COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) – The Restaurant Association of Maryland announced on Friday that it has taken legal action against three jurisdictions in the state with the goal of restoring indoor and outdoor food.
The group’s president and CEO, Marshall Weston, Jr., announced in a press conference Friday morning that it was seeking temporary restraining orders and warrants against Baltimore City and against Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
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The legal action calls for capacity limits set at the same level as those allowed statewide under Governor Larry Hogan’s latest order.
Weston said the latest restrictions targeting restaurants could cause thousands more to close their doors for good.
“Restaurants have continued to operate safely, and there is no evidence linking the spread of COVID in restaurants,” he said. “Relying on the potential for diffusion is not proof, and that it is actually not happening. If restaurants had indeed been a source of COVID, we would have seen significant increases while restaurants were open at 75% capacity, and it didn’t. “
Ending personal dinners and putting employees out of work weeks before the holidays “due to a government mandate” is “extremely unfair,” he added.
Maryland restaurants announce legal action to lift eating restrictions @wjz pic.twitter.com/oRievJnVte
– Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) December 18, 2020
Earlier this month, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced on his first full day of work a number of new restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of indoor and outdoor dining. Those rules came into effect on December 11 at 5 p.m.
On Friday afternoon, Scott said he had just been notified of the legal action, adding that the city’s legal department and attorney are reviewing it.
He defended the stricter order and added the city plans to stick to the four-week period it outlined last week.
“What we were doing was guided by public health science and advice, period,” he said.
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Lawyers representing some of the restaurants said they hope those businesses can dine indoors and out at Christmas.
Lawyers representing restaurants say they hope to end indoor and outdoor dining bans through the courts in a few days – and hope restaurants can be open for Christmas #BREAK @wjz pic.twitter.com/YzwcY82nDo
– Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) December 18, 2020
The announcement comes days after a judge blocked an indoor dining ban in Anne Arundel County hours before it would take effect. The ban was intended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
READ MORE: COVID-19 Latest: Judge Blocks Anne Arundel County Eating Ban, Says Restrictions Are Unfairly Targeting Restaurants
Watch the full press conference below:
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