Harford County To Follow State Guidance On Restrictions Lifting

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Life in Harford County will move closer to normal this weekend when restrictions on indoor and outdoor venues are lifted. The changes will take effect on Saturday, May 15.

All businesses in Maryland will be able to open at 100 percent capacity on Saturday, Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday, bringing to an end COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for more than a year.

Harford County Executive Barry Glassman announced he will follow state guidance.

“Harford County’s COVID metrics are down significantly from their peak in early April, and I want to thank our citizens for acting safely and responsibly," Glassman said in a statement Wednesday.

The coronavirus positivity rate in Harford County is 3.61 percent as of Wednesday, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

"This has helped us continue reopening to the extent allowed by the state," Glassman said, "and Harford will be lifting restrictions on businesses as outlined today by Gov. Hogan."

All capacity and social distancing restrictions and other limits will be lifted on indoor and outdoor dining Saturday, the governor announced at a news conference Wednesday.

“Here in Maryland, our plan is to get everything back to normal by Memorial Day,” Hogan said. "The fastest way ... is for every single eligible Marylander to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

The indoor mask mandate still remains. But Hogan says everyone can stop wearing their face coverings once 70 percent of Maryland adults receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In Harford County, Glassman said he urged people "who have not yet been vaccinated to get their shot, and help us reach the governor’s goal of 70% to lift the indoor mask mandate by Memorial Day.”

As of Wednesday, nearly 36.75 percent of Harford County has received two doses of a two-dose vaccination or the single-dose shot to protect against COVID-19.

Marylanders 16 and older can book an appointment online to get vaccinated or call the state's COVID-19 vaccination support center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Related: Capacity Restrictions To Be Lifted, MD Prepares To Vaccinate Kids