Reopening Southern Maryland: Stage 3
Governor Hogan announced on September 1, 2020 that Maryland would move into Stage 3 of the state’s Roadmap to Recovery Plan effective Friday, September 4, 2020 at 5 p.m. As part of this initial entry into Stage 3, indoor theatres where live performances or movies are shown may gradually reopen at 50% capacity or 100 people per auditorium, whichever is less. Outdoor venues are able to gradually reopen as well at 50% capacity or 250 people, whichever is less. Retail and religious facilities may increase from 50% capacity to 75%. All venues are able to gradually reopen or increase capacity as long as they are also enforcing proper health and safety guidelines (i.e. social distancing, masking wearing, etc.).
As with previous stages of the Recovery Plan, Stage 3 will be implemented at the discretion of individual jurisdiction leaders. This will allow individual jurisdictions to make decisions based on local data, allowing them a flexible and community-based approach to the Governor’s reopening plan. To see how Southern Maryland is handling the implementation of Stage 3, continue reading.
Calvert County
Calvert County announced its intention to follow Governor Hogan’s plans to implement the new Stage 3 reopenings by Sept. 4, 2020 at 5 p.m. Residents are reminded that the Calvert County COVID-19 Virtual Resource Center will continue to be updated with the most up-to-date information as the county prepares to reopen.
Charles County
The Board of Commissioners in Charles County announced its decision to move forward with Stage 3 by Sept. 4, 2020 at 5 p.m.
St. Mary’s County
St. Mary’s County announced that it, too will follow Governor Hogan’s guidance and allow the gradual reopening of indoor and outdoor entertainment venues as well as increasing capacity at retail stores and religious facilities.
Things to Remember
As each jurisdiction begins to reopen, it is important to remember to maintain physical distance, keep gatherings to 10 persons or fewer, wear face coverings and wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. If you are a business who has been okayed to reopen or expand capacity under the parameters of Stage 3, consider checking out this helpful site for guidelines on safely reopening and operating: Maryland Back to Business Site.
Disclaimer!
This blog post that is published by Ferrante & Dill is only available for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. By viewing these blog posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship between the blog publisher and the reader. The blog post should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and we recommend readers to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.
