COVID-19 Resources

We understand that the health of Maryland’s value-added agriculture, craft manufacturing and tourism industries, their businesses and customers are of top concern to our clients and members. Below are some helpful resources to consider related to your business. Check back regularly.

Latest Restrictions & News

• 8/5/21:
  • Prince George’s County institutes indoor mask mandate effective 8pm August 8, with exceptions while consuming food/drinks.
• 8/4/21:
  • Baltimore City institutes indoor mask mandate as of 9am August 9, with exceptions while consuming food/drinks.
  • Montgomery County institutes indoor mask mandate as of 12:01am August 6, with exceptions while consuming food/drinks and for speakers/performers when social distancing is in effect.
  • Anne Arundel County institutes indoor mask mandate for county buildings beginning August 5.

Reopening Maryland

• 3/17/21 Update:
  • Baltimore City announces loosening of restrictions on 3/26 at 6:00am.
    • Foodservice Establishments: Outdoor dining can resume at 75% capacity. If space is tented, the tent needs to be open on all sides. Indoor dining can resume at 50% capacity. Bars without food licenses are also allowed to operate: 75% outdoors, 50% indoors. All food service establishments must continue to keep a log of contact information for patrons and staff for contact tracing purposes.
• 3/12/21 Updates:
  • The following counties will continue with their own tighter restrictions:
    • Baltimore City
    • Montgomery County: Council voting on revised limits today at 1:30pm
    • Prince George’s County: increase to 50% capacity
• 3/9/21 Update (it’s a big one!):
  • Governor Larry Hogan announced lifting of restrictions on numerous businesses. Effective this Friday (3/12) at 5:00 pm:
    • Capacity restrictions will be lifted on outdoor and indoor dining; however, diners must be seated and social distancing requirements are in effect.
    • Large outdoor and indoor venues may operate at 50% capacity, including conference and wedding venues, concert venues, conventions, theaters, racing facilities and sporting venues.
    • Masking and social distancing orders are still in effect.
  • While previous Executive Orders from the Governor authorized local governments to impose additional restrictions on occupancy and closures, this new Executive Order substantially reduces local government authority. Moving forward, local government controls will be limited to authority contained in local statutes and regulations, newly enacted laws or determinations that individual businesses are operating in an unsafe manner.
  • You can find the most recent executive order on restrictions HERE

