Anne Arundel loosens some COVID-19 restrictions starting Friday
Establishments previously limited to 25% capacity can open at 50% capacity starting Friday
Establishments previously limited to 25% capacity can open at 50% capacity starting Friday
Establishments previously limited to 25% capacity can open at 50% capacity starting Friday
(Video above: Preparations underway to open mass COVID-19 vaccination sites)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Starting Friday, Anne Arundel County officials will loosen coronavirus restrictions put in place to help mitigate the fall surge.
|| Coronavirus updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman cited a sharp, steady drop in the COVID-19 case rate for both the county and the state. The county's COVID-19 case rate has steadily decreased for more than two straight weeks. This is the first prolonged decrease in the case rate since mid-August.
The seven-day average case rate Wednesday was reported as 36.4 cases per 100,000 residents, down from a peak of 64.9 on Jan. 11. The county hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are also down over this period, from 168 total occupied beds on Jan. 8 to 135 reported Wednesday.
As such, Pittman signed Executive Order No. 42, which raises capacity limits for restaurants, retail establishments, places of worship and other businesses.
Under the new order, establishments that were previously limited to 25% capacity will be able to open at 50% of maximum capacity starting Friday. Movie theaters, pool halls, bingo halls and other establishments that were previously closed will be able to open at 25% capacity.
The executive order also allows organized sports competitions to resume, beginning Feb. 8. Sports practices and skills sessions are allowed up until that time, provided indoor facilities maintain a maximum capacity of 50% and a limit of 20 participants and coaches per activity area. The Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks Spring sports season will begin on March 1.
Pittman said Tuesday that the newest projections of coronavirus metrics are based on people's behavior not changing.
"We know that our businesses that have been affected by these most recent restrictions that we put in place in the fall know how to operate as safely as possible. They know that we're going to enforce the existing restrictions and they want to keep their employees and their customers safe," Pittman said.
The following is a list of all new or amended actions, effective at noon Friday:
Personal Services Establishments (hair stylist, nail salons, barbers) -- increased to 50% of that establishment's maximum occupancy.
Religious Facility -- increased to 50% of that religious facility's maximum occupancy. A religious facility may hold outdoor services for recognized religious holidays with a gathering limit of no more than 250 persons, provided the facility requires strict adherence to the mandatory health and safety protocols.
Retail Establishment -- increased to 50% capacity
Fellowship Addiction Recovery -- increased to 50% capacity or 100 persons, whichever is less.
Foodservice Establishments -- increased indoor dining capacity to 50% of maximum occupancy. Outdoor dining is permitted provided 50% of the tent sides remain up.
Foodservice Establishments located in food courts in indoor shopping malls may open.
Social Clubs, including American Legion posts, VFW posts, and Elks Clubs -- increased to 50% capacity.
Indoor social gatherings of more than 10 people remain prohibited. Outdoor social gatherings of more than 25 people remain prohibited.
"Social gatherings" does not include activities, facilities or venues that have a specific capacity limit or are ordered closed under the current executive order.
"Social gatherings" includes family gatherings, parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, flea markets, yard sales and other similar gatherings.
Organized sports practice and skills sessions are permitted, provided all participants wear masks at all times. For indoor facilities, the maximum number of participants and coaches in an activity area is 15 people. Organized sports competition may resume, beginning Feb. 8. The county's Recreation and Parks Spring sports season will begin on March 1.
Fitness Centers -- increased to 50% capacity and activities must be held in space that provides at least 100 square feet per participant; all staff and customers must wear face coverings at all times.
Home expo shows and home product exhibitions -- may open at 50% of the facility's maximum occupancy.
Gaming Facilities (casinos) -- increased to 50% capacity.
Bowling alleys, roller rinks and indoor ice rinks -- increased to 50% capacity.
Indoor theaters (including movie theaters) and outdoor performance venues are permitted to open at 25% of maximum capacity.
Live call bingo halls and pool halls are permitted to open at 25% of maximum capacity. Electronic bingo capacity is increased to 50%, provided it is held in a space that provides at least 100 square feet per occupant.
All Outdoor Sporting Venues, including professional, semi-professional, amateur, recreational, collegiate, high school and motor sports venues, are permitted to open at 25% of maximum capacity.
Cigar and hookah lounges and adult entertainment venues are permitted to open at 25% of maximum capacity.
The original restrictions were announced in December and county officials reassessed the data every four weeks.
