Alert 04.01.20
Closing the Capitol: Mayor Bowser Issues Stay-at-Home Order
Mayor Bowser orders Washington, DC, residents to stay at home except to perform essential activities and business.
Alert
Alert
04.22.20
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has implemented additional restrictions in the District to combat the spread of COVID-19. Mayor’s Order 2020-058, issued April 8, 2020, adds further social distancing requirements for retail food sellers and farmer’s and fish markets. Mayor’s Order 2020-063, issued April 15, 2020, extends the previous public emergency and public health emergency orders through May 15, 2020, implements additional protocols for group facilities, and adds face covering requirements.
Mayor Bowser’s latest Order went into effect on April 17, 2020 and extends all previous Orders related to COVID-19 through May 15, 2020.
Social Distancing Protocols for Retail Food Sellers
Order 2020-058 defines “retail food sellers” as grocery stores, supermarkets, food halls, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of food. The phrase “retail food sellers” does not include restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food for delivery, carry out, or “grab and go.” However, such facilities must still adopt similar social distancing protocols and mark six-foot distances for inside and outside lines. The Order does not apply to schools, senior centers, and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public.
To protect employee and customer safety, each retail food seller must now:
The business entrance sign must instruct customers to:
Further, retail food sellers must implement the following for their workforce:
Requirements for Farmer’s Markets and Fish Markets
Order 2020-058 prohibits operation of farmer’s markets and fish markets without a waiver. To apply for a waiver, market managers must submit a plan to dcfoodpolicy@dc.gov detailing how the market will operate while enforcing social distancing protocols.
Face Covering Requirements
Mayor Bowser’s latest Order 2020-063 requires masks or mouth coverings to be worn by those who use taxis, ride-sharing vehicles, or other private transportation provider vehicles and “strongly encourages” those who use public transportation or are public transit employees to do so as well.
Food seller, hotel, taxi, ride-sharing, and other private transportation businesses must require their employees and independent contractors to wear gloves and cloth or surgical masks. Businesses must provide such protective equipment at their own expense to their employees and independent contractors.
Social Distancing Protocols for Hotels
Under Order 2020-063, hotels must post a sign at their entrances instructing guests and visitors to:
Additional Restrictions and Amendments
The District’s Stay at Home Order is now applicable to non-residents who visit or work in the District. Further, playing tennis and golf are no longer “allowable recreational activities” and individuals may only utilize rooftop and courtyard spaces with household members and while practicing social distancing. However, community gardens remain open.
Enforcement
Knowing violations are subject to civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, including sanctions, fines, and summary suspension or revocation of licenses. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and Department of Health are authorized to conduct inspections and issue notices of infractions for violations. Mayor Bowser encourages individuals to report suspected violations by calling 311.
Pillsbury’s experienced, multidisciplinary COVID-19 Task Force is closely monitoring the global threat of COVID-19 and providing real-time advice across industry sectors, drawing on the firm’s capabilities in crisis management, employment law, insurance recovery, real estate, supply chain management, cybersecurity, corporate and contracts law and other areas to provide critical guidance to clients in an urgent and quickly evolving situation. For more thought leadership on this rapidly developing topic, please visit our COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resource Center.