Mayor Bowser Orders the Closure of Non-Essential Businesses

Effective 10:00pm Wednesday, March 25, 2020

On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Mayor Bowser announced as part of the District's effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 that she will issue a Mayor’s order based on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), mandating the closure of nonessential businesses such as salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, retail clothing stores and "services not devoted to assisting essential business operations" similar to orders issued Monday in neighboring Maryland and Virginia. A copy of the Mayor’s Order is included below.

This order requires the temporary closure (until April 24th) of nonessential business taking place or located at the business site and enables a prohibition on large gatherings of 10 or more persons in the District of Columbia.

The order does not intend to halt business that can be conducted following social distancing guidance or conducted using telework or operations from home. This order will be in effect today and nonessential businesses are advised to temporarily close their on-site operations by 10:00pm on March 25, 2020, until April 24, 2020, or unless the order has been extended, superseded or amended.

Click here to view Mayor Muriel Bowser's complete order