Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced on June 3 that churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship can increase current limits on attendance beginning Friday, June 5, at 5:00pm. Individual worshippers or families may attend services at six-foot distancing and with masks, if they do not exceed Governor Larry Hogan’s 50% occupancy limit as required by state executive order.
The announcement comes after Pittman’s consultation with health officials, his recovery workgroup, and more than 60 county faith leaders.
Pittman signed Executive Order No. 23 on June 3 to implement this policy effective Friday at 5:00pm.
“Nobody cares more about the health and safety of worshippers than their own leaders,” Pittman said. “The Center for Disease Control has been very cautious about indoor worship, and I have been as well. What I learned last Thursday in a Zoom call with 60 pastors, rabbis and imams is that they will do this responsibly, and are eager to have guidelines that protect their congregations.”
The reopening of houses of worship comes after Anne Arundel County Department of Health metrics show progress on hospital capacity, PPE, testing and other public health measures on their reopening dashboard.
Details of the houses of worship reopening policy are available in guidance on the county’s road to recovery webpage, and include:
Outdoor services are also permitted, under certain guidelines:
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