With coronavirus outbreaks on the rise, Montgomery County moved forward this week to tighten restrictions on the number of people permitted to gather at local businesses. That means stores, restaurants and fitness centers must not admit additional guests once they have reached 25 percent capacity — down from the 50 percent that was allowed these past few months. In addition, restaurants now have to cut off alcohol sales at 10 p.m. — and pick up any drinks that remain unconsumed when the witching hour arrives. And one last thing: Restaurants are required to start collecting the names and numbers of all their customers, both indoors and outdoors, to facilitate contact-tracing if an outbreak should occur.
