Updated: 12:42 PM EST Mar 10, 2021
Maryland will relax some COVID-19 restrictions later this week, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday. The governor urged continued vigilance, saying: "Over the last few weeks, as we marked one year of grappling with this deadly virus, many of us have been recalling our 'lasts' -- the last time we ate inside a restaurant, the last time we celebrated a big occasion with family and friends, the last time we went to a ballgame, the last time we took a family vacation. In the weeks and months ahead, with continued vigilance, together we will instead begin to mark new 'firsts.' Everything won't look exactly the same just yet, and we do need to continue to do the things that keep us safe, but there can be no doubt that we are closer to that light at the end of the tunnel and a return to some sense of normalcy in our lives."CAPACITY LIMITS: Effective Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m., capacity limits will be lifted on outdoor and indoor dining. Restaurants and bars will still be limited to seated and distanced service only.Capacity limits will also be lifted on retail businesses, religious facilities, fitness centers, personal services and indoor recreational establishments (casinos, bingo halls, bowling alley, skating rinks).LARGE VENUES AT 50% CAPACITY: Effective Friday, March 12, other large outdoor and indoor venues will expand to 50% capacity, including conference and wedding venues, concert venues, conventions, theaters, racing facilities and sporting venues, like Oriole Park at Camden Yards.The Orioles released a statement Wednesday morning, saying: "As always, the health and safety of our entire Birdland community remains our top priority. In accordance with Governor Hogan's announcement yesterday (Tuesday), we are continuing to work with the city of Baltimore, state officials, and Major League Baseball to safely welcome fans back to Oriole Park at Camden Yards with proper social distancing guidelines. As soon as we are able, we will share our plans to re-open along with our Gameday Health & Safety protocols."Masking, physical distancing and other safety protocols will remain in place for all indoor and outdoor business and establishments.Read the governor's updated orderMEDICAL ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS: Medical adult day care centers will also reopen, with facilities able to set appropriate restrictions and safety measures.OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL: Quarantine requirements and other restrictions regarding out-of-state travel will also be lifted. A Maryland Department of Health advisory will remain in place continuing to encourage Marylanders to get tested upon their return.TELEWORK: With contact tracing continuing to show transmission among individuals working in office settings, employers are encouraged to continue supporting telework when possible.MASKING: The statewide masking order in Maryland remains in full force and effect."With the pace of vaccinations rapidly rising and our health metrics steadily improving, the lifting of these restrictions is a prudent, positive step in the right direction and an important part of our economic recovery," Hogan said. "These steps are made possible because of Marylanders wearing masks, washing their hands, keeping their distance and following the public health advice."The mayor of Baltimore said the city will review the governor's order and will determine next steps: "Baltimore will continue to lean on the direction of health care professionals and local data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths and new cases to shape reopening efforts in Baltimore. My office will work with the Baltimore City Health Department and the Law Department to review the governor's executive order and determine the best path forward. I am proud of the work of Commissioner (Dr. Letitia) Dzirasa and the Health Department, and remain committed to ensuring recovery efforts are administered through an equitable lens that prioritizes the people and places hardest hit by COVID-19."Watch the governor's news conference in its entirety:Governor updates COVID-19 metrics in MarylandThe governor said Maryland's case rate per 100,000 has dropped by more than 76% to 12.9, which is better than 32 other states. Maryland’s positivity rate has declined by more than 64%, to just 3.40%, which Hogan said is better than 39 other states.The number of nursing homes with active cases has dropped by 59% since the peak in mid-December, and the state had no new resident cases or deaths reported Monday.Hospitalizations have dropped 59%, from nearly 2,000 to 792, which is the lowest level since Nov. 10. In January, all 24 jurisdictions were in the federal red zone for case rates. For several weeks now, the state has had no counties in the red zone.Hogan said the state has completed more than 8 million COVID-19 tests and more than 1.6 million vaccines, including more than 250,000 in the last seven days."All of our vaccine progress along with all of our sustained positive improvements ... have enabled us to continue to follow the science and to be able today to take significant steps to further ease more of the mitigation measures currently in place," Hogan said.The governor said Maryland is averaging 36,258 shots per day, an increase of more than 1,100%. More than half of Marylanders over 65 and more than half of the entire Phase 1 population has been vaccinated, Hogan said.MASS VACCINATION SITES: The first four state mass vaccination sites are open and fully operational. The fifth will be operational next week on the Eastern Shore, and a Western Maryland site in Hagerstown will open March 25, which is a week ahead of schedule. The state is also in discussions with a number of jurisdictions regarding additional sites as supply increases.