Category Archives: COVID-19

“Science shows that face coverings are an effective way to prevent transmission of the virus, but wearing them is also a sign of respect.”

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View Executive Order here:

  • Personal care and grooming businesses

  • Essential and non-essential brick and mortar retail including grocery stores and pharmacies

  • Food and beverage establishments

  • Entertainment or public amusement establishments when permitted to open

  • Train stations, bus stations, and on intrastate public transportation, including in waiting or congregating areas

  • State and local government buildings and areas where the public accesses services

  • Any indoor space shared by groups of people who may congregate within six feet of one another or who are in close proximity to each other for more than ten minutes.

Governor Allows Virginia Beach Reopening with Restrictions

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From Governor.Virginia.gov:

May 18, 2020—Governor Ralph Northam announced that he will allow Virginia Beach to open its beaches for recreation, with restrictions, on Friday.

Virginia Beach officials created a plan for reopening the beach, with restrictions on groups and activities. Secretary of Natural Resources Matt Strickler helped make that proposal stronger. As finalized, Virginia Beach’s plan includes increased cleaning of high-touch areas, compliance monitoring by beach ambassadors, and a 50 percent reduction in parking in beach lots. While families and individuals will be allowed to sunbathe, swim, and surf, the new rules prohibit beach sports and gatherings by large groups, and require those using the beach to adhere to social distancing rules.

Governor Northam also announced the members of a working group that will craft guidance for how schools, from preK to higher education, can move forward with classes later this year. The group includes diverse stakeholders, including school superintendents, college presidents from private and public schools, and members with other educational backgrounds.

Governor Northam Announces Education Work Group to Help Guide Process for Safe, Equitable Reopening of Schools

Governor Northam Announces Phase One Guidelines to Slowly Ease Public Health Restrictions. Phase One will begin no sooner than Friday, May 15.

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View at Governor.Virginia.gov:

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam signed Executive Order Sixty-One and presented a detailed framework for the first phase of the “Forward Virginia” plan to safely and gradually ease public health restrictions while containing the spread of COVID-19. The Phase One guidelines will be implemented when the data meets the public health criteria outlined by the Commonwealth. The new executive order modifies public health guidance in Executive Order Fifty-Three and Executive Order Fifty-Five and establishes guidelines for Phase One.

The Governor’s phased approach is grounded in science and data and includes mitigation strategies to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus through enhanced safety practices. The plan allows localities to consider delaying implementation of Phase One guidelines based on local conditions.

“I am proud of the millions of Virginians who have stayed home and helped to flatten the curve, but our work is not done,” said Governor Northam. . . .

Phase One guidelines for specific sectors are available here or at virginia.gov/coronavirus/forwardvirginia.

View the graphs and slides from the Governor’s presentation here.