Baltimore Mayor Allows Outdoor Dining; Stay-At-Home Order Remains

BALTIMORE, MD — Diners can eat outside at restaurants in Baltimore City Friday night, the mayor said, in accordance with a decision from the governor that the state was ready to allow it.

Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young, who has kept the city under a stay-at-home order, is maintaining restrictions on other businesses and activities that would encourage large groups to congregate. However, he will allow restaurants to serve patrons outside starting at 5 p.m. Friday when the governor's order takes effect.

"After consulting with our Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, and reviewing Baltimore City’s health data on COVID-19, we will move forward with allowing outdoor dining," Young said in a statement Thursday.

Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Baltimore restaurants that have outdoor dining permits can begin serving meals outside. Those that do not have these can apply starting for outdoor seating permits at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 1, on the city's electronic permitting site, which Monday will have a category for "outdoor seating - temporary," according to city officials.

"I want to thank all of our business owners and restaurant employees for their patience and continued adherence to the use of social distancing and face coverings as we allow for this next step in our reopening," Young said of the restaurants reopening for outdoor dining. He advised businesses to follow guidance from Gov. Larry Hogan.

The new order from the governor allows restaurants and bars to serve food and drinks to customers in outdoor areas if they meet the following requirements:

• Diners must sit 6 feet away from each other, unless they are members of the same household.
• No more than six people may be seated at a table, unless they are members of the same household.
• Restaurants and bars must clean and disinfect each table between each seating in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maryland Department of Health, using cleaning products that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criteria for use against COVID-19.
• No buffets are allowed.
• Staff members wear face coverings when interacting with each other or patrons.

Hogan also said restaurants should offer disposable, single-use menus or sanitize reusable menus between each seating, screen staff through daily temperature checks and train staff members in current COVID-19 guidelines.

The new outdoor dining guidance applies to restaurants and bars as well as social and fraternal clubs, including American Legion posts, VFW posts and Elks Clubs.

Stay-At-Home Order Remains

Despite the allowance for Baltimoreans to dine outdoors, the mayor and health commissioner did not lift the stay-at-home order.

"Based on the increase we have seen in testing capacity recently, coupled with the decrease we have seen in the overall positivity rate of tests, opening outdoor dining facilities can be done safely, provided appropriate guidance is followed," Dr. Dzirasa said. "We are continuing to examine the data daily to ensure it is trending in the right direction. Residents dining outdoors should still practice social distancing, and should wear face coverings, except when eating."

In response to a citizen's question during a town hall teleconference Thursday afternoon, Dzirasa said barbershops and hair salons would remain closed.

"There could potentially be large gatherings in those locations," Dzirasa said. The governor's prohibition on gatherings greater than 10 remains in effect.

Youth sports will not move forward at this time, city officials also said, and all Baltimore-operated pools remain closed. These are divergences from the governor's lifting on restrictions around youth sports, youth day camps and outdoor pools.

The mayor said also Baltimore will review its policies on religious gatherings within the week.