Baltimore To Ease Coronavirus Restrictions

BALTIMORE, MD — Capacity restrictions in Baltimore will be eased everywhere from churches to casinos before the end of the month.

Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa announced Wednesday that Baltimore would ease its COVID-19 mandates effective Friday, March 26.

Based on what the mayor called a "positive recovery trend," Scott said: "The continued ease of restrictions is justified by our public health indicators."

The coronavirus positivity rate is 3.68 percent in Baltimore, the Maryland Department of Health reported Wednesday, March 17.

The mayor said these restrictions will take effect at 6 a.m. on Friday, March 26:

50 percent maximum capacity

• Aquariums
• Casinos (dining areas should follow food service limits)
• Cigar and hookah lounge retail spaces (no smoking is allowed on-site)
• Fitness centers
• Libraries
• Malls
• Museums
• Personal services (contact tracing log required)
• Recreational establishments (indoor and outdoor)
• Restaurants and bars (indoors, contact tracing log required)
• Religious facilities
• Retail shops and stores
• Theaters (indoors, 50 percent occupancy or 100 persons, whichever is less)
• Zoos

75 percent capacity

• Outdoor dining and outdoor bars
• Outdoor entertainment venues (75 percent occupancy or 250 people, whichever is less)

More Specific Guidance

Food service establishments: Outdoor dining will be allowed at 75 percent capacity. Tents must be open on all sides if used. Indoor dining will be capped at 50 percent capacity. Bars without food licenses can operate at 75 percent capacity outdoors and 50 percent indoors. All food service establishments must log contact information for patrons and staff for contact tracing purposes.

Gatherings: Gatherings will need to comply with any relevant capacity based upon the space in which they are located.

At gyms and fitness centers, while capacity is 50 percent, there is a 10-person limit on classes or 25 percent capacity, whichever is greater. Social distancing and masks are required.

Organized amateur sports are allowed with certain guidelines in place.

As far as personal services like barbers and nail salons, staff must wear face coverings at all times while indoors, and services will be on an appointment-only basis. Customers, staff who provide services and patrons who enter the business must be logged for contact tracing purposes.

Theaters and outdoor entertainment venues may live-stream performances. Mask orders are lifted for performers with mitigation measures in place, according to city officials.

"It is clear that our city remains ahead of the spread of COVID-19, but we must continue to do our part,” Scott said in a statement. “I encourage Baltimoreans to remain serious about this pandemic and continue to wear their masks and adhere to our public health guidelines so that we can continue to see positive outcomes within our communities.”

As more residents get vaccinated, coronavirus data is trending in the right direction, the health commissioner said.

"Our metrics have dropped dramatically since the peak of the holiday surge, and we are starting to see larger and larger numbers of city residents obtain their vaccinations," Dzirasa said at a news conference, after which the mayor got his COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 10 percent of Baltimore's population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday, March 17, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Going forward, officials said they would assess capacity restrictions every other week.

"Reviewing the restrictions at more frequent time intervals will allow us to rapidly adjust as needed based on the data," Dzirasa said. "In the meantime, we need residents to continue doing their part as we reopen businesses — wear your masks, practice social distancing, and get your vaccine when you're eligible to do so."

See Also:

• Baltimore Mayor: COVID-19 Restrictions 'Will Not Change'
• Limits On MD Dining, Bars, Gyms End Soon; Camden Yards Can Open
• Baltimore Orioles To Start Season With Reduced Capacity
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• Baltimore Mayor Responds To Statewide COVID-19 Restriction Shift