Heather Curtis

WMAL.com

Montgomery County (WMAL) – People in Montgomery County got more long-awaited freedom from COVID-19 restrictions on Monday. The county moved into Phase 2 of reopening Monday afternoon now that 60% of residents have had their first vaccine dose. This means most businesses can open at 75% capacity. It eliminates outdoor gathering limits in many areas and increases gathering limits indoors to 250 people. 

“I’m grateful to all our residents who have allowed us to follow the science and put up with inconveniences to put public health first,” said council president Tom Hucker at a press conference Monday morning.

Fully vaccinated people may be able to go maskless in the county Tuesday. The council sitting as the board of health will hold a public hearing and vote on updated COVID guidance that would lift the mask mandate for fully vaccinated people in line with CDC guidance and the governor’s decision to get rid of the state-mandated mask requirement effective last Saturday. People who are not fully vaccinated would still need to wear masks indoors.

“Because there is no easy way to tell at this point without a mask or with a mask whose vaccinated and who is not in public spaces, each of us is gonna have to make a judgement about how comfortable we are being in public spaces,” said Dr. Raymond Crowel, the director of the county’s department of health and human services.

If the measure is approved, fully vaccinated people could take off their masks in public at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Businesses will still have the option of requiring masks for everyone.

On May 28, businesses in the county will be able to open at 100% capacity with no social distancing required. That is in line with state rules that went into effect last Saturday. The date is when 50% of county residents will attain full immunity.

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