BALTIMORE — Baltimore will fully enter phase one of reopening on Monday.
Mayor Young's announcement came as many counties in Maryland prepared to move into phase two Friday evening.
RELATED: See what your county is doing in phase two of Maryland's reopening
"You have remember, Baltimore City, unlike any other jurisdiction, we are closely compacted with our housing stock. Everybody else around the state is spread out," Young said during Friday's press conference. "Data dictates everything we'll do in the city of Baltimore. It's about saving lives."
Phase I loosens certain restrictions on private businesses, while increasing the availability of City-provided services available to city residents.
Under Phase I, the following activities are permitted:
- Barbershops and hair salons – by appointment only, with up to 5 people allowed inside per 1,000 square feet. After providing services to each customer, appropriate cleaning will need to take place per CDC and Maryland Department of Health guidelines.
- Faith-based gatherings – faith-based organizations of up to 50 people can worship in tented outdoor services. Fees for tent permits will be waived for exempt religious institutions during COVID restrictions, and Fire and Building inspections will be available within 48 hours of application. As a condition of the permit, congregants will be required to practice social distancing and wear face coverings. Virtual worship is still strongly encouraged at this time.
- The Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar produced by Baltimore’s Office of Promotion & the Arts will open for its 43rd season on Sunday, June 14 at 7am with restrictions. It will open as a food resource only, and a limited number of people will be allowed to shop at any one time.
- Childcare – childcare can open with limits of up to 10 people per room, and for use by essential workers.
- Restaurants – as previously announced, restaurants can serve customers through outdoor seating. Restaurant licensees who would like to add outdoor seating can apply through the City’s e-permit website.
- Summer camps – camps will be allowed to reopen, with limited capacity of up to 10 people per room for indoor activities and up to 50 people for outdoor activities.
- Enoch Pratt Free Library – beginning on June 15, Pratt library branches will begin offering Sidewalk Service, a contact-free way for customers to pick up books, DVDs, CDs, and other library materials. Retail outlets – non-essential retailers can provide curbside and delivery service.
- Construction sites – construction sites can reopen with appropriate safeguards in place.
- Hotels and accommodations – hotels and accommodations can reopen with appropriate safeguards in place.
Many have questioned the city's lag in entering into Phase 2. Health officials maintain until COVID-19 numbers decrease the city will move forward accordingly.
"We maintained the stay-at-home order after Gov. Hogan had lifted it back on May 13, so we think it would be reckless to jump in to phase two when we haven't fully been in phase one," said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa. "We'd like to be in phase one, we'd like to be able to review the data as we begin to open more things up and understand if we're going to see trends. It's also possible we could see spikes with the protest, so we want to be able to monitor the data closely, safely and turn to phase one before we move onto phase two."
