Fairfax County stays in Phase 1 of reopening plan, as Virginia moves to Phase 2

Personal grooming businesses, such as Heidi’s Nails in Annandale, were allowed to open by appointment only on May 29.

Northern Virginia will remain in Phase 1, while most of the rest of the state will enter Phase 2 on Friday, June 5. 

Gov. Ralph Northam announced June 2 that the health metrics are on track for most of the state to move to the next level on the Forward Virginia plan to ease public health restrictions while containing the spread of COVID-19. 

Northam also amended Executive Order 61, which directs Northern Virginia and the city of Richmond to remain in Phase 1.

Phase 1, which took effect in Fairfax County May 29, allows restaurants to open for outdoor dining and gyms to hold outdoor classes. Non-essential business, personal grooming establishments, campgrounds, and certain other facilities can open under restrictions. 

Executive Oder 65, signed by Northam June 2, details what can happen in Phase 2: 

• The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase from 10 to 50 people. 
• Restaurant and beverage establishments may offer indoor dining at 50 percent occupancy.
• Fitness centers may open indoor areas at 30 percent occupancy.
• Certain recreation and entertainment venues without shared equipment may open with restrictions. This includes museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and outdoor concert, sporting, and performing arts venues. 
• Swimming pools can expand their operations to both indoor and outdoor exercise, diving, and swim instruction.
• The current guidelines for religious services, non-essential retail, and personal grooming services will largely remain the same in Phase 2. 
• Overnight summer camps, most indoor entertainment venues, amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals will remain closed in Phase 2.
• The commonwealth will maintain a “safer at home” strategy with continued recommendations for social distancing, teleworking, and requiring individuals to wear face coverings in indoor public settings. 
• All businesses should still adhere to physical distancing guidelines, frequently clean and sanitize high-contact surfaces, and continue enhanced workplace safety measures. 

According to Northam, all areas of the commonwealth, except for Northern Virginia and Richmond, can enter Phase 2 because “key statewide health metrics continue to show positive signs.”

Virginia’s hospital bed capacity remains stable, the percentage of people hospitalized with a positive or pending COVID-19 test is trending downward, no hospitals are reporting PPE shortages, and the percent of positive tests continues to trend downward as testing increases.