HoCo Restaurants, Bars Can Offer Dine-In Services Past 10 P.M.

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Starting Monday, Howard County bars and restaurants can offer dine-in services after 10 p.m. This move abides by Gov. Larry Hogan's directive to lift the current restaurant curfew effective Feb. 1. According to Howard County officials, the county's positivity rate currently hovers at 5.75 percent and has been declining for the past 10 days from a peak of 8 percent on Jan. 11. The current case rate of 30.8 per 100,000 people has also declined from a peak of 48.7 on January 11.

“Howard County restaurants have been working incredibly hard during this pandemic to keep their employees and customers safe,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement. “With encouraging data and continued vigilance from our residents, businesses, and region, we can provide this small relief. We must not grow weary though – if we want to keep our data trending in the right direction, we have to continue to be cautious and safe.”

On Thursday, the governor issued an emergency order declaring the changes. The restrictions were implemented Nov. 17 as coronavirus cases spiked in Maryland. The statewide order for 50 percent indoor capacity at restaurants will remain in place.

Lifting this restriction comes at the tail end of Howard County Restaurant Weeks and Craft Beverages that runs through Jan. 31. Participating restaurants are offering a combination of curbside pickup, delivery or limited dine-in.

Several restaurants are participating for the first time ever including Beef Brothers, Bushel and a Peck Kitchen & Bar, Koshary by Misteka, Neo Pizza, Rathskeller, Spurrier's Restaurant & Bar, Tasty Empanadas, The Periodic Table, Walker's Tap & Table and Xenia Greek Kouzina.
Howard County's first distillery, Lost Ark Distilling Company, is sponsoring Howard County Restaurant Weeks & Craft Beverages by providing its locally made hand and surface sanitizing spray to participating restaurants.

Visit visithowardcounty.com/howard-county-restaurant-weeks for a full list of participating restaurants.