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plan based on a decline of hospitalizations. But on Saturday, May 16, the first full day of the reopening of businesses, the state health department reported a one-day increase of confirmed cases to 982.

According to the new “Safe at Home” advisory, some businesses must remain at 50 percent capacity or less. Churches and houses of worship are encouraged to hold outdoor religious services and activities.

Most importantly, employees and customers inside businesses and on public transportation must wear masks and other face coverings.

“For most counties in Maryland, it’s the first full day of Stage One of recovery— and a gorgeous day to practice social distancing,” Hogan tweeted Saturday.

As confirmed cases continue to increase, merchants remain one of the most affected groups losing hundreds of thousands of dollars without customers inside restaurants, lack of male bonding at barbershops and limited retail sales.

Lendana Construction Co., a Black-owned family business of Upper Marlboro, continues to maintain its grind. The business, which specializes in brick and block work, usually maintains between four to 36 people on a specific job.

The company currently has a four-man crew for a project at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, certain jobs with a bigger crew must now operate with no more than four people at a time on weekly shifts to maintain social distancing requirements.

“That has been a challenge. Normally you would have 30 to 40 men on site,” said Ardania Williams, vice president of marketing and development for the construction firm. “We operate in trying to get a job done, but keeping safety first.”

Because Hogan allowed for each jurisdiction local autonomy, a few jurisdictions will follow the state’s new “Safe at Home” advisory that eases some restrictions.

For instance, Baltimore County allowed retail stores to open, but for curbside pick up only. Barbershops, salons and indoor religious services and activities remain close.

Campgrounds and boat rentals remain closed in Howard County, but stores in the Mall at Columbia with outdoor access can open with curbside pickup or delivery only.

Although the Maryland Chamber of Commerce supports Hogan’s leadership during the pandemic, it expressed concern for each jurisdiction to implement its own set of guidelines.

“This patchwork approach could prove detrimental for employers and their employees, who are already in the midst of navigating a difficult and evolving crisis situation,” Christine Ross, president and CEO of the chamber, said in a May 13 statement. “As we continue to steadfastly advocate for our members, who are anxious to return to work, we continue to urge the governor to actively communicate and engage with members of the business community throughout each stage of the recovery process.”

In the meantime, Olive on Main Street in Laurel continues to receive support in carryout and delivery orders.

Nadol Himsheh, 38, who coowns the restaurant with his brother, said the rising costs of items such as chicken and poultry make it challenging and a bit expensive to operate. Also, they decreased the number of staff currently on payroll from about 16 to six.

However, he supports Also

5 Nadol Hishmeh stands behind the bar at Olive on Main, a restaurant he coowns with his brother in Laurel. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

“So we’re behind,” he said.

According to Maryland’s Department of Planning, the response rate in Anne Arundel County ranks sixth in the state at almost 69 percent. In comparison, the Prince George’s County’s rate ranks 14th at almost 61 percent.

The census data that provides about $1.5 trillion annually in federal funding can be used for schools, roads, housing and even determine the state’s representation in Congress.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the bureau to reschedule several MD CENSUS from Page 12

WI

For instance, Baltimore County allowed retail stores to open, but for curbside pick up only. Barbershops, salons and indoor religious services and activities remain close.

in-person operations such as group quarters enumeration, which will now begin July 1.

Thomas Coogan, assistant regional census manager for Maryland, said field workers are set to visit unresponsive households between Aug. 11 and the Oct. 31 deadline.

“We know that there is still plenty of hard work to do,” he said. “The Census Bureau, I’m confident, will be ready to meet that challenge.”

Meanwhile, both Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties established complete count committees to boost participation, organize virtual meetings, post signs and promote the

brooks’ decision to keep the stayat-home order in effect. Himsheh’s parents live in the 20783 zip code in the Hyattsville area, which continues to record the highest number of confirmed cases based on zip code in the state.

“I’m a business owner and I want to succeed, but from a comfort level standpoint I can’t open right now,” he said. “I feel our county executive is strong-willed to not open up right now. I am pleased she did that and not pressured to do the opposite.”

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census through social media.

Harry Freeman, who chairs the census group in Anne Arundel, said about 83,000 flyers were distributed at 40 sites where parents pick up free meals for children. Public schools are closed for the remainder of the school year.

Elizabeth Betty Hewlett, who chairs a committee in Prince George’s, said the county’s Planning Department updated about 41,000 addresses to ensure the correct households receive census forms.

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach,” she said.

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in Prince George’s, which ranks number one in the state with confirmed cases, reaching “hardto-count” areas such as low-income neighborhoods, rural communities and residential locales with those who speak limited English will become more challenging.

According to 2010 census data, Blacks and Latinos were undercounted at 2 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Before the pandemic hit, the Urban Institute of Southwest published

5 A look at 2020 census response rates from Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions (Screen grab of video from Maryland Department of Planning)

a report in June 2019 that projected up to four million people could be undercounted in this year’s census.

In Maryland, the overall population that could be miscounted ranges between 28,900 to 89,800.

The report’s lead author, Diana Elliott, said in an email Monday through the institute’s spokeswoman the coronavirus could produce similar or worse undercount rates.

“With fewer people engaged and a later start to field operations and door-to-door enumeration, the hardto-count will be missed at higher rates in the census,” she said. “In-person enumeration is the best way to count these groups.” WI