BALTIMORE — Governor Larry Hogan has declared Maryland ready for phase one of reopening, lifting the state's stay-at-home order.
Under phase one, retail stores can reopen with up to 50 percent capacity, manufacturing can resume, and barber shops and hair salons will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity by appointment only.
Churches and houses of worship can begin holding religious services indoors at 50 percent capacity with proper safety protocols in place. The state is still encouraging services to be held outside rather than inside.
Restaurants with outdoor seating can open Friday, May 29, at 5 p.m. with the following limitations.
- Ensure patrons are appropriately distanced with no more than six people seated at a table, with the exception of members of the same household.
- Ensure patrons are seated at least six feet away from each other, except for households seated together.
- Use single-use disposable paper menus or sanitize reusable menus between each seating.
- Sanitize outdoor tables and chairs between each customer seating.
- Train staff in current COVID-19 health and workplace guidelines.
- Begin screening procedures including daily temperature checks of all staff.
- Ensure staff wear masks or face coverings when interacting with other employees or patrons.
Outdoor youth sports may resume following appropriate CDC guidelines including:
- Limited, low-contact outdoor practices focused on individual skill building versus competition.
- Limited group sizes.
- Limited touching of shared equipment and gear.
- The ability to engage in physical distancing while not actively engaged in play.
Outdoor activities at youth day camps may resume under the following guidance:
- Capacity limitation of no more than 10 individuals in a group.
- Daily COVID symptom checks for youth camp staff and campers.
- No out-of-state or overnight campers will be permitted.
- Physical distancing and masks will be required for all staff and campers.
All outdoor pools may reopen with strict safety guidelines including:
- 25% capacity restrictions.
- Strict physical distancing and sanitization measures.
- Patrons will be required to sign-in and sign-out.
- All pools will be required to post signage warning anyone who is sick not to enter.
RELATED: Gov. Hogan lifts stay-at-home order, certain businesses can now reopen on Friday
The Governor did acknowledge that not all counties are in the same situation, and can use their discretion on when deciding to reopen.
Here is what other counties are planning to do.
Anne Arundel County:
- Retail businesses will be allowed to reopen for curbside pickup only. Customers are not permitted inside the establishment and employees must follow physical distancing guidelines.
- Only automatic car washes are allowed to open at this time.
- Beginning May 16, Anne Arundel County's animal shelter will be open from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. by appointment only
- Pet groomers are allowed to open for pet drop-off or pick-up only.
- Beauty salons and barber shops are allowed to open by appointment only with a maximum of one customer in the premises at one time, but customers are no longer required to be “essential” personnel.
- Manufacturing businesses and facilities within the county are allowed to open.
- Religious Facilities beginning June 5 at 5:00 p.m. Worshipers can attend services at 50% capacity with the following limitations
- Maintaining social distancing, including spacing seating to ensure six feet in between individuals or households;
- No use of common materials such as hymnals or holy books;
- No activities that promote personal contact, such as hugging, shaking hands, etc.;
- Face covergings should be worn by all congregants, employees and volunteers;
- Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected frequently;
- Outdoor services are also permitted, under certain guidelines:
- Additional seating can be installed on the premise if the congregation has ownership or permission from ownership to place seating not to exceed 50% of its approved seating;
- All seating must be spaced six (6’) apart from each seat or households may sit together separated by other groups by six feet (6’);
- If indoor restrooms facilities are to be used, points of access to restroom facilities must be provided;
- Outdoor seating cannot be more than 500 feet away from the restrooms;
- Any tent over 200 square feet requires a building permit to ensure safety
RETAIL STORES: Can reopen at 50% capacity
Dining: Restaurants with outdoor seating can open and serve customers
REMAINING MANUFACTURING TO REOPEN: may resume operations in a safe manner which protects the health of employees, with guidelines encouraging multiple shifts and other safety precautions.
IN-PERSON RELIGIOUS SERVICES: Indoor and outdoor services can open at 50% capacity
PERSONAL SERVICES: Hair salons and barbershops can reopen at 50% capacity, by appointment only. Tattoo, nail, and tanning salons must remain closed.
Open/Allowed
- Going to the grocery store
- Going to the pharmacy
- Travel for health treatment for yourself, a family member, or a pet
- Traveling to work (essential personnel)
- Curbside pickup retail stores
- Restaurant dining outdoors
- Outdoor Fitness Classes - Allowed up to 10 people
- Disk Golf
-Maintain a physical distancing of six feet at all times.-Maximum 4 players per grouping.
-Do not approach the first tee until clear.
-Do not touch the equipment of others.
-Only one disc in a basket at a time.
