Outdoor Dining, Pools Reopening In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County is moving forward with reopening, the county executive announced Thursday night. Restaurants, churches and other businesses will be allowed to open to the extent allowed by the governor, County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.

"Baltimore County is ready to align with the state's phase one steps," Olszewski said Thursday. "This means that starting [at] 5 p.m. tomorrow, restaurants already permitted for outdoor seating can open as long as they follow the state's guidelines and restrictions."

Businesses without permits for outdoor dining will also have some assistance.

"To help ensure other county restaurants can open as quickly and safely as possible, they can go online tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. to apply for outdoor seating," Olszewski said Thursday. "We will conditionally approve all applications upon submission until further notice."

Gov. Larry Hogan said he was "strongly encouraging local leaders to find innovative ways to help support our restaurant businesses" as they looked to reopen, when he authorized outdoor dining as of 5 p.m. Friday. "We love the idea of closing streets for outside seating in Little Italy and Fells Point in Baltimore City ... and in other towns across the state,” Hogan said.

In Towson, the chamber has reportedly floated the idea of closing Pennsylvania Avenue.

"We're actively exploring other opportunities for outdoor dining, and will continue to work with communities to identify alternative models, including street closures and other outdoor public spaces," Olszewski said.

Olszewski celebrated the governor's decision to allow Bengie's Drive-In to open, after he said Baltimore County advocated for its reopening. Other businesses may also reopen.

"We are aligning Baltimore County's requirements with state requirements for retail, barbershops, hair salons and houses of worship," Olszewski said. "This means that these establishments may open with up to 50 percent of occupancy, and all requirements for social distancing and face coverings must be followed."

For worship, Olszewski encouraged virtual or drive-up services, although these institutions may open with up to 50 percent capacity.

"We know that large sustained gatherings particularly where there is chanting or singing poses higher risks," he said, citing research showing this increases the chances of transmitting the virus, which travels from one person to the next mainly through respiratory droplets.

"I encourage all faith leaders to be prayerful about if, how and when they choose to resume in-person services," Olszewski said.

"Outdoor services remain safer than indoor services," he said. "To help support houses of worship conducting outdoor services, we will be opening up more public spaces for worship soon."

Pools and day camps may also reopen, in accordance with the governor's order, Olszewski said.

"Continuing our gradual reopening should not be seen as a sign that we are ready to return to lives as we knew it before COVID-19," Olszewski said.

"Please continue to stay home whenever possible. If you must go out, wear a mask and keep 6 feet of distance from others," he said.

"If we see signs that these new steps are having a negative effect," he said, "we will not hesitate to reconsider in order to protect the public's health."

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With more coronavirus testing and other measures in place to help contain the virus, Olszewski said the county was now better able to "detect it and respond to it quickly, limiting its spread."

Baltimore County has authorized all residents to get tested for the virus and currently has an 11.7 percent positivity rate, Olszewski said Thursday.

The county's older and immunocompromised residents should remain at home, he advised.

"Our most vulnerable residents should continue to stay home,” particularly if they are over 65 or have a chronic health condition, he said. Those who live with or have regular contact with these people should stay home too as much as they can. "The best thing you can do for your health and safety is stay home as much as possible," Olszewski said.

"We have lost 304 residents to this deadly virus," Olszewski said. "While there are signs that we are flattening the curve, the virus is still here. It will take more lives. More people will become sick, and more families will lose loved ones."

See Also:

• MD Reopening Restaurants For Outdoor Dining, Stage 2 Nears: Hogan
• How Towson Restaurants Could Reopen For Outdoor Dining
• Perry Hall Church Holds Drive-Up Church Service
• Baltimore County Nursing Homes With The Most Coronavirus Cases

Watch the May 28 press conference where Olszewski declared the county ready for stage one: