Feedback Requested As To “Essential” Maryland Businesses

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We hope you are staying safe as the situation involving the  COVID-19 virus continues to develop. Things continue to be very fluid as more and more steps are taken by federal, state and local officials to try to slow the spread of the virus. We are working to stay informed about the latest developments in order to keep you informed.

While other states have issued state-wide orders to close non-essential business or “Shelter-in- Place,” Maryland has not yet done so.  We do not know if Governor Hogan will issue such an order, but if he does, it is likely that companies that provide “essential critical infrastructure” will be permitted to continue operating.  Currently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has listed which industries and workers are considered essential during a pandemic.  Their list is advisory, and not a federal directive.  The DHS list of essential businesses includes:

  1. Healthcare and public health workers;
  2. Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders;
  3. Food and agriculture workers, including grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants (including delivery drivers), animal agriculture workers, food and beverage industry workers, farmers, food processing and warehouse workers;
  4. Utilities and telecommunications workers (including the gas and electricity industry and cybersecurity workers);
  5. Employees of water and wastewater treatment facilities;
  6. Transportation and logistics workers (including mass transit workers, auto mechanics, maintenance and repair technicians, and workers who maintain and inspect roads and other infrastructure);
  7. Public works employees (including those involved in the operation, inspection and maintenance of dams, locks, levees, bridges, traffic signals, sewers and underground utilities);
  8. Communications and information technology workers (including radio, television and media service employees, data center operators, HVAC and electrical engineers, security personnel, IT managers, software and hardware engineers and database administrators);
  9. Community-based government operations employees;
  10. Critical manufacturing workers (including manufacturers involved in the medical supply chain, transportation, energy, food and agriculture, and chemical manufacturers);
  11. Workers at nuclear facilities and those handling medical and pharmaceutical waste;
  12. Bank employees and other financial/lending service employees;
  13. Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains; and
  14. Workers providing services required to meet the national security obligations of the federal government and U.S. military.

Given how quickly these matters are progressing, we plan on preparing a communication to the Maryland Governor’s office by close of business Monday, March 23.  If you believe that your business qualifies as essential and does not fit into one of these categories please let us know immediately.  You can also send your comments directly to psector@maryland.gov and christopher.mincher@maryland.gov.

We wish you and your families the best during this crisis and we look forward to hearing from you.