Outdoor Live Performances Allowed In MoCo Under Phase 2 Revisions

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County has revised its phase two guidelines to allow outdoor live performances to resume at venues with capacity limits and safety requirements.

The new provision further expands entertainment options in the county during phase two. Previously, only food service establishments were allowed to have live entertainment.

"This is a delicate balance, which is why we're beginning cautiously," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "We are trying to find ways to allow performances while we are continuing to look at the intractability of our case count numbers — they are not going down in any sort of consistent manner — we have to keep that constantly in mind as we make adjustments."

Venues interested in having outdoor live performances must submit a request for a Letter of Approval and follow a number of COVID-19 regulations.

Guidelines include:

• Capping crowds at 50 (that includes cast, crew, and staff)
• Physical distancing of at least six feet for guests who are not part of the same household
• Only providing advance ticket sales
  • One ticket holder in each party must provide contact information in the event they need to be reached for contact tracing purposes
• Requiring all guests and venue staff to wear face masks
• Requiring venues to regularly sanitize surfaces and common areas after each show
• Conducting temperature checks for staff prior to each day of performance
• Surveying guests' health statuses upon entry
• Requiring performers to get a COVID-19 test prior to the run of the show and have temperature checks prior to each performance
• As part of the Letter of Approval request, requiring each venue to submit a plan that ensures the health and safety of the performers
  • Officials recommend theater companies follow the guidelines issued by SAG-AFTRA
• Having a designated COVID-19 response coordinator or safety officer overseeing guidelines
  
• Following performances, having venues contact ticket holders electronically with a request that they report COVID-19 symptoms from anyone in their party to staff
  • Any reports from guests, performers, staff, or crew must be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services' Disease Control Office

"Our goal throughout the pandemic has been to make the safety and health of residents be the priority in our decisions," said Dr. Travis Gayles, the county's top health officer. "We believe these actions will help us continue our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 while helping the community move towards the reopening of our economy."

For more information on the guidelines, visit the county's COVID-19 website.