Montgomery County has reached the COVID-19 benchmarks necessary to enter Phase Two of reopening, County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced Monday.
The second phase will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.
The county's Phase Two guidelines allow for:
- Retail - curbside and limited in-store; one patron per 200 sq. ft. of sales space
- Restaurants - outdoor/patio seating and limited indoor dining with requirements; up to 50 percent capacity maximum indoors if social distancing can be maintained
- Childcare – childcare programs can reopen with a maximum of 15 individuals per classroom
- Gyms - fitness centers, and other indoor physical activities; open with requirements; one patron per 200 sq. ft. of fitness space
- Houses of Worship - virtual, drive-in, and limited indoor and outdoor services with requirements - one congregant/family unit per 200 sq. ft. of service space
- Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings - limited to a maximum of 50 or one person/family unit per 200 sq. ft., whichever is lower
- Salons/Barbers/Nails - all personal services allowed by appointment only; one patron per 200 sq. ft. of service delivery space
- Car Washes - open for internal and external cleaning with requirements
- Office Spaces and Multi-tenant Commercial Buildings - limited use for nonessential personnel with requirements; telework strongly encouraged where applicable
- Indoor and Outdoor pools (public and private) – open with capacity restrictions
- Outdoor Day Camps - expanded opening with requirements
- Outdoor Youth Sports - expanded for low-contact sports with requirements
- Parks & Playgrounds - parks open for personal fitness and fitness classes with requirements; playgrounds open with requirements; only low-contact sports allowed
- Ride On Bus Service - expanded schedule; expanded routes
Certain outdoor recreation activities and facilities are already permitted: golf courses, archery, shooting ranges, marinas, campgrounds, horseback riding facilities and tennis courts.
The following businesses and services will remain closed in Phase 2:
- Concerts and theaters
- Senior centers
- Libraries
- Recreation facilities
Protective measures such as maintaining physical distancing, careful cleaning and disinfecting, and face coverings being worn by employees and customers, are some of the measures being required of businesses that will be allowed to reopen.