-Retrieve disk without grabbing chains.
-Trash is carry-in, carry-out.
-No congregating in the parking lot or bulletin board area before or after play.
- Tennis:
-Courts are restricted to SINGLES play only.-All spectators and players waiting for a court must remain outside of the fencing and are encouraged to stay in their vehicles until courts become available. Social distancing procedures must be followed at all times.
-Before, during and after play, players must maintain a minimum distance of at least 6 feet from other people.
-Players should label their equipment and ball(s) that they will touch during play.
-Main entry gates will be left open to prevent surface contact.
Closed
- Gatherings larger than 10 persons
- Programming at Senior Centers
- Fitness Centers
- Theaters
- Enclosed Malls
- Recreational Establishments
Carroll County:
The County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday to follow Governor Larry Hogan’s Stage One of Maryland's reopening, to allow the gradual re-opening of retail, manufacturing, houses of worship, and some personal services.
Cecil County:
County Executive Alan J. McCarthy said he would follow Governor Larry Hogan’s Stage One of Maryland's reopening.
“After consulting with our health officer yesterday, I am very happy to report that I have absolutely no plans for Cecil County to be more restrictive in our plans for re-opening,” County Executive McCarthy stated at his Friday press conference. “While this is a time to celebrate, I remind you that it is but the first phase of a gradual reopening of all businesses in Cecil County. I must share my concern and caution to all of our citizens,” McCarthy continued. “We have managed to reach this point by collectively battling COVID-19. We must continue to comply with state and local health protocols to be able to move to the next phase, thereby opening our local economy even more.”
Harford County:
County Executive Barry Glassman welcomed the news and said the county would be ready to open when Hogan lifts the order on Friday.
“I am pleased to announce that in consultation with our health officer, Harford County will reopen on Friday at 5 p.m. as outlined in Gov. Hogan’s Safer at Home advisory. At the same time, all citizens should continue to follow required social distancing and safety precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We have sacrificed to get to this point and we must keep working together to maintain our progress. Be smart, stay safe and God bless.“
Harford County will move safely and quickly to reopen to the extent permitted. This includes youth sports, youth day camps, outdoor pools and outdoor dining for restaurants, all with limited capacities and specified safety precautions.
To facilitate outdoor dining in Harford County, Glassman issued an executive order allowing restaurants to use a portion of their parking lots for table service.
Howard County:
Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29th
- Retailers in Howard County may open at 50% of maximum occupancy.
- Retailers are still encouraged to use curbside pick-up whenever possible.
- Barbers and hair salons may open at 50% of maximum occupancy including staff.
- Businesses must continue to operate by appointment only.
- Staff and clients must wear masks.
- Does NOT include nail salons, esthetician services, or massage parlors.
- Religious institutions may hold outdoor services of up to 250 people, as long as all participants can maintain appropriate physical distancing of 6 feet.
- Indoor services are still limited to a maximum of 10 people.
Archery/Shooting Ranges Howard County outdoor archery and shooting ranges may open with appropriate physical distancing and mask requirements.
Campgrounds Howard County campgrounds will remain closed.
Marinas/Watercraft Rental Howard County Recreation & Parks boat rentals will remain closed. Columbia Association’s boat rentals will remain closed.
Horse Boarding/Riding Facilities Howard County horse boarding and riding facilities may open with appropriate physical distancing and mask requirements.
Mall in Columbia Mall in Columbia stores with exterior access may open for curbside pick-up or delivery only.
Frederick County:
- Curbside pickup at all retail establishments of any size.
- Manufacturing.
- Reopening of small retail businesses (less than 10,000 square feet of space). Under State orders, these stores may only open up to 50% of their capacity, and must follow other guidelines provided by the State and County.
- Reopening of animal adoption facilities, car washes, and pet grooming facilities.
- Hair Salons and barber shops to remain closed for at least two more weeks
- Worship services can begin at 50 percent capacity with a 250 person cap
Mayor Rick Meehan said he would lift hotel reservation restrictions Thursday at 5 p.m. Last weekend he re-opened the boardwalk and beach but not stores. It's unclear if they will now reopen at a lesser capacity under Hogan's new order.
Montgomery and Prince George's County (will begin phase one by June 1) have kept their stay at home orders in place.
Queen Anne’s County:
- Retail stores may open at 50% capacity
- Churches may open at 50% capacity and outdoor service is encouraged
- Hair salons and barbers may open for hair services only and allow 50% occupancy in their establishment.
- Manufacturing may resume operations in a safe manor
- Face coverings are still recommended in public and required in retail stores and public transportation
We will continue to update the status on each county as more announcements are made.
