BALTIMORE (AP) - A judge in Baltimore has ruled to uphold the city’s dining ban, saying while restaurants have faced “irreparable harm” during the COVID-19 shutdowns, the issue was a “matter of life and death.”
Baltimore Circuit Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill made those remarks Thursday afternoon after denying a request by the Restaurant Association of Maryland for a temporary restraining order to reopen indoor and outdoor dining, news outlets reported.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott praised the ruling, saying in a statement that it was “fundamentally about the health and safety of Baltimoreans.”
“While we are all anxious to get back to a sense of normalcy, we must continue to take precautions until the data determines it is safe to reopen,” Scott said. “The actions we take today help protect the ones we love and avoid another shutdown like this in the future.”
The ban went into effect in early December. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has limited restaurants statewide to 50% of their capacity for indoor dining, but local governments can impose stricter measures.
Restaurants in Baltimore continue to be open for takeout and delivery, but the measure has been controversial, drawing pushback from the trade group and restaurant owners.
One of those owners, Ashish Alfred, said during the hearing that he has been operating at a loss and has stayed open only to keep his staff employed.
Marshall Weston, Restaurant Association of Maryland’s president and CEO, said in a statement the group was “disappointed in the judge’s ruling.”
In addition to Baltimore, the group had also filed requests to have indoor dining restored in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Judges have denied both requests.
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