Annapolis To Follow County Guidelines In Further Phase 1 Reopenings

Press release from the City of Annapolis:

May 28, 2020

Restaurants allowed to open for outdoor seating; retail business opening moved up to Friday, May 29 at 5 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS, MD. (May 28, 2020) - Today, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced additional openings set to begin on Friday, May 29 at 5:00 p.m. under state guidelines. The City of Annapolis shares a Department of Health with Anne Arundel County and will follow the same guidelines.

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley will sign an Executive Order on Friday to establish City guidelines for implementation.

“We have been working closely with the County to align our reopening sequence and objectives,” Mayor Buckley said. “We ask our restaurants and retail establishments to work within the guidelines while observing recommended public health practices including hand washing, face coverings and physical distancing.

The specific actions announced by the county include:

Beginning Friday, May 29 at 5 p.m.:

Non-essential businesses that are currently operating under curbside pickup only are able to open to customers. The maximum number of occupants (customers and employees) will be calculated based on 150 square feet per person. Businesses will be required to have protective measures in place regarding physical distancing and face coverings will be required for everyone in the store.

Foodservice establishments, which include restaurants, bars, and social clubs with dining facilities, may serve food and beverages for consumption in outdoor seating areas in accordance with state guidance. All establishments that already have permitted outdoor seating areas may use them in accordance with the state guidance. Beginning June 3, the City of Annapolis will begin implementation of Recovery Districts and Recovery Zones.

Barbers and beauty salons may open for hair services only. The maximum number of occupants will be calculated based on 100 gross square feet per person due to the small footprint of many facilities and the necessity of closer personal interaction in order for services to be provided.

Private youth camps are allowed to open under state guidance.

Swimming at community beaches is no longer prohibited, but swimmers are advised that no routine bacteria testing has been conducted. Swimmers swim at their own risk until water quality monitoring can resume.

Beginning June 1 at 8:00 a.m.:

Additional Recreation and Parks amenities will open:

• Athletic fields for youth skills training only - no organized activities

• Basketball courts

Beginning June 5:

Beginning June 5, seasonal outdoor pools will be inspected on a rolling basis. Pools can open once they are approved. Seasonal outdoor pools are inspected each spring prior to their opening and this year those inspections were postponed due to the suspension of all non-essential activity. Please note that construction on the new Truxtun Park pool is ongoing. An estimated opening of the new facility will occur with limited capacity in the last week of June.

Beginning July 6:

• Modified outdoor day camps may begin

• Traditional Camps are canceled

• Speciality Camps are delayed to July/August

No additional actions are being announced with regard to houses of worship and religious institutions at this time. They remain open for up to 10 people at a time for individual ministry.

The following remain closed until further notice:

• Annapolis Senior Center

• Fitness Centers

• Movie Theaters (including “pop-up” drive-in theaters)

• Nail Salons

This press release was produced by the City of Annapolis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.