County Issues Heat Emergency Alert for Aug. 11-12

The county’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security issued a Heat Emergency Alert that will begin at noon today, Aug. 11, and continue through 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12. A Heat Emergency Alert, a step above Tuesday’s Hyperthermia Alert, means that the heat index is forecast to be 105° F or higher.

County Council Votes to Reinstate Indoor Mask Mandate

The County Council, sitting as the Board of Health, yesterday voted unanimously to reinstate a mandate requiring all residents, regardless of vaccination status to wear masks indoors. The vote followed recommendations from County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles to take the action.

County Now Fully Reopened as of 6 a.m. Today

Montgomery County is now fully reopened, with all local health orders and their restrictions lifted as of 6 a.m. this morning. There are no longer any county pandemic-related limits on capacity or distancing, though residents are still subject to certain requirements from the state.

60% of Residents Receive At Least One Dose of Vaccine, Triggering Next Phase of Reopening

Dr. Travis Gayles officially informed the County Council yesterday that the county had reached the mark of 60% of the population with a least one dose of vaccine, triggering the second phase of reopening the county. The County Council will today consider and vote on a Sixth Amended Board of Health Regulation to formalize the changes in pandemic restrictions.