Maryland and Baltimore City to End Most COVID-19 Restrictions

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott press release: 

This afternoon, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa announced that Baltimore City will ease its COVID-19 mandates following consultation with public health partners, increased vaccination rates and downward trends in new case rates, deaths, and hospitalizations. Restriction modifications will take effect at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 2021.

“I commend everyone for doing their part to get us closer to the other side of this pandemic,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “With restrictions eased and summer approaching, we must continue to take COVID-19 seriously. Wear your masks when indoors, avoid large gatherings and contact with unvaccinated persons, and get vaccinated. Let’s do all we can to continue to move forward and keep our loved ones and neighbors safe and healthy.”

Alignment with the State will take effect at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 2021. The current State guidance removes capacity restrictions, with the exception of the following three categories which are limited to 50% maximum occupancy:

• Convention and Banquet Facilities (defined as convention facilities, conference facilities, banquet and catering facilities, community halls, and Social Clubs, including without limitation, hotel ballrooms).
• Indoor Venues (defined as any indoor venue in Maryland at which live performances occur, motion pictures are shown, or sporting events occur (including, without limitation, major league, professional, minor league, semi-professional, amateur, recreational, motor sports, and collegiate sporting events); and
• Outdoor Venues (defined as any outdoor venue in Maryland at which (i) live performances occur, motion pictures are shown, or sporting events occur (including, without limitation, major league, professional, minor league, semi- professional, amateur, recreational, motor sports, and collegiate sporting events), and (ii) entry is limited to ticketed customers; provided, however, that the term “Outdoor Venue” does not include golf courses and driving ranges, outdoor archery and shooting ranges, marinas and watercraft rental businesses, campgrounds, horse boarding and riding facilities, drive-in movie theaters, outdoor swimming pools, outdoor day camps, amusement parks, tour boats, miniature golf establishments, and go-kart tracks.

Along with the Mayor’s Executive Order, Health Commissioner Dr. Dzirasa has also signed a Health Order rescinding all prior local orders issued in Baltimore. Both the Executive and Health Orders confirm that the City will be aligned with the guidance set forth by the Governor and the Secretary of Health. Baltimore City continues to reserve the right to issue additional orders if necessary.

“The recent decrease in new COVID-19 cases and positivity corresponds to increasing vaccination rates amongst Baltimore City residents,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa. “In order to continue this trend, we encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and to encourage family and friends to do the same.”

The Mayor’s Executive Order and Health Department’s Health Order will both be available online by the end of the week.

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Maryland Governor Larry Hogan press release: 

As a result of the state’s rapid pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and subsequent declines in key health metrics, Governor Larry Hogan today announced the lifting of all capacity restrictions on outdoor entertainment, art, and sports venues and indoor entertainment venues and conventions, and all remaining restrictions on indoor and outdoor dining, as of Saturday, May 15.

The governor also announced that the state’s indoor mask mandate will be lifted as soon as 70% of adults receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Here in Maryland, our plan is to get everything back to normal by Memorial Day,” said Governor Hogan. “We are making amazing progress toward that goal. But once again, the fastest way to get rid of our damn masks and to put this pandemic behind us once and for all is for every single eligible Marylander to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

EFFECTIVE SATURDAY, MAY 15:

• INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENUES. Indoor and outdoor venues may resume normal operations. All remaining capacity restrictions will be lifted on all indoor entertainment venues and conventions, and all outdoor entertainment, art, and sports venues, including all ticketed events.

• INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING. Restaurants and bars may resume normal operations, as all remaining capacity and distancing restrictions and all other limits will be lifted on indoor and outdoor dining.
• CRUISE TERMINAL. The cruise terminal in Baltimore City will be reopening. The CDC is working directly with cruise ports and industry representatives to prepare for a safe return to business.

Read the updated executive order.
Read the updated Maryland Department of Health guidance for food establishments.

INDOOR MASK MANDATE TO EXPIRE AFTER THE STATE ACHIEVES 70% OF MARYLAND ADULTS VACCINATED. The governor announced that the state’s indoor mask mandate will be lifted as soon as 70% of Maryland adults receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine—the national goal set by President Biden. Yesterday, the state officially surpassed the milestone of vaccinating more than 65% of adults.

WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENTS TO BE REINSTATED NEXT MONTH. To further accelerate the state’s economic recovery and with every business in Maryland fully reopened, Governor Hogan has directed the Maryland Department of Labor to work in collaboration with the federal administration to begin the process of reinstating work search requirements to connect more job seekers with good opportunities. The requirements are scheduled to be reinstated by late June.

VACCINATIONS FOR ADOLESCENTS READY TO BEGIN TOMORROW. With approval from the FDA and CDC, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for Marylanders age 12 to 15 is ready to open tomorrow. Eleven of the state’s mass vaccination sites and hundreds of pharmacy locations will be ready to administer the Pfizer vaccine—which was granted FDA approval earlier this week—to adolescents right away. Marylanders will be able to search for providers vaccinating adolescents at covidvax.maryland.gov.

Also today, the governor issued an order extending the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Author: News Release

News releases from various sources around South Baltimore.