MoCo To Reconsider Reopening Timeline: Weigh In At Public Hearing

ROCKVILLE, MD — Lawmakers in Montgomery County are considering a health regulation that, if approved, would expand COVID-19 reopening guidelines based on the percentage of residents who are inoculated.

The Montgomery County Council, which sits as the Board of Health, will hold a public hearing and vote on the proposal on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Currently, more than 50 percent of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The three phases of reopening would go into effect once the Board of Health receives a vaccination progress report from the county's health officer, Dr. Travis Gayles. People would still be required to wear face coverings and social distance.

The proposed phases are listed below.

1. When 50 percent of the population receives at least one dose:

• gathering limits would increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
• businesses limited to 25 percent capacity would expand to 50 percent capacity if they do not sell or permit the consumption of food or drink
• camps could move to the gathering limits of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors
• escape rooms could allow 10 people per game
• museums and galleries may reopen touch exhibits
• malls may reopen pedestrian concourses and return tables and chairs inside
• sports would move to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors with a similar number of spectators

2. Once 60 percent of the population receives at least one dose:

• gathering limits would increase to 250 people indoors, no limit outdoors
• most businesses would move to 75 percent capacity and may sell food and drink for consumption while seated
• camps could increase to gathering limits of 250 people indoors with no capacity limit outdoors and may permit campers from outside of Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia
• convention and banquet facilities would be limited to 50 percent of the facilities maximum capacity per state restrictions
• cigar and hookah bars may permit smoking outdoors
• food service establishments may move to 75 percent of maximum capacity
• religious facilities may move to 75 percent of maximum capacity
• sports may increase capacity for participants and spectators to 250 people indoors, no limit outdoors

3. With 50 percent of the population being fully vaccinated:

• all county conduct and business must follow any State or Maryland Department of Health requirements in place at the time

If Gayles finds that after reviewing community transmission metrics that continued reopening phases would be contrary to public health, he must report those concerns to the County Council, and the continuation to the next phase will be suspended pending a hearing before lawmakers.

The deadline to sign up for the public hearing is Monday, April 26 at 5 p.m. To sign up to testify, click here. Written, audio, or video testimony can be submitted here.

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