Call It A Comeback

Alsobrooks Announces Measured Reopenings In Response To Continuing Decline in COVID-19 Metrics 

The decline in COVID-19 cases and the slow steady pace of residence receiving the vaccine has allowed county leaders to begin softening restrictions.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks

The following is a March 11 notice clarifying the relaxed guidelines.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that the county is expanding COVID-19 capacity limits for businesses and other establishments due to a continued and significant decline in the county’s positivity rate and other key COVID-19 metrics, and due to increasing vaccination rates in the County. The updated safety measures took effect Mar. 12.

Due to these factors, health officials have advised that the county can safely move forward with a measured reopening.

Under the county’s updated Phase 2 guidelines, a number of businesses and other establishments will be able to reopen or expand current capacity limits, including:

•Restaurants: Indoor and outdoor dining is allowed at 50% of maximum capacity. Restaurants must ensure social distancing and mask-wearing are observed.

•Theaters: May reopen at 50% of maximum capacity.

•Gyms/Fitness Centers: May expand to 50% of maximum capacity. Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth when working out.

•Banquet Halls, Receptions & Meeting Rooms: May expand to 50% of maximum capacity, applicable to the specific room where the event will be held.

•Houses of Worship: Indoor services may expand to 50% of maximum capacity, with social distancing requirements in place. Outdoor services are allowed up to 50%maximum capacity of the outdoor area, with social distancing and access to hand washing or hand sanitizers in place. Masks must be worn.

•Personal Services: May expand to 50% of maximum capacity. These establishments must operate by appointment only.

•Retail: May expand to50% of maximum capacity.

“Because COVID-19 affected us so deeply, we will continue to be careful, and we will continue to follow the guidance of our Health Department to facilitate a safe reopening,” said Alsobrooks.

The County Executive made these decisions under the guidance and advice of public health officials, based on a continued and significant decline in key COVID-19 metrics in the County (click here for more details at “Getting Better All The Time”).

Businesses and other establishments must continue following all other safety guidelines, including the enforcement of wearing masks and social distancing. In addition, unless otherwise expressed in the Executive Order, indoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 20 persons, and outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 50 persons. A full list of updated guidelines, as well as a copy of the Executive Order, will be available at www.mypgc.us/reopen.

COVID-19 metrics are available to the public and updated regularly through the county’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard. COVID-19 vaccine data is updated daily and available through the county’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard. The latest COVID-19 updates are available at www.health.mypgc.us/coronavirus.