MoCo Won't Let Child Care Centers Expand Capacity With Rest Of MD

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County will not increase its capacity limits at child care centers despite getting the green light from Maryland health officials.

Officials said the decision was based on the county's coronavirus data, which showed sustained levels of community transmission and a high percent of new cases in children between the ages of 0 and 19.

Last week, the state announced that child care programs could have up 20 children between the ages of 3 and 4 per room with a ratio of one teacher to 10 students, and up to 30 school-age children with a ratio of one teacher to 15 students.

"Montgomery County will not make this change and will continue to review the recent updates to provide more thorough guidance to child care providers that are affected," county officials said.

The county has the highest number of deaths in the state — with 811 as of Wednesday. It also has the second highest number of confirmed cases after Prince George's County. The total stands at 23,194.

Unlike most parts of the state, Montgomery County is still in phase two of its reopening plan. The county's top health officer, Dr. Travis Gayles, says the county will not enter phase three until officials consistently see low and medium levels of transmission — or 10 to 35 cases a day.

Over the last three months, daily COVID-19 cases have hovered between 47 and 169.