Prince George’s County is lifting coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses today, more than a year after the pandemic led to limits on customers inside shops and restaurants on the Route 1 corridor.

Starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 17, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced all indoor and outdoor venues can resume business as normal, bringing the county into alignment with the rest of Maryland.

One exception: The county will still require masks in all indoor venues, on public transportation, and crowded outdoor venues such as concert venues and various sporting events, despite the new CDC recommendations.

A state mandate was scaled back to only require masks on public transportation or when a business decided on its own to impose a requirement.

“Our County Health Department will consider future changes to mask requirements based on key COVID-19 metrics and vaccination rates among County residents,” Alsobrooks wrote in a statement.

Although Prince George’s had some of the highest coronavirus rates during the pandemic, vaccinations have reduced the number of cases and hospitalizations have dropped significantly.

Sections of the Route 1 corridor that are in D.C. will have to wait until Friday, when the District will lift restrictions on restaurants, libraries, museums and other venues, though nightclubs and sports facilities will be open at half capacity until June 11.

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