Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is allowing some outdoor dining after announcing last week that it would be entirely prohibited starting Wednesday.
County Executive Steuart Pittman said the decision to change the restrictions came after several discussions with businesses, stakeholders and health officials since the announcement last week.
Originally, restaurants would be limited to offering takeout, delivery or curbside pickup, only during the four-week period when the increased restrictions would be enforced.
Under the modified executive order, restaurants can offer outdoor dining provided that no more than 50% of tent sides are down. Indoor dining would still be prohibited under the order.
On Tuesday, four restaurant owners in Maryland asked a circuit court judge to block the county’s ban on indoor dining, saying Pittman did not have the authority to close restaurants.
鈥淧oliticians are picking and choosing and destroying people鈥檚 livelihoods,鈥� said Anthony Piera, whose family runs Mike鈥檚 Bar and Crab House in Riva. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just terrible.鈥�
The judge supported the owners’ filing and granted an extension on indoor dining for 12 days, meaning restaurants can continue to serve food indoors at 25% capacity and outdoors at 50% capacity until Dec. 28, .
Before the judge issued a temporary injunction on the indoor dining ban, Piera told 海角精品黑料 he was prepared to furlough half of his workforce when the restriction was supposed to take effect.
Piera said his business was up 15% until the pandemic hit, and has since dropped below 40%.
And while outdoor dining can continue through December, Piera was not pleased with the modified executive order that set limits on outdoor dining.
鈥淵ou could seat outside, but you have to have two sides open on the tent? It鈥檚 snowing,鈥澛� Piera said.
Jim Hamrock, who runs Allison鈥檚 Restaurant in Crofton, offered a different take. He believes establishments which were playing by the rules, including his, are paying the price for those who haven鈥檛.
Hamrock also said it鈥檚 possible to keep restaurants open, despite the health guidelines.
鈥淲hen my wife and I go to [the] store, we wear masks,鈥� Hammock said. 鈥淲hen we go to other businesses, we wear masks. It seems like everybody鈥檚 doing that and things are OK if everyone does that.鈥�
An additional hearing is scheduled for Dec. 28 to further consider the restrictions.
County Executive Pittman said he was “disappointed” in the judge’s ruling.
The executive order went into effect 5 p.m. Wednesday and is scheduled to last until Jan. 14 at 8 a.m.
Read the fully updated executive order with the added restrictions.
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