Gov. Northam announces more restrictions in face of COVID-19 emergency

Metro ridership is way down, as WMATA announces more service cuts. [WTOP]

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced more restrictions March 23 aimed at flattening the curve of new coronavirus cases.

All schools statewide will remain closed at least through the end of the academic year. Gatherings of 10 people or more are banned.

Northam signed an executive order, to take effect midnight on March. 24, setting new rules for businesses:

• Restaurants will no longer be allowed to open for in-person dining; they can only offer carryout, delivery, and curbside pickup. 
• All entertainment and recreational establishments, such as theaters and bowling alleys, must close. 
• All personal service businesses, such as barber shops and massage parlors, must close. 
• Essential retail stores (such as grocery stores, banks, and pharmacies) can remain open
• “Non-essential stores” can remain open if they limit capacity to 10 people (not counting staff) and increase sanitization measures. ABC stores remain open. 

These rules will be in effect for at least 30 days. It’s up to police departments to enforce them.

“We are moving into period of sacrifice,” Northam said. “There is no playbook for this.”

In other coronavirus news:

Metro cutbacks – Metro has announced further cutbacks and encourages the public to avoid getting on a bus or a train unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Metrorail is operating every 20 minutes, except for the Red line, which is operating every 15 minutes. The Smithsonian and Arlington Cemetery stations “will remain closed until further notice to keep non-essential cherry blossom travel off the rail system at this time of national emergency,” Metro states.

Beginning March 24, all Metrobus customers will enter and exit the bus using the rear doors only, except customers who require use of a wheelchair ramp, which remains available at the front door. Metro is temporarily suspending fare collection on Metrobus, because all farebox and SmarTrip equipment is located at the front door.

Metrobuses are running on a modified Sunday schedule. Some routes that provide weekday-only service to essential federal workplaces have been added to the schedule.

Rail ridership was down more than 86 percent and bus ridership was down 85 percent on March 20.

However, because too many people are continuing to use Metrobus, “Metro may consider discontinuing all bus service,” WMATA states. “Simply put: public health concerns take priority over individual transportation needs.” Metro is also considering closing more stations.

“We all need to think of transit service as a limited resource because, right now, it is,” said Metro General Manager Paul Wiedenfeld. “If you are boarding a bus when you could walk, that increases the likelihood of the bus reaching capacity and having to bypass a stop where a doctor might be waiting to get to her shift.”

Fairfax Connector – Beginning March 24, Fairfax Connector customers will be required to enter and exit the buses using the rear doors. Wheelchair uses are exempt. Fare collection is temporary suspended.

Three more deaths – The Virginia Department of Health reported the deaths of three people in the Peninsula region March 22, bringing to six the number of people who died as a result of COVID-19 statewide. All three were females in their 80s who were hospitalized. One was a resident of a long-term care facility. They were from Newport News, Williamsburg, and James City County.

There are 254 COVID-19 cases in Virginia, including 43 in the Fairfax Health District, and 3,697 people have been tested.

Related story: Fairfax County Health Department announces first COVID-19 death

Help NOVA students – Northern Virginia Community College has launched a NOVA COVID-19 Emergency Student Aid Fund to assist students struggling with the personal and economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 60 percent of NOVA’s 85,000 students work full or part-time jobs and many of the most financially vulnerable students face layoffs. Forty-nine percent of NOVA students experienced food insecurity, housing insecurity, or homelessness in the past year.

The fund will provide $500 emergency grants to help students meet their basic needs and complete the semester.

The NOVA Foundation has already committed $250,000 to students and has a fundraising goal of $750,000. Donations can be made here.

Playgrounds closed – The Fairfax County Park Authority has closed playgrounds, skate parks, and restrooms.

AP exams will be online – Traditional face-to-face Advanced Placement exams will not take place, the College Board announced March 20. Instead, students can take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home. The exam schedule will be published on April 3. The College Board is also providing free AP review lessons.

Fairfax County Public Schools urges students to not register with the College Board for an AP exam and instead wait for instructions from FCPS, since FCPS pays for the first six exams.

IB exams cancelled – International Baccalaureate exams previously scheduled for May will not be held. Depending on what they registered for, students will be awarded a diploma or a course certificate that reflects their standard of work. FCPS plans to provide more information to students on how IB scores will be awarded.

Child exploitation – The FBI warns that with schools closed and children spending more time online, there’s a greater risk of online sexual exploitation. The FBI urges parents, guardians, and caregivers to communicate with their children about appropriate contact with adults and watch for any changes in behavior, including an increase in nightmares, withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, anxiety, depression, not wanting to be left alone with an individual, and sexual knowledge. Click here for more information.

Best Buy has closed all stores for in-store shopping and instead offers curbside pickup for online orders.

The Justice High School PTSA has canceled its mulch sale. People who already ordered mulch can request a refund or convert their mulch order to a donation to support student activities.

The Artisans United Gallery at the Packard Center in Annandale will be closed until May 1.

Signature Theatre has cancelled all events through the beginning of June. Some performances will be postponed.