RICHMOND, Va. – Gov. Northam says Virginia will start to reopen for business in one week, if current trends hold.
The governor stressed that the commonwealth is still on the path to entering phase 1 of reopening next Friday, May 15, pointing to a downward trend of positive coronavirus test results that has lasted just over 14 days.
Phase 1 will ease restrictions on many businesses, including reopening salons with strict rules and reopening outdoor seating at restaurants at 50% capacity, but won’t fully reopen Virginia’s beaches.
Northam announced on Friday that Virginia beaches will still be open only to exercising and fishing, and he said the state is setting a high bar to be able to allow more activities.
Churches and non-essential retail can reopen at 50% capacity (with masks required) and gyms can conduct outdoor only classes with less than 10 people.
Barber shops and hair salons will be allowed to reopen but employees must wear masks and appointments will be required.
Entertainment venues and indoor gyms will remain closed.
The governor said Phase One will likely last two weeks.
Northam is cautioning that the process will be gradual many restrictions will remain in place for at least several more weeks.
“We are not flipping a light switch from closed to open,” Northam said. “When the time is right we will turn a dimmer switch up just a notch.”
The governor said at a Friday news conference that his planned reopening — currently set for May 15 — would be slow, cautious and deliberate.
Northam said the first phase of reopening will last a minimum of two weeks and some parts of the state, particularly the population-dense northern Virginia, can impose stricter regulations.
“Phase one restrictions will be a floor, not a ceiling,” Northam said.
Northam has been trying to navigate the state’s reopening while taking criticism from all sides.
The governor, a Democrat, has come under increasing pressure from Republican lawmakers and others to reopen sooner and and with fewer restrictions as some other states have done. But some advocates for the poor and leaders in northern Virginia have said the state is not prepared to relax its restrictions.
Nicole Riley, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Virginia, said she’s concerned that Northam’s new regulations will hurt restaurants that don’t have a permit to serve customers outdoors. She said small businesses are willing to follow whatever rules are necessary to reopen.
“Small business owners are telling us they are willing and able to handle social distancing, require face coverings, and take the necessary steps to protect customers and workers,” she said.
As of Friday, the state health department reported Virginia had over 22,300 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19. The Virginia Department of Health announced that there were 812 coronavirus-related deaths as of Friday, May 8, up from 769 on Thursday.