While most of Maryland reopened for business without restrictions yesterday, the Montgomery County Council resisted Gov. Larry Hogan's call to end restrictions on business. The Council met as the Board of Health Friday, after debating its authority to rebuff Hogan's statewide lifting of limits on retail and restaurants all week. Councilmembers ultimately chose not to lift capacity limits on indoor dining and shopping, which will remain at 25% capacity (although some large retailers have been able to get a waiver for the 25% cap for months), and only rise to 50% on March 26. The updated guidelines unanimously approved by the Council include the following:
- removing local restrictions on capacity at child care facilities, which follow state requirements
- increasing outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 50 people
- increasing indoor gatherings to a maximum of 25 people
- eliminating the limit of one person per 200 square feet
- eliminating alcohol limits on food-service facilities; alcohol can be sold after 10 pm
- eliminating the restriction on buffet service for food-service facilities
- increasing the capacity for religious facilities to 50%
- increasing the maximum capacity to 50% for indoor dining, retail shops, fitness centers and other businesses
- permitting arts and entertainment facilities to open at 25% capacity, provided they do not sell or permit food for consumption in the facility