Tighter Coronavirus Restrictions Announced By Virginia Governor

VIRGINIA — On Friday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced stricter coronavirus measures that will take effect at midnight on Sunday, Nov. 15.

The new restrictions reduce public and private gatherings to 25 individuals, both indoors and outdoors. This is down from the current 250-person limit. The governor's face mask mandate is also expanded to include anyone five and over, including in school and child care settings. The mandate that has been in place since May 29 covers individuals ages 10 and over. The order applies to indoor public places.

Another new restriction prohibits alcohol sales, consumption and possession of alcohol after 10 p.m. at restaurants, dining establishments, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery, or tasting room. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms. Under current restrictions, individuals that consume alcohol before 10 p.m. must be served as in a restaurant and remain seated at tables spaced six feet apart. Restaurants must close by midnight.

There will also be strengthened enforcement of state guidelines within essential businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies. While certain essential businesses were asked to adhere to guidelines on physical distancing, grocery stores and pharmacies as best practices, they can now lead to a Class 1 misdemeanor with enforcement through the Virginia Department of Health.

"We know this virus is spreading in places like restaurants where people take off their masks," said Northam. "It's spreading at small social gatherings like dinner parties, and it's spreading when people ignore the science and don't think they need to wear a mask inside. Careless behavior by one person puts everyone they come into contact with at risk."

Northam said Virginia is better off than other U.S. states due to individuals following safety guidelines, but the restrictions seek to keep the situation from getting worse. The state has seen recent increase in cases, hospitalizations and percent positivity of tests, which the governor says puts a strain on medical facilities and frontline workers.

"COVID-19 is surging across the country, and while cases are not rising in Virginia as rapidly as in some other states, I do not intend to wait until they are," said Northam in a statement. "We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from getting worse. Everyone is tired of this pandemic and restrictions on our lives. I’m tired, and I know you are tired too. But as we saw earlier this year, these mitigation measures work."

Virginia's seven-day average of daily cases is above 1,500, which is up from the previous peak of nearly 1,200 in May. Southwest Virginia has seen the most notable spike in cases, but Northam said all five health regions are seeing increase and have a percent positivity rate above 5 percent. Hospital capacity is stable, although statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by more than 35 percent in the last four weeks.

Virginia has been in phase three of the governor's reopening plan since July 1. After an increase in cases in the eastern region over the summer, Northam added certain new restrictions for Hampton Roads localities on July 31. Those restrictions were lifted on Sept. 10.

"I am confident we can get our numbers back down, but it requires all of us to make smart choices. It always has. Your behavior makes a difference," said Northam.

The governor said residents should be mindful of restrictions as Thanksgiving and the holidays come up. At a news conference on Tuesday, Northam said he wasn't asking people to avoid celebrating Thanksgiving but asked residents to think about how indoor spaces are ventilated and whether there are options for outdoor, smaller gatherings. Residents are asked to take precautions around anyone who does not live in their own house, even if they are family members.

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