Baltimore County to Align with Maryland’s Latest Actions

TOWSON, MD — Baltimore County will align with state of Maryland’s latest actions which, effective Friday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m., will:

• Lift capacity limits on outdoor and indoor dining at restaurants and bars, retail businesses, religious facilities, fitness centers, casinos, personal services, and indoor recreational establishments;
• Permit large outdoor and indoor venues, includes theaters; concert, convention, and wedding venues; racing facilities, and outdoor entertainment and sporting venues, to begin operating at 50% capacity; and
• Lift state quarantine requirements and other restrictions on out-of-state travel.

While capacity limits have been lifted, bars, restaurants and food service establishments must still maintain social distancing requirements. Customers must be seated to be served, and tables must be arranged with six feet of distance between them. Booths must have physical barriers separating them.

Governor Hogan’s Executive Order is available here (PDF) and the Maryland Department of Health Directive is available here (PDF).

Baltimore County Executive Olszewski today issued the following statement:

“While we remain concerned that communities across our state have seen key metrics level off in recent days, I have repeatedly said that the state’s patchwork approach creates confusion and limits our ability to significantly impact public health. This pandemic is not over and we cannot let our guard down now.

In Baltimore County, we’re focused on continuing to get our children back in the classroom — and then keeping our school buildings open — which requires all of us to do our part to slow the spread of this virus. Especially with the emergence of new variants, I urge Marylanders to remain vigilant so that we do not jeopardize the progress we’ve made together.

We will continue to aggressively enforce face-covering and social distancing requirements in businesses—and will continue to hold establishments accountable for violations.

If our data in the coming weeks shows that Governor Hogan’s order creates a detrimental impact to the health, safety, and welfare of our residents, Baltimore County is prepared to take steps to increase restrictions, as needed, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health.

I urge all of our residents to use caution and help us stay on the path to winning our fight against this disease. Be a caring and responsible neighbor by continuing to wear a mask, practicing social distancing, and getting vaccinated as soon as you have the opportunity. By working together, we can end this crisis once and for all.”

Face Coverings Still Required Statewide

Under state order, individuals ages five and up are required to wear face coverings in any indoor business, service, organization or establishment that serves the general public.
This includes, but is not limited to, retail establishments, recreational establishments, theaters, houses of worship and other locations open to the public.

Individuals ages five and up are required to wear face coverings when outdoors and unable to consistently maintain at least six feet of distance from individuals who are not members of their household.

Individuals are not required to wear a mask if eating or drinking while seated. In accordance with Governor Hogan’s orders, face coverings are still required when otherwise moving in or about a restaurant or bar premises.

Social Gathering and Youth Sports Limits to Expire

Additionally, Baltimore County’s social gathering limits of no more than 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, as well as current restrictions on amateur sports events, will expire effective Friday, March 12 at 5p.m.

Social gatherings include, but are not limited to, youth sports, family gatherings, parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, and other gatherings not associated with operating or patronizing a business. Amateur sports events, include high school, youth, and/or recreational games, clinics, skills sessions, scrimmages and practices.

Maryland’s statewide masking, physical distancing, and other safety protocols remain in place.

County to Issue New Executive Order to Continue Cap on Food Delivery App Fees

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski will also issue a new executive order to ensure that, consistent with the existing order, fees that third-party food delivery application services can charge restaurants will remain capped.