Several Business Violate Mayor’s Orders during COVID-19 Pandemic

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 10, 2020
Court | Featured | Homicides |

The Metropolitan Police Department reports that there have been 20 violations of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

To minimize the number of individuals who contract the virus, the mayoral administration has enacted several orders that prevent mass gatherings of more than 10 people, require eating establishments to stop dine-in service and the close all non-essential businesses until April 24, according the District’s site on it’s reponse to the COVID-19 virus.

Even though the orders on large gatherings have changed since being enacted in mid-March, businesses continue to violate them.

According to documents obtained from the MPD, businesses in all four quadrants of the city have received violations since from mid-March to April 4 for not abiding by the mayor’s orders during the pandemic.

Documents show that 16 business located in Northwest, DC have violated orders by serving patrons inside dining establishments, holding large gatherings, violating the 10pm business curfew and disregarding the order for the closure of non-essential businesses.

Three of those businesses, including a retail company and two eating establishments have received multiple violations.

As of April 8, the mayor issued another order that implements social distancing protocols at retail food sellers, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, food banks and food halls.

The order does not apply to restaurants or other facilities that prepare food for delivery carry out or grab and go. However establishments must maintain social distancing protocols with markers outside and/or within the locations. The order does not apply to schools or senior centers that provide free food to students or the public.

Farmers markets and fish markets no longer qualify as essential businesses.

Read more information about the coronavirus in the District, here