Gov. Northam eases some COVID restrictions

Northam speaks at a press briefing in January.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has eased some COVID-19 restrictions, as the health metrics are improving. 

Beginning March 1, certain outdoor sports and entertainment venues can operate at increased capacity, Northam announced Feb. 24. 

Under the Third Amended Executive Order 72:

• The on-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol, currently banned after 10 p.m., will be allowed until midnight. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms must be closed between midnight and 5 a.m. 
• The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase from 10 to 25 people for outdoor settings while remaining at 10 persons for indoor settings.
• Outdoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate with up to 1,000 individuals or at 30 percent capacity, whichever is lower. If current trends continue, these venues might be able to operate at 30 percent capacity with no cap on the number of people, starting in April. 
• Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues must continue to operate at 30 percent capacity with a cap of 250 people. All entertainment venues were previously limited to a maximum of 250 individuals.
• As of May 1, overnight summer camps will be able to open with strict mitigation measures in place. Registration can begin now.

The new guidelines will be effective for at least one month, and mitigation measures may be eased further if key health metrics continue to improve. 

Current guidelines for retail businesses, fitness and exercise, large amusement venues, and personal grooming services will remain in place. Individuals are strongly encouraged to continue teleworking if possible.

“Thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of all Virginians, hospitalization and positivity rates across the commonwealth are the lowest they have been in nearly three months,” Northam said. “As key health metrics show encouraging trends and we continue to ramp up our vaccination efforts, we can begin to gradually resume certain recreational activities and further reopen sectors of our economy. 

Meanwhile, he said, “We must all remain vigilant so we can maintain our progress – the more we stay home, mask up, and practice social distancing, the more lives we will save from this dangerous virus.”