ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBOC/AP) - Maryland will ease more restrictions on businesses that have been in place due to the coronavirus, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Hogan provided a schedule f'or allowing indoor dining and gyms, as well as the opening of casinos.
REOPENINGS EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, JUNE 12 AT 5 P.M:
INDOOR DINING. Restaurants can resume indoor operations at 50 percent capacity, with appropriate distancing, and following strict public health requirements consistent with the CDC, FDA, and the National Restaurant Association. Maryland Department of Health directives.
OUTDOOR AMUSEMENTS. Outdoor amusements and rides, including miniature golf and go-kart tracks, may resume with appropriate health and safety protocols. Capacity restrictions at pools will be increased to 50 percent with strict safety guidelines still in place. Guidelines and best practices.
Read the updated executive order.
REOPENINGS EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, JUNE 19 AT 5 P.M:
INDOOR FITNESS ACTIVITIES. After an extra week of sanitization and safety preparations, indoor gyms, martial arts, dance, and other indoor studio fitness activities may begin to safely reopen at 50 percent capacity with strict health, distancing, and sanitization measures. Guidelines and best practices.
CASINOS, ARCADES, AND MALLS. Casinos, arcades, and malls may also begin to resume operations with strict safety protocols.
SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE REOPENINGS
GRADUATION CEREMONIES. The governor is encouraging local school systems to plan and hold safe outdoor graduation ceremonies with appropriate capacity and social distancing measures in place.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS. School systems may now begin bringing small groups of students and staff into school buildings. School systems are encouraged to prioritize summer instruction for vulnerable populations. All nonpublic special education schools may reopen to serve students with disabilities.
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. All child care providers may begin to reopen, and the number of individuals child care providers can have in one room has been expanded to a maximum of 15.
OUTDOOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. Outdoor high school sports may begin to resume practice and training activities within the same guidelines that were previously announced for youth sports programs.
REOPENING GUIDANCE. As additional industries and activities begin to resume, the Maryland Department of Commerce continues to develop and issue guidance and best practices to help businesses reopen safely. These resources are available at open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness.
As the state continues to reopen its economy and put more people to work, Hogan emphasized that people need to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department. He stressed that “the fight against this virus is far from over.” “In fact, now more than ever, as we begin to come into contact with more people, we must all continue to remain vigilant," Hogan said. "Our health and economic recovery depends on all of us continuing to exercise personal responsibility in order to keep ourselves, our family members, our neighbors and our coworkers safe.” Local officials will continue to have flexibility to reopen to the degree they believe is safe for their communities.