Three more Maryland counties are aligning with the state’s Phase Two guidelines, and will reopen additional services Friday.
Anne Arundel, Frederick and Charles counties announced that starting at 5 p.m. Friday, restaurants may start offering indoor seating up to 50% capacity and with strict safety precautions.
Outdoor amusements and rides, such as miniature golf and Go-Karts, may also resume, as well as child care services, high school sports practices and other services outlined in the second phase of Gov. Larry Hogan’s coronavirus recovery plan.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman added additional layers of precautions, which include a requirement of face coverings for employees and customers in retail businesses and inside restaurants.
REOPENING PLANS AROUND THE REGION
- Northam: Northern Va. to enter Phase Two on Friday
- Most of Md. to resume indoor dining with restrictions on Friday
- Prince George’s Co. to enter Phase Two on Monday
- Elrich: Montgomery Co. likely to enter Phase Two ‘sometime next week’
- DC not ready for Phase Two yet
“Moving forward at this pace carries some risk, but the confusion created by separate rules from the state and local jurisdictions does not work from a planning or a public health perspective. We must all be in this together,” Pittman said in a statement Thursday.
Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner cautioned that personal responsibility is “absolutely essential.”
“Each of us must be responsible to protect the vulnerable members of our family and our community. Wearing masks and physically distancing ourselves is how we protect each other. Public health remains our shared goal,” Gardner said.
The Charles County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with reopening plans on Friday, like most other Maryland counties. That includes limited indoor dining, outdoor recreational activities and outdoor pool guidance.
On Friday, June 19, the county will allow indoor gyms and other studio fitness activities to reopen at 50% capacity with strict social distancing measures and sanitation in place. Also grouped into next week’s reopening are malls, casinos, bowling alleys and child care centers, just to name a few. Find more guidance on the county government’s website.
Charles County Commissioner Reuben Collins II said residents should continue all efforts to protect themselves and their community from spreading the virus as the county reopened.
“I remind all citizens that we are still dealing with a pandemic, so the safest place for you is still at home,” Collins said. “If you go out, please practice frequent hand washing, wear a face covering and maintain safe social distancing. Additionally, if you have recently participated in a mass gathering, consider getting tested for COVID-19.”
Hogan announced the further loosening of pandemic-related restrictions on Wednesday. Next Friday, June 19, he said more restrictions may be eased.
Howard County said that it, too, will follow state guidelines and started reopening measures Thursday.
Prince George’s County will move into Phase Two on Monday, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said Wednesday that if the latest trends on COVID-19 hold, the county would be “likely” to enter Phase Two of the lifting of safety restrictions “sometime next week.”
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- ‘This virus is still with us’: Northam advises caution as Va. continues reopening process
- Prince George’s County to enter Phase Two on Monday
- Hogan: Indoor dining to resume with restrictions on Friday
Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here: Virginia | Maryland | D.C.
WTOP’s Zeke Hartner contributed to this report.
