MoCo Will Enter Phase 2 on Friday, June 19th

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles today announced the County has achieved its benchmarks and will officially enter Phase 2 of reopening on Friday, June 19 at 5 p.m.

The County plans to continue with an incremental reopening, based on public health data. Phase 2 allows additional businesses and activities to start and/or increase modified operations under specified guidelines. The guidelines include:

• Retail – curbside and limited in-store; one patron per 200 sq. ft. of sales space;
• Restaurants – outdoor/patio seating and limited indoor dining with requirements; up to 50 percent capacity maximum indoors if social distancing can be maintained;
• Childcare – childcare programs can reopen with a maximum of 15 individuals per classroom;
• Gyms – fitness centers, and other indoor physical activities; open with requirements; one patron per 200 sq. ft. of fitness space;
• Houses of Worship – virtual, drive-in, and limited indoor and outdoor services with requirements – one congregant/family unit per 200 sq. ft. of service space;
• Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings – limited to a maximum of 50 or one person/family unit per 200 sq. ft., whichever is lower
• Salons/Barbers/Nails – all personal services allowed by appointment only; one patron per 200 sq. ft. of service delivery space;
• Car Washes – open for internal and external cleaning with requirements;
• Office Spaces and Multi-tenant Commercial Buildings – limited use for nonessential personnel with requirements; telework strongly encouraged where applicable;
• Indoor and Outdoor pools (public and private) – open with capacity restrictions;
• Outdoor Day Camps – expanded opening with requirements;
• Outdoor Youth Sports – expanded for low-contact sports with requirements;
• Parks & Playgrounds – parks open for personal fitness and fitness classes with requirements; playgrounds open with requirements; only low-contact sports allowed; and
• Ride On Bus Service – expanded schedule; expanded routes.

Certain outdoor recreation activities and facilities are already permitted: golf courses, archery, shooting ranges, marinas, campgrounds, horseback riding facilities and tennis courts.

The following businesses and services will remain closed in Phase 2:

• Concerts and theaters;
• Senior centers;
• Libraries; and
• Recreation facilities.

Full press release available here.