it has been a phased in approach, but these restaurant operators need to stay open as long as they are in compliance,” Carozza said.

Jones and Carozza said all in all it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that we don’t roll backwards and keep moving forward instead.

“We all need to do our part and so we need to work together with our local health officers to stay on the plan of recovery and not talk about shutting down these businesses,” Carozza said.

Senator Carozza told us that in that letter to Hogan they pointed out that those calling for the closure of restaurants are ignoring the impacts that protests and mass gatherings have had on the health and safety of the public.

Also in that letter, they added that instead of going after small business owners they should focus on enforcing the prohibition of mass gatherings, as they feel it’s been ignored.