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Several Fells Point Restaurants Will Not Open For Indoor Dining; Cite COVID-19 Concerns

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore Mayor Jack Young said Thursday restaurants in the city could resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity starting 5 p.m. Friday.

Several restaurants in Fells Point, however, said they will not resume indoor dining, citing concerns over COVID-19.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

The restaurants said in a statement:

"After a review of available public health data and discussions among our respective staffs, we have determined that it is neither in the best interest of our employees nor our customers to partially open our indoor dining areas. We have concerns that opening indoors at this time could further contribute to the spread of COVID-19."

The restaurants who will voluntarily be refraining from opening indoor dining rooms include:

  • The Admirals Cup
  • Max's Taphouse
  • Kooper's Tavern
  • Slainte Irish Pub and Restaurant
  • Woody's Cantina
  • Thames Street Oyster House
  • DogWatch Tavern
  • Wharf Rat
  • The Point
  • Bertha's
  • Duck Duck Goose
  • Pie in the Sky
  • Abbey Burger

The restaurants said they will continue to monitor the situation and may choose to proceed with indoor dining in the future.

Mayor Young issued the new order allowing indoor dining to resume at 25 percent capacity Friday night after shutting it down for two weeks.

That order lowered the cap on large gatherings to 25 people and reduced the capacity for other businesses like retail and casinos to 25 percent. Religious facilities are also capped at 25 percent.

Restaurants have to close indoor dining at 10 p.m.

Baltimore's health commissioner said reopenings are a balancing act.

"In recent weeks, Baltimore has been identified by the White House Coronavirus Task Force as an emerging hotspot. Community transmission is widespread and too many of our young people are not heating the advice of public health professionals," said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa.

 

Several hours earlier, she told CNN she personally would not feel comfortable eating inside of a restaurant but urged people to support them by ordering carry out and delivery items.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

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