By Connor James
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan announced yesterday that capacity limits on indoor and outdoor restaurants, bars, gyms, religious facilities and retail businesses will be lifted at 5 p.m. Friday.
Large outdoor and indoor venues like theaters, concert halls, convention centers, racing facilities, outdoor sports stadiums and wedding venues will begin operating at 50% capacity, Hogan said.
The mask mandate will stay in place, Hogan said, adding that establishments like restaurants and bars can only be opened for seated service only. For example, state officials said patrons will not be permitted to stand at a crowded bar. Other measures, such as social distancing, must also be maintained.
Hogan said the new measures are permitted because the state is beginning to see the positive results of vaccines hitting the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. He also said statewide metrics on a downward trend.
Other businesses that will see capacity restrictions lifted include casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, and personal services such as hair and nail salons, Hogan said.
“Masking, physical distancing, and other safety protocols will remain in place for all indoor and outdoor businesses and establishments,” Hogan said during a press conference. “I want to make it clear that the virus is still with us, and it remains important to continue to take precautions to stay safe.”
In addition, out of state travelers will no longer have to quarantine and all out of state travel restrictions will be lifted as well on Friday, the governor said.
Hogan’s decision was based on the falling statistics in positivity rate, hospitalizations and virtually all other metrics the state has been closely monitoring. Hogan remains adamant that masks should still be worn, and precautions should still be taken to defeat the virus.
As of Wednesday evening, the state’s positivity rate was 3.36%, and 818 people were hospitalized, down from the more than 1,200 hospitalizations from earlier this winter.
“The critical mission to stamp out this pandemic is far from over,” Hogan said. “However, all of our vaccine progress along with all of our sustained positive improvements in positivity, case rate, and hospitalizations, have enabled us to continue to follow the science and to be able today to take significant steps to ease more of the mitigations measures that are currently in place.
“There can be no doubt that we are closer to that light at the end of the tunnel,” Hogan said.