The District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland announced that they will move to Phase Two of their reopening plans. Highlights of each jurisdiction's Phase Two plan are provided below.
District of Columbia
On June 19, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued Mayor's Order 2020-075, announcing that the District of Columbia will move to ReOpen DC Phase Two. The order, effective on June 22, 2020, addresses the following activities, among others:
- Mass gatherings of no more than 50 people (increased from 10 people in Phase One) are allowed
- Real estate, construction, and development activities, such as ground-breakings, grand openings, and other events, may resume, with social distancing requirements in place; construction supervisors must continue to implement site-specific plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, wearing a mask, and frequent hand washing
- Nonessential retail businesses may allow customers to enter their establishments at no more than 50% capacity; social distancing requirements remain in place
- Personal services facilities, including tattoo parlors, waxing, nail salons, tanning, and similar operations may reopen under the guidelines established in Phase One for barbershops and hair salons
- Colleges and universities may reopen in accordance with plans and processes accepted by the DC Office of Planning. Such plans include prevention, containment, and mitigation measures
- Libraries may reopen at 50% capacity; museums and the National Zoo may reopen (social distancing and large gathering requirements must be followed)
- Restaurants and other licensed food establishments may open indoor seating for dining and drinking, with no more than six individuals per table. Social distancing requirements and other safeguards must be followed; proprietors are encouraged to maintain customer logs to facilitate contact tracing
- Camps and aftercare facilities may reopen with no more than 10 participants in a single indoor space at one time; social distancing requirements and other protocols must be maintained.
Bars, nightclubs, and mixed-use facilities that do not serve food will remain closed. High-contact sports remain prohibited. Nonessential, nonretail businesses are encouraged to continue teleworking to the greatest extent possible. Places of worship are encouraged to continue online services. Residents of congregate health facilities remain limited to essential activities outside of the facilities, with few exceptions.
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced on June 15, 2020 that Montgomery County would activate its Phase Two reopening plan at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 19, 2020. The following establishments are allowed to resume or expand their operations, subject to social distancing and other requirements:
- Nonessential retail establishments may admit one customer per 200 sq. ft. of indoor sales space
- Personal services, including tattoo parlors, waxing, nail salons, tanning, and similar operations, may open by appointment only
- Indoor dining at restaurants is permitted at 50% capacity
- Gyms, health clubs, and yoga and dance studios may reopen in accordance with guidance from the Maryland Department of Health
- Playgrounds, courts, and fields may reopen; low- and moderate-contact sports are allowed
- Houses of worship are encouraged to continue virtual services, but indoor services are allowed with no more than 100 persons or 50% of capacity, whichever is lower
- Indoor and outdoor gatherings may reopen, but are limited to a maximum of 50 participants or one person/family unit, with no more than one participant per 200 square feet of service delivery space
- Restaurants may have limited indoor dining at 50% capacity, if social distancing can be maintained; outdoor patio seating with social distancing is allowed
- Indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people, or one person/family unit per 200 square feet, whichever is lower
- Houses of worship may have one congregant/family unit per 200 square feet of service space
- Car washes are open for inside and outside cleaning; social distancing must be maintained
- Office spaces and multi-tenant buildings may open for limited use by nonessential personnel, with social distancing; telework is strongly encouraged
- Ride-On bus services will have expanded schedules and routes
Concerts and theaters, senior centers, libraries, and recreation facilities will remain closed.
For more information, contact:
Claude E. Bailey
Partner
Tel: 202.344.8057
cebailey@Venable.com