A judge upheld Montgomery County, Maryland’s ban on indoor dining Wednesday evening. Another hearing will be held in 10 days. Thirty-three restaurants sued to stop County Executive Marc Elrich’s executive order banning indoor dining, saying outdoor and carryout dining only bring in about 25% of the revenue they need. Witnesses testified that 800 restaurants, 45% of Montgomery County’s restaurants, could… coronavirus Dec 24, 2020
Restaurants are suing to stop Montgomery County s ban on indoor dining. News4 s Chris Gordon reports.
Thirty-three restaurants sued to stop County Executive Marc Elrich’s executive order banning indoor dining, saying outdoor and carryout dining only bring in about 25% of the revenue they need.
The attorney for the restaurants says the indoor dining ban causes “irreparable harm … a certain death knell to the restaurant industry.”
Montgomery County lawyers argued Elrich issued the executive order and the county council approved it and a temporary restraining order “would undermine steps to protect residents of Montgomery County. It would put countless people at risk of infection and death.”
Virginia reports record number of coronavirus cases for second day in a row Julie Zauzmer, Lola Fadulu, Rebecca Tan The state of Virginia reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases of any day in the nine-month pandemic on Christmas Eve, as local officials and business owners across the region debated the legality of increasingly stringent measures meant to contain the highly contagious virus. On Thursday, 4,782 coronavirus cases were reported in Virginia, breaking a record set only the day before. Virginia had never recorded more than 4,000 cases in a single day until December. So far this month, it has happened five times.
424 new confirmed cases reported in county Wednesday Bethesda Beat Staff Report |
Chart by Karilyn Mason
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Montgomery County has had 11 weeks in which the average number of new cases per day has been at least 200.
The curve rose in April and May, dropped throughout the summer and crept back up in the fall. The figures began to spike in November and December.
The last three weeks have had the highest weekly averages for daily cases during the entire health crisis:
• Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 – an average of 393 new cases per day
• Dec. 6 to 12 – 468
• Dec. 13 to 19 – 382
Dr. Travis Gayles, the county’s health officer, said during a media briefing on Tuesday that he hopes the curve won’t bend back up after the holidays, much like it did after Thanksgiving.
Montgomery County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Dr. Earl Stoddard. Via Montgomery County Flickr.
Montgomery County has received 61 requests from retail stores asking for approval to allow more than 150 customers, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Dr. Earl Stoddard said at a media briefing Tuesday.
In the county, retail capacity is limited to one person per 200 square feet. Large retail stores that want to allow more than 150 customers are required to have a letter of approval beginning Wednesday at 5 p.m. Requests for approval had to be submitted by 5 p.m. Monday. Businesses were required to explain how they will enforce coronavirus safety measures and how they are planning to moderate the number of people in their facilities.