• COVID Vaccine Letter Template [.doc]
• 2/17/21 Update:
  • Baltimore City Executive Order. Effective Monday, Feb 22 at 6:00am:
    • Indoor Gatherings cap of 10 people lifted – must adhere to occupancy limitations of space
    • Outdoor Gatherings cap of 25 people lifted – must adhere to occupancy limitations of space
    • Restaurants, bars, and breweries – one-hour max for patrons lifted
    • Restaurants, bars, and breweries – indoor capacity remains at 25% of maximum occupancy
    • Restaurants, bars, and breweries – outdoor capacity still at 50% of maximum occupancy
    • Restaurants, bars, and breweries – Sign in sheets still required for contact tracing efforts
    • Live performances – permitted, performers must wear masks
• 2/9/21 Update:
  • Montgomery County Council voted today to pass an an Executive Order that will lift the indoor dining ban, beginning at 7am, with certain restrictions in place. Restrictions include:
    • • limiting indoor dining to 25% capacity
      • prohibiting serving alcohol after 10 pm, meaning restaurants must:
        • ensure that all alcoholic beverages are off all tables and collected from
          customers by 10 pm, and
        • suspend the sale or provision of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption
          after 10 pm
        • imposing a 90-minute time limit for diners
• 1/28/21 Update:
  • Anne Arundel County executive order regarding the increased indoor dining capacity to 50% beginning Friday, January 29 at 12 noon.
    • Indoor dining capacity will be increased to 50% of maximum occupancy
    • Outdoor dining is permitted provided 50% of the tent sides remain up
    • Foodservice Establishments located in food courts in indoor shopping malls may open
  • Prince George’s County executive order regarding the reopening of indoor dining at 25% capacity with certain modifications, beginning Friday, January 29th at 12 PM.
    • Outdoor dining remains at 50% capacity.
    • Indoor dining permissible at 1 person/household per 200 square feet, or 25% maximum capacity, whichever is lower
    • Tables must be seated at least six feet away from each other, except for households seated together
    • Groups larger than six persons may not be seated together, except members of the same household
    • Must maintain a daily record of all patrons for at least 30 days to assist with contact tracing
    • Signage must be posted at each entrance advising customers and visitors that:
      • Compliance with face coverings rules are mandatory at all times when not eating or drinking
      • Patrons must maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet apart when waiting to be seated or while seated at the bar
    • All employees must receive health screenings prior to their shifts
    • No food service in a buffet format
    • Requiring single-use disposable paper menus, or that reusable menus must be sanitized between each seatin
• 1/21/21 Update:
  • Baltimore City executive order regarding the reopening of restaurants for indoor and outdoor seating as of 6am on Friday, January 22.
    • Indoor dining is limited to 25% capacity, with a 1-hour maximum time limit
    • Outdoor dining is limited to 50% capacity, also with a 1-hour maximum time limit
    • Outdoor dining spaces must be open on all sides, no fully enclosed structures permitted
    • Both indoor and outdoor dining will require restaurants/bars to maintain a sign in/out log of all seated patrons to assist with contact tracing and time limitations
    • The restrictions/modifications listed above will remain in place as such for FOUR WEEKS
  • Additionally, the Baltimore City Outdoor Dining and Street Closure Program, through the Baltimore Civic Fund, has reopened and is now accepting applications for reimbursements of up to $800 for city and state fees associated with outdoor dining service. Apply now HERE.
• 12/17/20: Greg Parnas of DC Beverage Law Group hosted a meeting discussing Safety, Closures, & the Law which covered your responsibilities with regard to reacting to COVID-19 positive employees at your business. (Presentation slides can be found here.)
• 12/11/20 Updates:
  • Anne Arundel County executive order: indoor dining allowed at 25% capacity, and outdoor dining not to exceed 75% of the establishment’s indoor maximum capacity. All foodservice establishments must close to the public at 10pm daily, except for carryout, delivery or drive-through service.
  • Baltimore City executive order: prohibits indoor and outdoor dining, effective 12/11 at 5pm. City businesses may continue to provide carryout, delivery and drive-through service.
  • Montgomery County executive order: pending County Council approval, a new local executive order will prohibit indoor dining, effective 12/15 at 5pm. Outdoor dining, carryout, delivery and through service may continue. The County Council will vote on this order on 12/15.
  • Prince George’s County executive order: prohibits indoor dining, effective 12/16 at 5pm. Outdoor dining (at 50% capacity), carryout, delivery and drive-through service may continue. The new restrictions will remain in place until January 16, 2021.
  • Frederick County: remains unchanged for our industries at this time.
• 11/10/20: Governor Hogan’s executive order: reduces restaurant/bar capacity to 50%; reminds us to “wear the damn mask”
  • Baltimore City executive order; reducing restaurant capacity to 25%, closing bars w/o moderate food facility license for indoor service.
  • Montgomery County executive order: reduces indoor capacity to 25%, service ends at 10pm unless for good behavior.
  • Anne Arundel County executive order: Indoor capacity to 25%, outdoor to 75% of indoor capacity, alcohol sales end at 10pm.
  • Frederick County order: 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is less—both indoor and outdoor for EVENTS. Applies 5pm Nov. 13 to bars; nightclubs; breweries; distilleries; wine tasting rooms; event venues including but not limited to civic service clubs, private clubs, indoor agro-tourism enterprise activities; fairgrounds; farm-based alcoholic beverage tasting rooms; farm brewery tasting rooms; rodeos; auction houses; and social and private gatherings. Applies to weddings as of November 30. No change to regular service.
  • Slides from G&F 11/10/20 Zoom
• 10/22/20: Governor Hogan announces $250 million in new relief emergency grants
• 9/18/20: Governor Hogan Executive Order to Increase Indoor Capacity to 75%. Effective 5:00pm 9/21/20.
• 9/1/20: Reopening of Retail (75% capacity) and Entertainment Venues (limited capacity), Restaurants/Bars/Alcohol producers are still at 50% indoor capacity.
• 7/7/20: MD Department of Health COVID-19 Food Safety FAQs
• 6/11/20: Gov. Hogan releases new Executive Order to authorize the suspension of local licensing board alcoholic beverage license fees
• 6/10/20: Cultivate & Craft Maryland Craft Beverage Reopening Phase 2.5 Presentation [PDF] / Video of Town Hall [mp4]
• 6/10/20: Gov. Hogan releases new Executive Order regarding allowing the reopening of certain businesses and facilities
• *6/10/20: Maryland Department of Health Directive and Order Regarding Food Service Establishments
• Restaurant and Bar Guidelines (updated 5/27/20)
• Reopening FAQs
• 5/27/20: Cultivate & Craft Town Hall [Video mp4]
• 5/27/20: Cultivate & Craft Maryland Craft Beverage Reopening Phase 1.5 Presentation [PDF]
• 5/27/20: Gov. Hogan releases Allowing Reopening of Certain Businesses and Facilities, Subject to Local Regulation
• 5/13/20: Cultivate & Craft Maryland Craft Beverage Reopening Phase 1 Presentation [PDF]
• 5/13/20: Industry Town Hall [Video mp4]
• Maryland’s Back to Business Guidance & Docs
  • Restaurants and Bars Best Practices [PDF] (updated 6/12/20)
  • Business Best Practices [PDF]
  • Manufacturing Best Practices [PDF]
  • Retail Best Practices [PDF]
  • Back to Business Pledge [PDF]
  • ** NEW ** Social Gathering Limits [PDF]
• 5/13/20: Read the Governor’s amended Stay at Home order (20-05-13-01)
• 5/13/20: Read the Office of Legal Counsel Interpretive Guidance
• 5/8/20: Industry Town Hall [Video mp4]
• 5/8/20: Cultivate & Craft Maryland Craft Beverage Reopening Presentation [PDF]

