With the numbers of COVID-19 cases rising rapidly in Maryland and across the country, Gov. Larry Hogan and local leaders have issued new limits on social gatherings, bars and restaurants, churches and other places where people congregate.
The new state restrictions go into effect at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. Most of the local restrictions have been in place for at least a week.
Here’s a round-up of those restrictions and advisories.
Restrictions
- Restaurants and bars are limited to 50% of their capacity and must close between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Retail businesses, religious institutions, bowling alleys, skating rinks, gyms and other indoor businesses can operate at 50% of capacity.
- Nursing home and hospital visits are suspended except in cases involving “compassionate care.” The state also makes an exception for the parents or guardians of minors and those supporting people with disabilities.
- Visitors who are allowed in nursing homes must show a recent negative coronavirus test and nursing homes must test employees twice weekly and residents weekly.
- Doctors are urged to forego elective surgeries, especially if they might require intensive care, ventilators or inpatient rehabilitation.
The state health department warns against “any indoor gatherings of 25 people or more.”
Maryland residents are warned not to take unnecessary trips to one of the 35 states with case rates above 20 per 100,000 residents or one of the eight states with positivity rates above 10%.
State employees will resume teleworking to the extent possible, and state officials are “strongly advising” private sector employers to limit the number of employees working in-person at any time.
Hogan said local jurisdictions can impose more strict limits and many of them have.
- Indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people.
- Spectators, except for parents and legal guardians, are banned from youth sports contests.
- Religious facilities, retail establishments, restaurants, bars and other businesses are limited to 25% capacity. Restaurants must close by 11 p.m.
- Social gatherings are limited to 10 people indoors, 25 outdoors.
- The winter youth sports program run by the county Department of Recreation and Parks is cancelled.
- Bars and restaurants are limited to 25% capacity and religious facilities and retails establishments are limited to 50% capacity.
- Social gatherings are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
- Bars and restaurants must close at midnight.
- Recreation youth sports programs are closed.
- County buildings, including parks and recreation centers, are closed to the public.
- Youth sports programs are suspended.
County parks remain open. County employees are authorized to telework.
- Restaurants and bars are limited to 50% of their capacity.
The restrictions in Howard align with state restrictions. Officials warn against “any indoor gatherings of 25 people or more.”
Residents are warned not to take unnecessary trips to one of the 35 states with case rates above 20 per 100,000 residents or one of the eight states with positivity rates above 10%.
Employees will resume teleworking to the extent possible, and state officials are “strongly advising” private sector employers to limit the number of employees working in-person at any time.
Courts
- All in-court hearings and other proceedings are suspended. U.S. District Court judges are to contact parties to any scheduled in-court proceedings. Some will be done virtually and others will be postponed.
- No one will be admitted to a federal court building in Maryland without prior permission from Chief Judge James K. Bredar or the clerks of the District Court or the Bankruptcy Court.
- District and Circuit Courts will hear certain cases remotely or in-person and judges will notify the participants.
- Jury trials have been suspended until further notice.
- Court clerk’s offices will remain open with pandemic restrictions, such as wearing masks, in place.
This post will be updated.
