Greetings Symphony Village Residents,

As you may be aware, Governor Hogan announced an executive order which requires all persons over the age of nine to wear face coverings when inside any retail establishments or when riding any form of public transportation in Maryland. A face covering is defined as a covering that fully covers a person’s nose and mouth. The order also requires all retail locations to require staff to wear face coverings and requires those businesses to put appropriate social distancing measures in place. This order went into effect on Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 a.m. For information issued by the CDC on how to wear and create a cloth face covering please click here to visit the website or here for the printer friendly version.

To read the Governor’s Executive Order, click here.

To read all of Governor Hogan’s Executive Orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, click here .

As communities across the United States take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting close contact, people are facing new challenges and questions about how to meet basic household needs, such as buying groceries and medicine, and completing banking activities. The CDC offers the following advice about how to meet these household needs in a safe and healthy manner. For expanded advice as it relates to running essential errands please click here .

Shopping for food and other household essentials

Stay home if sick.

• Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

Order online or use curbside pickup.

• Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
• Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.

Protect yourself while shopping.

• Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
• When you do have to visit in-person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
• Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.

Use hand sanitizer when you leave the store. Wash your hands when you get home.

• After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer. When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• At home, follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging has been linked to getting sick from COVID-19.

Going to the doctor or getting medicine

Talk to your doctor online, by phone, or e-mail.

• Use telemedicine, if available, or communicate with your doctor or nurse by phone or e-mail.
• Talk to your doctor about rescheduling procedures that are not urgently needed.

If you must visit in-person, protect yourself and others.

• If you think you have COVID-19, let the office know and follow guidance.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Use disinfecting wipes on frequently touched surfaces such as handles, knobs, touchpads (if available).
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.
• When paying, use touchless payment methods if possible. If you cannot use touchless payment, sanitize your hands after paying with card, cash, or check. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.

Limit in-person visits to the pharmacy.

• Plan to order and pick up all your prescriptions at the same time.
• If possible, call prescription orders in ahead of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services (wait in your car until the prescription is ready), mail-order, or other delivery services. Do the same for pet medicine.
• Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines so you do not have to visit the pharmacy as often.

The association highly encourages you to review safety guidelines and look for updates from the CDC, the MDH, QAC Health Department and the World Health Organization. Please check the links below for the most up to date information.

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/

• https://health.maryland.gov/qahealth/Pages/qacdoh-home.aspx

• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

A special thank you to all the Symphony Village Residents who are assisting our local community by making masks and face coverings. Your work is greatly appreciated by all.

Stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

Bob Nilsson
Board President
robertn802@PROTECTED