Harford County To Ease COVID-19 Restrictions In Alignment With MD

BEL AIR, MD — Harford County will follow the lead of Gov. Larry Hogan as far as easing capacity limits at businesses and other facilities.

During a news conference Tuesday, Hogan said he would be lifting capacity restrictions on indoor and outdoor dining, business retailers, fitness centers, casinos, religious facilities, personal services and indoor recreational establishments effective at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 12.

The limit had been 50 percent capacity at businesses, religious facilities and other organizations.

County Executive Barry Glassman said Harford County would align with the state mandates.

“As we have at each stage of recovery, Harford County will safely and quickly follow Gov. Hogan’s easing of COVID mitigation measures effective at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 12," Glassman said in a statement Tuesday.

The easing of capacity limits comes as hospitalizations and new case rates have declined across the state and as the COVID-19 vaccine has become available in limited quantities since December.

Harford County reopened indoor government facilities Monday, March 1. They were closed in November 2020 after coronavirus cases began to see an uptick.

Approximately 17.6 percent of Harford County residents have gotten their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Maryland Department of Health, which also reported Tuesday that more than 10 percent of Harford County residents have also gotten a second dose.

"I would like to thank our businesses and residents for continuing to take precautions and helping us make progress in reopening as we continue to advocate for our fair share of vaccines," said Glassman, who on Monday called on the state to create a population-based vaccine distribution plan.

See Also:

• County Executive Wants Mass Vaccination Site At Ripken Stadium
• How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In Harford County
• Maryland Vaccine Hunters Help Residents Get COVID-19 Shots
• Harford County Government Buildings To Reopen After Shutdown
• Harford County Announces Phased Reopening Plan for Parks & Rec.

Since the early months of the pandemic, Hogan has given all 24 jurisdictions in the state discretion in reopening their economies.

Harford County has repeatedly followed Hogan's lead.

"It's been very confusing with a patchwork of different people changing the rules or not being in alignment with one another," Hogan said at Tuesday's news conference, where the governor encouraged all jurisdictions to keep their policies consistent.

Said Hogan: "They should follow the state guidance."

As a safeguard, the governor's latest executive order effective Friday says all local orders that are more restrictive than state orders "shall become null and void," including those that require businesses, organizations, establishments, or facilities (except schools) to close or modify their operations; and/or require individuals to remain indoors or to refrain from congregating.

While many businesses and areas are reopening and lifting restrictions, senior centers will remain closed, according to the governor's order.