Va. Re-Opening Set to Begin May 15; Possible Delay for NoVa

Dear WANADA Members,

This afternoon, Gov. Ralph Northam provided additional details regarding his  Forward Virginia re-opening plan that, when implemented, would permit businesses like car dealerships to allow up to 50 percent of their normal patron capacity. The governor said he hopes to move into phase one on May 15, but that Northern Virginia's timeline may be delayed somewhat.

The governor said today that there has been a decline statewide in the rate of positive COVID-19 cases, though the raw number of positive cases has increased as testing has expanded. He did add that Northern Virginia has made less progress than much of the rest of the commonwealth, and as such the region may see a delay in the loosening of capacity restrictions, which currently require businesses to adhere to a   10-patron limit .

In addition, the state continues to "recommend," but not explicitly enforce, the wearing of masks by employees and customers in retail outlets. We continue to encourage you to offer masks and robust sanitizing options to your employees, and we will be sure to inform you if any mandates go into place. Counties including Fairfax , Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William all encourage face mask use in public, which is in alignment with CDC guidelines, but none have issued any enforceable mandates. Any business requirements on this front would also likely have to come from Richmond.

The governor also said that, under the relaxed guidance, restaurants would be allowed to offer outdoor seating at 50 percent of the usual capacity. Hair salons and barbershops will be able to serve customers on a by-appointment basis only, while indoor restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues will remain shuttered for the time being. Teleworking will continue to be strongly recommended for those who can reasonably conduct their jobs from home.

Please let me or Joe Koch ( [email protected]) know if you have any questions. You can find links to the state and local health departments on the  WANADA COVID-19 Information Library. And as we mentioned, we will keep you up to date in the coming days with all pertinent details related to the beginning of Virginia's re-opening.

Sincerely,
  
John O'Donnell
WANADA President and CEO