Governor Larry Hogan announced that Maryland will enter Phase 3 of its COVID-19 recovery plan effective September 4, 2020. Under Phase 3, all previously closed business may re-open, subject to certain limitations. Movie theaters and live entertainment venues may allow 50% of their maximum occupancies to attend shows, up to a maximum of 100 people for indoor events and 250 people for outdoor events. Houses of worship and retail stores may increase attendance from 50% of their maximum occupancies to 75%. The executive order also requires theaters and live entertainment venues to make face masks mandatory for entrance, to provide employee training, and to post additional signage with information on how to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Under the executive order, these businesses must utilize advance registration, stagger show and event times, and encourage and promote social distancing.  

To facilitate the contact tracing process, the order requires businesses to keep admissions records for at least two weeks. Indoor dining remains limited to 50% of maximum occupancy, and restaurant and bars must continue to require masks. When patrons are outdoors, business must require face masks if the ability for patrons to practice social distancing is limited. Individual counties have discretion to continue to enforce measures that are more restrictive than the requirements of Phase 3. For example, Harford and Howard counties intend to enter Phase 3 on September 4, while Baltimore City plans to continue its more restrictive social distancing measures.

Governor Hogan encouraged Marylanders to remain vigilant and acknowledge that the pandemic was not finished. He also noted that family gatherings led to a significant amount of positive COVID-19 tests, as compared to attendance at restaurants, bars and other businesses. “The number one activity of those who have tested positive, since mid-July, reported by 41 percent of all those who were interviewed by contract tracers was attending family gatherings,” Governor Hogan said. “You hear about things and you think it’s maybe dangerous to go to a restaurant or a bar or some business, but in fact, the number one thing reported is family gatherings,” he continued. Maryland’s positivity rate has remained under five percent for 68 consecutive days, and under four percent for 24 consecutive days. In addition, 15 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions have positivity rates below 3.5 percent.