Phase I Business Reopenings Will Begin Friday in Most of Virginia

Gov. Ralph Northam says Phase I business reopenings will begin this Friday, May 15. However, several localities in Northern Virginia will delay their reopenings until May 29.

Northern Virginia has about one-third of Virginia's population but more than 50% of coronavirus cases.

Phase I will allow restaurants to serve diners in outdoor seating areas at 50% capacity. Employees are required to wear masks and gloves.

Hair salons, barbers and other personal care services can resume with sanitizing and social distancing requirements. Non-essential retail stores will be able to operate at 50% capacity. Houses of worship will be allowed to hold indoor services, also at 50% capacity.

More information on Phase I business guidelines is available HERE.

On Monday, May 18, 11 Virginia DMV offices will reopen for in-person services. Appointments will be required and patrons will wait outside in their vehicles.

Local offices reopening Monday include the DMV in South Boston on Hamilton Boulevard and one in Roanoke on Valleypark Drive. Click HERE for appointment information.

Northam stressed that the coronavirus has not gone away and that people are highly encouraged to wear facial coverings while out in public. Guidelines for social distancing and gatherings of no more than 10 people are still in effect.

Virginia has received $650 million in federal money from the CARES act which will be distributed to local governments to cover expenses with dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Virginia Department of Health is currently hiring more than 1,000 people to work as contact tracers to work with those who have tested positive to locate other people they may have been in contact with to offer testing and self-isolation guidelines.

Information about applying for contact tracer positions is available HERE.

VDH is also working to test all residents and staff at Virginia's 260 long-term care facilities over the next few weeks.

More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 - WSET.


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