Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the state will move into Stage Two of the ‘Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery,’ with a gradual reopening of workplaces and businesses, along with additional personal services.
Stage 2 gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday. Neighboring Delaware’s Phase 2, which shares a number of similarities with Maryland’s plan, goes into effect on June 15.
However, Maryland’s Phase 2 plans still limit restaurants to outdoor dining, while Delaware will allow indoor dining capacity to increase from its 30 percent figure to 60 percent in the second phase.
Stage Two comes after the state’s rate for positive cases for coronavirus dropped to single digits, and total current hospitalizations fell to their lowest level in more than seven weeks.
Stage Two will be implemented with a flexible approach that allows individual jurisdictions to make decisions regarding the timing of reopenings. All 24 of the state’s jurisdictions have now entered Stage One.
“Moving into Stage Two is an important step forward for our state after what has been a very difficult period,” said Hogan. “The people of our great state have endured so many significant personal, medical, and economic challenges. But in the face of the most daunting challenge in our lifetime, the people of Maryland have been resilient, they’ve never lost hope, and they are showing what it truly means to be Maryland strong.”
Hogan announced that he will be lifting the order requiring the closure of non-essential businesses. The list of open businesses in Maryland will include manufacturing, construction, large and small retail shops, specialty vendors, wholesalers, warehouses, and offices including information technology firms, legal offices, accounting, banking and financial institutions, insurance agencies, design studios, advertising and architectural firms, and media production companies.
Delaware kept manufacturing and construction businesses open as essential businesses.
Additionally, real estate offices, travel agencies, auto dealer showrooms, bank branches and various other offices may all safely reopen with public health and safety guidance recommendations in place including the use of face coverings.
As additional industries and activities begin to resume, the Maryland Department of Commerce continues to develop and issue guidance and best practices to help businesses reopen safely. These resources are available at open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness.
Further information is available at governor.maryland.gov/recovery.
