County remains in Phase 2 of COVID-19 reopening

Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles at an event earlier this year.

File photo

Montgomery County’s health officer announced Friday afternoon that restaurants can have live entertainment, a change he called a “clarification” of existing COVID-19 reopening guidelines.

During a call with reporters, Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said he recently received guidance from state officials about live performances after County Executive Marc Elrich penned a letter to Gov. Larry Hogan questioning some of the state’s Phase 2 guidelines.

In the letter — written before Hogan announced this week that Maryland would move to the third phase of reopening — Elrich said it “didn’t make sense” to allow large gatherings of people, but not allow live music or comedy performances.

Gayles on Friday said “part of the confusion” was in the governor’s Phase 2 order, and Elrich wanted an explicit definition from the state about when and where entertainment is allowed.

The guidance the state provided has “helped guide the clarification” issued Friday.

Live entertainment will only be allowed at food service establishments, like restaurants and breweries. Social distancing and capacity restrictions remain in place, Gayles said. The changes take effect immediately.

Montgomery County will not allow entertainment venues to reopen, which the state is allowing in Phase 3.

The owners of Flanagan’s Harp & Fiddle in Bethesda, which is closing at the end of this month, said this week that their business was hurt by not being allowed to have live music performances, a regular feature there.

On Tuesday, Hogan said movie theaters and live entertainment venues can reopen at 50% capacity, or up to 100 people at indoor venues or 250 people at outdoor venues, with health and safety guidelines.

Gayles said no other Montgomery County COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on Friday, but the county will “continue to review” what activities are allowed by the state to see if any should be allowed locally.

“But it’s important for people to understand that even in all of our best intentions of designing safety plans … all of those are built upon the foundation of having lower community transmission,” he said, referring to the spread of COVID-19.

When Hogan announced the state was moving to Phase 3 of reopening, he reiterated that local jurisdictions can move at a slower pace.

On Friday, Gayles said Montgomery County’s rate of community transmission has not “dropped to a level that we feel confident we can mitigate” COVID-19’s spread if restrictions are eased.

Other jurisdictions remaining in Phase 2 are Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City, according to a press release from the county.

Gayles urged local residents to be safe and continue to follow social distancing and mask requirements during the holiday weekend.

He said he understands that people are tired of the restrictions that are in place, keeping their distance from others and wearing a mask. But, he said, “these are the provisions that have been proven to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@bethesdamagazine.com