Expanded Reopening Guidance

Updated May 20, 2021

The expanded reopenings are described in the Board of Health Regulation. They are automatically triggered when the Montgomery County Health Officer reports that the vaccination benchmarks have been reached to the Board of Health.

See Vaccination Distribution Dashboard.

If the Montgomery County health officer finds that after reviewing community transmission metrics that continued reopening phases would be contrary to the public health, the health officer must report those concerns to the Board of Health and the continuation to the next phase must be suspended pending a hearing before the Board of Health.

Effective now

  • Most businesses can operate at 75% capacity, including but not limited to
    • arts and entertainment venues
    • hair and nail salons
    • recreation and sports facilities
    • fitness centers
    • houses of workship
    • restaurants and bars
  • Gathering limits
    • indoors: 250 people
    • outdoors: no limit, including sports and camps
  • Camps may allow campers from beyond the Washington metropolitan area
  • Cigar and hookah bars can reopen  outdoor smoking areas.
  • Updated face covering guidance
    • Businesses can set their own rules on masking that are stricter than public health guidance.

Effective May 28, 2021, at 6 a.m. - Complete Reopening