Direct-to-Consumer Shipping – Beer, Wine & Spirits

• Gov. Hogan’s executive order allowing DTC of beer and spirits
• State of Maryland/Comptroller’s Bulletin – rules and regulations
• Cultivate & Craft Direct Shipping Town Hall [Video mp4]

Reopening Resources

• Maryland SBDC Post-COVID Business Survival Guide (updated 7/7/20)
• CDC Guidance:
  • General Reopening Guidelines
  • Guidance re: Cleaning & Disinfecting 
  • Restaurants & Bars
• Maryland Guidance: Open.Maryland.Gov/backtobusiness
• How can your business make sure it’s ready to receive its workforce? The Safe Six: Workplace Readiness Essentials
• National association guidance
  • National Restaurant Association COVID-19 Reopening Guidance
  • The Wine Institute Tasting Room Guidance
  • National Restaurant Association ServSafe Training Videos: Takeout, Delivery, Reopening Guidelines
• The AIHA has started this website to help guide and assist a variety of core industries get back open with appropriate health and sanitary guidance.
• HMK Insurance PPE & COVID-19 Webinar from 5/12. The webinar focused on the current state of the workplace and required changes that must be implemented.
• Cornell University Best Management Practices for Craft Beverage Tastings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Businesses should produce materials describing their specific guidelines for staff and patrons. General guidelines have been compiled and may be printed or shared for members and consumers of:
  • Brewers Association of Maryland
  • Maryland Distillers Guild
  • Maryland Wineries Association
• Restaurant Association of Maryland County by County List of Outdoor Seating Requirements

Current Restrictions

• Link to Governor’s Executive Orders & Interpretations
• Governor Hogan has issued a “stay at home’ order for all citizens and non-essential workers.
• Large gatherings and events must be canceled or postponed until after termination of the state of emergency in the proclamation of the catastrophic health emergency has been rescinded.
• Restaurants, bars, and other similar establishments that sell food or beverages for consumption on premises in Maryland are still limited to the general public. Food and beverages can still be made available for:
  • Curbside Pickup: Sold if such food or beverages are probably taken from the premises, such as via carry out or on a drive-through basis; and;
  • Delivered to customers off the premises (allowed for all alcohol manufacturers in the state).**** For curbside pickup and consumer delivery management, consider using the biermi platform. This platform is free to use and streamlines order management and processing. ****
    • Video information (here)
    • Website (here)
• All alcohol manufacturers may continue to operate production and sales to-go and for delivery;
  • Alcohol retailers and restaurants may continue to sell to-go and via delivery.

A huge thank you to all of the local, state and national organizations who have produced and provided  these resources!