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Council to meet virtually on March 19 at 1 p.m. to introduce, conduct a public hearing and vote on Board of Health regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the County and provide updated guidance for sports

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 18, 2021

The Council will meet virtually Friday, March 19 at 1 p.m. to review, hold a public hearing and vote on an amended Board of Health regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the County. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html. The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council agendas can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

First Amended Board of Health Regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the County

The Council, sitting as the Board of Health, is scheduled to review, hold a public hearing and vote on an amended Board of Health regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the County.   The new regulation provides updated guidance for sports. If approved by the Council, the Board of Health regulation would be effective March 19 at 5 p.m.

The new regulation would update the guidance for sports. All organized sports played indoors or outdoors would need to obtain a COVID Protocol Plan approved by the Health Officer or the Health Officer’s designee. The plan would need to have the following:

  • contact tracing with an attendance tracking sheet that must be completed for all activities conducted;
  • require that face coverings be worn per guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics;
  • social distancing with at least six feet between all participants to the extent possible; and
  • require the use of a student attestation form or COVID-19 athlete or coach monitoring form at all activities conducted.

An organized youth sports league that was approved to operate under a prior Board of Health regulation and was not classified as a high-risk sport would not need a new COVID Protocol Plan approved for any event that complies with the gathering limits and restrictions of the prior approval.

Sports played outside of an organized league would have to follow social gathering guidelines (50 people maximum for outdoor sports and 25 people maximum for indoor sports). In addition, all persons must also use a face covering whenever social distancing is not possible.

The First Amended Board of Health regulation and the Council staff report can be viewed here.

On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

Release ID: 21-110
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931