RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) — Gov. Ralph Northam announced on Friday new statewide measures to contain COVID-19 as cases continue to rise across the Commonwealth.
While the Commonwealth's case count per capita and positivity rate remain comparatively low, all five health regions are experiencing increases in new COVID cases, positive tests, and hospitalizations.
The following measures will take effect at midnight on Sunday, Nov. 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. This expands the current mask mandate, which has been in place in Virginia since May 29 and requires all individuals aged 10 and over to wear face coverings in indoor public settings.
- 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. While certain essential retail businesses have been required to adhere to these regulations as a best practice, 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. Virginia law does not distinguish between restaurants and bars, however, under current restrictions, individuals that choose to consume alcohol prior to 10:00 p.m. must be served as in a restaurant and remain seated at tables six feet apart.
The Governor's Office said Friday that the restriction on gatherings does not apply to religious services; however, religious services are required to meet distancing, cleaning and safety restrictions, including seating parties a minimum of six feet apart and mandatory face coverings.
More on this story from our media partner, ABC 13 - WSET.