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Prince George's County will move to Phase 2 of reopening Monday

Restaurants will now have limited indoor service, nail salons are now open with a cap, and houses of worship can operate with a 25 percent capacity.

LARGO, Md. — Prince George’s County will move to Phase 2 of reopening starting Monday, June 15, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said during a news conference on Thursday.

County leaders said the decision to move forward is due to the improvement of metrics and data in the county. Rates of death continue to drop, coronavirus positivity cases made a 27% drop since last week, and there is a steady decrease in hospitalizations, leaders said.

Here's what phase two of reopening will look like starting June 15:

  • Retail stores: In-store service is available with a 50% capacity and a safeguard of only five people per 100 square feet.
  • Barbershops and hair salons: Are open with a 50% capacity and use of PPE. This includes face masks and gloves for all employees.
    • Customers must also wear masks, and shops must have appropriate floor markings to create adequate social distancing. 
    • All CDC guidelines for cleaning high use surfaces must also be followed.
  • Nail salons and spas: Can reopen with a safeguard of one customer per 200 square feet. Social distancing must be followed and the use of PPE.
  • Restaurants: Indoor and outside seating is permitted at a 50% capacity. No more than six people can be at a table and no more than 50 people can be inside the restaurant regardless of space.
    • Employees must receive health screenings prior to their shifts, and all CDC guidelines must be adhered to. Additionally, all employees must wear face coverings, and restaurants must have hand sanitizer and appropriate hand washing facilities available. 
  • House of worship: Can open for gatherings of 25% capacity or less with social distancing. Otherwise, they must maintain online services only.
  • Childcare services: Open to essential employees and those returning to work.
  • Youth sports: Can resume, but must be nine children to one coach in an outside setting.
  • Outdoor pools: Can operate and open at 25 percent capacity or less with social distancing. No indoor pools will be open.
  • Gyms and fitness centers: Remain closed.
  • Parks: Open to fitness, fitness classes, and low impact sports.
  • Government workers: A limited number of employees can return to work. Officials still encourage employees to telework.

For more information on Phase 2 of reopening in Prince George's County, click here.

Alsobrooks encourages anyone who attended the protests to get tested for the coronavirus. You can call the  Prince George's County coronavirus hotline to set up an appointment at 301-883-6627. Residents are asked to continue social distancing, even in the midst of reopenings.

RELATED: Maryland nonessential businesses can reopen Friday under Stage 2

On June 4, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said the county would remain in a modified Phase 1, despite Gov. Larry Hogan's statewide move to Phase 2.

Prince George’s County has experienced some of the highest infection, hospitalization, and death rates in the state since the COVID-19 pandemic began, which requires the county to take a targeted and measured approach to reopen, officials said on June 4.

The decision would be made in consultation with the county's chief health officer who continues to monitor the county’s health data, including continued downward trends in the number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations.

“We are encouraged by the trends we are seeing in our data since announcing our modified phase one reopening, but we must remain vigilant," Alsobrooks said. "While I am eager to continue reopening our county, we must do so in a safe, smart and responsible manner that is data-driven. If we continue to see the declines we are currently experiencing, we could move to a modified phase two by June 15."

Phase one of reopening:

  • Retail stores are open with curbside pickup only.
  • Manufacturing is open with appropriate social distancing, use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on cleaning high contact surfaces. 
    • All employees must be trained on CDC COVID-19 guidance before returning to work.
  • Barbershops and hair salons are open for hair services only and by appointment only, with one customer per 200 square feet and use of PPE. This includes face masks and gloves for all employees. 
    • Customers must also wear masks, and shops must have appropriate floor markings to create adequate social distancing. Employees will not be permitted to have clients waiting in a sitting area. 
    • All CDC guidelines for cleaning high use surfaces must also be followed.
  • Restaurants are open with outside seating only. There can be no more than 6 people seated at a table, tables must be at least six feet apart, and no more than 50 people will be allowed at any outdoor restaurant establishment regardless of space. 
  • Employees must receive health screenings prior to their shifts, and all CDC guidelines must be adhered to. Additionally, all employees must wear face coverings, and restaurants must have hand sanitizer and appropriate hand washing facilities available. 
  • There will soon be a concierge service portal available to restaurant owners that will allow for them to apply for the appropriate expedited licenses, so that they may conduct dining operation outside. Information on how to access that portal will be available soon.
  • Houses of worship can open for gatherings of 10 people or less. Otherwise, they must maintain online services only.
  • Farmer’s markets are open for carryout only, maintaining proper social distancing, mask-wearing, and following CDC guidelines for cleaning high use surfaces.
  • Childcare facilities are to open for essential employees and for employees who are returning to work as part of the modified Phase 1. 
    • In addition to the use of masks and gloves for all employees and having appropriate social distancing and disinfecting in place, they must also have a schedule for staggered drop-offs and pickups, conduct daily symptom checks, and have a strict dismissal policy in the event of positive cases.
  • Car washes are open with automated systems, but drivers and passengers must stay inside of the vehicles at all times. Interior car cleaning is not permitted, but employees may wipe down the outside of the car as long as they wear masks and gloves.

Residents and visitors must wear face coverings inside all businesses and on public transportation, and businesses must continue to enforce social distancing.

RELATED: Coronavirus updates: DMV sees 7-day downward trend in cases, deaths

RELATED: Maryland coronavirus updates: Nonessential businesses can reopen Friday under Stage 2

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