Governor Tightens Statewide Covid-19 Restrictions in Virginia

On Friday. November 13th 2020 Governor Ralph Northam stepped back the Covid-19  restriction in Virginia and declared that the following measures will take effect at midnight on Sunday, November 16:

• Reduction in public and private gatherings: All public and private in-person gatherings must be limited to 25 individuals, down from the current cap of 250 people. This includes outdoor and indoor settings.
• Expansion of mask mandate: All Virginians aged five and over are required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces.  
• Strengthened enforcement within essential retail businesses: All essential retail businesses, including grocery stores and pharmacies, must adhere to statewide guidelines for physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and enhanced cleaning. Violations will now be enforceable through the Virginia Department of Health as a Class One misdemeanor.   
• On-site alcohol curfew: The on-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol is prohibited after 10:00 p.m. in any restaurant, dining establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery, or tasting room. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms must close by midnight. The current restriction that alcohol when allowed must be served as in a restaurant and remain seated at tables six feet apart.  

The Governor went on to issue a major clarification: 

@GovernorVA

COVID-19 new restrictions DO NOT apply to schools or churches, or limit, in any way, capacity at private offices, gyms, businesses, restaurants, etc. The gathering change (250 to 25) is to prevent groups from forming over the holidays.