Mayor Colin Byrd laid out a seven-part plan for the City of Greenbelt’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in a video released on Friday. “It’s really simple,” Byrd said, “inform, clean, protect, prepare, cancel, collaborate, unite.” Byrd said newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus with an incubation period of 2 to 14 days, showed community spread throughout Prince George’s County, meaning people who haven’t traveled abroad have fallen ill with the virus through contact with others here. “It spreads from person to person, through respiratory droplets, what we know as coughing and sneezing,” Byrd said. “We know that Coronavirus-COVID-19 can be spread through surfaces, that’s why we’re emphasizing folks cleaning things.” Byrd said the infection usually causes fever, cough and shortness of breath, and emphasized the risk faced by older people and people with chronic illnesses. He then moved on to the second part of the effort: cleaning. Byrd said the city had 11 stand-alone hand sanitizer stations in building entrances, and planned to add more. Byrd said the city has begun cleaning its facilities and vehicles more frequently, especially Green Ridge House, which provides housing for seniors, the Community Center and the Aquatic & Fitness Center. Protection, the third element of the city’s strategy, depends on avoiding close contact with other people, Byrd said. He encouraged residents to maintain six feet of distance from other people, to refrain from touching their faces and to avoid large gatherings. “We want to cut down on the handshaking, and we want to cut down on all the hugging,” Byrd said. “If I don’t shake your hand please don’t be offended.” Byrd also encouraged residents to cover their coughs and sneezes, though not to use their hands to do so. Additionally, Byrd advised residents to clean their homes, stay home, wash their hands with soap and water, and to call the county hotline if they begin to develop symptoms or have questions. The county’s COVID-19 hotline is 301-883- 6627. Byrd said the city would close its facilities for at least 10 days, and that the city administration would practice social distancing. Byrd asked residents to stock up on groceries and medications as part of the city’s fourth tactic: preparation. “Develop a contact list,” Byrd said. “Right now you should be thinking about who you’re going to call if you run into some issues. If you have a back-up plan, have a back-up plan for your back-up plan,” Byrd urged citizens. “The more seriously jurisdictions are taking it the more likely they are to be able to avert some of the more serious issues,” Byrd said.
As a fifth measure, Byrd urged residents to follow the city’s lead in canceling events. The city, Byrd said, has cancelled almost all city events involving crowds or vulnerable populations. “We will make sacrifices on matters of social convenience and matters of entertainment so that lives are not sacrificed,” Byrd said. The final element of the city’s COVID-19 response is collaboration between the city and its partners, including those in the private sector, like many healthcare providers and the state and federal governments. Byrd said that city staff have reached out to CVS and Target based on national reports that those companies might be willing to use their parking lots as testing sites. Prince George’s County has also taken steps to limit the spread of the disease, according to Byrd, including closure of the county libraries and public schools. In an email exchange with the News Review on Monday, City Manager Nicole Ard explained that protecting city employees was also a priority. “New ways of delivering service like teleworking, practicing social distancing, using video and telephone conferences are to help keep residents and employees safe so we can continue delivering service,” Ard wrote. Hogan On Monday morning, Governor Larry Hogan gave a press conference. “We should continue to expect the number of cases to dramatically and rapidly rise,” Hogan said. “We have never faced anything like this before. This is going to be much harder, take much longer and be much worse than almost anyone is currently understanding.” Hogan announced a series of executive orders to shut down all bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms beginning 5 p.m. Monday. The order permits such business to continue delivery and takeout service. The governor also prohibited gatherings of more than 50 people. Banks, gas stations and grocery stores will remain open, according to Hogan. “These emergency orders carry the full force of the law and will be strictly enforced,” Hogan said. Hogan also prohibited utilities from shutting off services to residents or charging late fees for the duration of the crisis, and ordered a halt to the eviction of tenants during the state of emergency. Hogan also said the state had the capability to provide three meals and a snack to students who need food while schools are closed. Prince George’s County Public Schools announced on their website that students and parents can pick up lunches at some schools between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., while two meals and a snack were available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at some other locations. See the article on this topic on page 12.