Businesses across much of Maryland and Virginia will enter the second stage of reopening Friday, nearly three months after the start of a shutdown brought on by COVID-19. Earlier this week, Govs. Larry Hogan and Ralph Northam each announced the progression in reopening after both states showed declining positivity rates (the percentage of people with positive results of those tested), as well as improvement in other key metrics.

In Maryland, where the new phase begins at 5 p.m. Friday, nonessential businesses such as car dealerships, banks, nail salons, and tattoo parlors can reopen. Restaurants may continue seating patrons outdoors but are prohibited from opening dining rooms.

Phase Two guidelines in Virginia allow eateries to reopen dining rooms at 50% capacity. Gyms, pools, and outdoor sports venues can also reopen with occupancy restrictions.

Not all of the region is heading into Phase Two. Richmond and Northern Virginia will remain under Phase 1 guidelines while health data from those areas continues to be tracked. Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, which have the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Maryland, also will remain in Phase 1, which they both entered Monday. In the District, which moved into its Phase 1 on May 29, officials are expected to outline metrics for moving into Phase 2 this week.

As businesses in both states move into this new phase, owners are striving to meet health and safety guidelines, while continuing to replenish their revenue streams.

Glenna Cush launched the Boutique by ShimmySista, a purveyor of “curve-conscious clothing,” in Columbia, Maryland in late 2016. The brick-and-mortar shop was the next step in the evolution of her business, which started as a source for belly-dancing clothing Cush sold at events. When the shutdown began, she immediately had to pivot to online sales.

“We had to really scramble and put the items on mannequins and get e-commerce, and get all those things going so that we could transition somewhat to still be able to make some revenue,” Cush says.

Trying to quickly “flip the switch” from in-store sales to online-only caused a 50-60% drop in sales, Cush says.

“With any kind of business model, you’ve got to have some ramp-up time,” Cush says. “I was going from customers who were used to coming in on a regular basis to shop, to now trying to draw customers who are more online shoppers.”

On Saturday, Cush will welcome customers back to the store for the first time in months. Unlike the rest of the state, Howard County only allowed for curbside pickup and delivery in its first stage of reopening.

Cush is providing her staff with masks, gloves, and sanitizing wipes, and will not allow her store to surpass 50% occupancy. Though she says some of her customers have expressed enthusiasm about returning, she says it will still be a while before the business is back to its prior level of revenue.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, because even though they’re opening back the stores, there are still people who are fearful,” Cush says. “There’s still no guarantee people are going to come out.”

Luigi Castiglia launched Castiglia’s Italian Restaurant two decades ago in Fredericksburg. In the first weeks of the shutdown, he laid off half his staff.

“We had to jump through hoops to figure out how to stay afloat,” Castiglia says.

While in Phase One, Castiglia has been able to seat patrons on the restaurant’s patio and rooftop deck, as well as bring back most of his workers. Staff members are now setting up tables as they prepare to open their dining room at half-capacity on Friday. But Castiglia voices frustration at ongoing restrictions for eateries to which some other businesses aren’t subject.

“What makes you think the virus only gets spread in a restaurant?” he says.

Siggi Jamison owns Siggi’s Men’s Grooming Place, a full-service hair salon in Warrenton. While her business was permitted to open May 15 with restrictions at the start of Phase One, it’s been an adjustment. Staff wear masks, chairs are spaced 10 feet apart (exceeding the required 6), surfaces are frequently disinfected, and patrons may be seen by appointment only.

In Virginia’s Phase Two, salons are allowed to increase the rate of appointments from one to two at a time and Jamison says hopes that will move the daily flow of patrons faster. But she’s waiting to see what happens as we enter the heat of the summer, which she says she hopes will slow the virus, and move the region from one phase to the next.

“When this all is lifted and people can just come in, and we can go without our face masks, then we’re [getting] more normal,” Jamison says. “But that part — I don’t know when the next phase is coming.”