Baltimore’s public markets, including the famed Lexington Market, have closed until further notice in compliance with a series of executive orders that Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hogan ordered all enclosed shopping centers and entertainment venues to close, effective 5 p.m. Thursday. He also prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people and urged Marylanders who are not “essential workers” to avoid using public transit during the current state of emergency.
Lexington Market and the Baltimore Public markets, including the Avenue, Broadway, Hollins and Northeast markets, have closed, according to the nonprofit Baltimore Public Markets Corporation, which operates them.
“The Markets Corporation realizes this may be an inconvenience to many, however, the design of our markets limits the feasibility of continued carry-out when our merchants do not have direct exterior access to offer walk-up or drive-through services,” the market operators said in a statement.
The operators said they “take seriously our roles in ensuring the health and safety of those in our community,” and that the closures are part of limiting the spread of the coronavirus in Maryland.
“By stopping patrons from entering and congregating to make purchases and by keeping our employees from using public transportation to get to work, we are doing our part in slowing the progression of this disease,” they said.
What they should be doing is simply make it easy to stay open with the minimum number of people. Without a through plan and process, this will bankrupt our small business and create a financial disaster. If Walmart can stay open, then small businesses can and they alone can patrol the number of patrons. also, alll food service workers should be tested, as there is no way to know if they are now open to pass on the virus to customers. This entire thing has not been well thought out IMO.