Restaurants Open For Indoor Dining Friday In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Effective Friday at 5 p.m., Howard County restaurants are allowed to open their doors to indoor dining at 50 percent capacity as long as social distancing and public health requirements are followed. Also reopening Friday at 5 p.m. are outdoor amusements and attractions including miniature golf and go-karts. Outdoor pools also can hold 50 percent capacity.

Starting June 19 at 5 p.m., gyms, indoor fitness centers, dance studios and martial arts businesses can reopen at 50 percent with social distancing in effect and following public health requirements. Casinos, arcades and malls also will reopen at that time.

“Howard County continues to see our key metrics trend in the right direction, we now have a positivity rate of 6.4 percent,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in a statement. “We will keep making reopening decisions based on our data and we are hopeful that this progress will be sustained throughout the coming months so that our community can recover. Our goal has always been to open as safely and as quickly as possible.”

Howard County key metrics are flat or have decreased in the past seven days. The seven-day rolling average for ventilator utilization has decreased from 23 percent a week ago to 21 percent Thursday. The ICU utilization rate has remained flat at 64 percent and acute care utilization has decreased from 92 percent to 90 percent.

The seven-day rolling average positivity rate peaked on April 29 at 28.21 percent. Thursday it was at 6.4 percent, below the state average of 7.24 percent. Howard County has increased the averaged tests administered per day from 116 in April to 613 in June. Overall, the county has increased contact tracers from 2 to 43.

“The Mall in Columbia is excited to welcome back our many guests and employees as we return to our ‘new normal.’ We will be implementing new measures to ensure the health and safety of all who walk through our doors,” said Barb Nicklas, senior general manager of the Mall in Columbia, in a statement. “Now more than ever, we appreciate the tremendous partnership and support we continue to receive from the Howard County executive’s office. On behalf of the mall, thank you for your patience as we get back to work.”

Joe Barbera, owner of AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar, said that restaurants in Howard County are "thrilled to offer indoor dining beginning Friday."

“This past week we have demonstrated to our guests that we are ready to open and offer great food and hospitality in safe environment," Barbera said.

The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks began to reopen playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts effective Thursday. All locations will be open by 8 a.m. Monday. Pavilions and boat rentals will remain closed. The Worthington Dog Park will return to its regular schedule 6:30 a.m. to dusk on Monday and appointments will no longer be required. While there is not a start date for indoor camps or childcare at this time, outdoor camps will resume June 29.

The RTA announced a regular bus service will be restored with limited evening and early-morning trips effective June 14. Routes 402B, 406 and 414 will continue to not operate.