Governor Says Counties Can Begin To Make Decision To Move To Stage 3 Reopening, Bowie

From the City of Bowie:

Posted on: September 2, 2020

Posted on: September 2, 2020

Governor Says Counties Can Begin to Make Decision to Move to Stage 3 Reopening

PLEASE NOTE: Prince George’s County Operating Status - Stage 2 Remains in Effective

At a press conference on Tuesday, September 1, Governor Hogan announced that health metrics for Maryland had improved to the point that it was safe for the state to begin moving to the next stage of recovery. Each county and Baltimore City can decide whether to follow the statewide measures and timetable, remain at their current operating level, or announce their own new orders for reopening.

This means that until a new announcement is made by Prince George’s County Executive Alsobrooks, the County remains in Stage 2 of recovery.

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Maryland’s Stage Three Announcement (effective Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m.) for those counties that choose to implement it:

As part of the state’s initial entry into Stage Three, Governor Hogan announced the following additional safe and gradual reopenings can occur:

• INDOOR THEATERS. Indoor theaters where live performances occur or motion pictures are shown may open to the general public at 50% capacity, or 100 people per auditorium—whichever is less—with appropriate health and safety protocols in place.
• OUTDOOR VENUES. Outdoor venues where live performances occur or motion pictures are shown outdoors may open to the general public at 50% capacity, or 250 people—whichever is less—with appropriate health and safety protocols in place.
• RETAIL AND RELIGIOUS FACILITIES. Capacity for retail establishments and religious facilities may increase from 50 to 75 percent.

Capacity determined by fire marshal’s posted room capacities.

The Governor emphasized that wearing masks, social distancing, and safe disinfecting and hygiene measures are still required. He noted that contact tracing data for Maryland shows that in 41% of the cases, the individuals had attended a family gathering of some sort and an additional 19% had attended a house party prior to testing positive. He urged Marylanders to continue to be vigilant about the disease and to be especially careful as we head into the holiday weekend.

Read the governor’s order.Read reopening guidance for theaters

This press release was produced by the City of Bowie.The views expressed here are the author’s own.