Virginia tightening restrictions to fight spread of COVID-19 – NBC4 Washington

Virginia announces new measures to fight COVID-19 as cases of the virus have increased across the country.

Among the requirements that will come into effect on midnight Sunday, participation in indoor and outdoor gatherings will be reduced from 250 to 25, and the age at which children must wear masks in indoor public spaces will be lowered from 10 to 5. years.

“COVID-19 is on the rise across the country, and while cases are not increasing as quickly in Virginia as in some other states, I don’t plan to wait until they are.” Governor Ralph Northam said in a statement Friday afternoon. “We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from escalating.”

Everyone is tired of this pandemic and the restrictions on our lives. I am tired and I know you are tired too. But as we saw earlier this year, these mitigation measures are working.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam

The following measures will come into effect on Sunday at midnight:

• Reduction of public and private gatherings: All in-person public and private gatherings should be limited to 25 people, down from the current cap of 250 people. This includes exterior and interior settings.

• Extension of the mask mandate: All Virginians aged five and over are required to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. This expands the mask’s current mandate, which has been in place in Virginia since May 29 and requires all people aged 10 and over to wear masks in indoor public places.

• Reinforced application in essential retail businesses: All essential retail businesses, including grocery stores and pharmacies, must adhere to state guidelines for physical distancing, wearing of face coverings, and enhanced cleaning. While some key retail businesses have been required to comply with these regulations as a best practice, violations will now be enforceable through the Virginia Department of Health as a class one misdemeanor.

• On-site curfew for alcohol: The sale, consumption and possession of alcohol on site is prohibited after 10 p.m. in any restaurant, food establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, cellar or tasting room. All restaurants, food establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries and tasting rooms must close at midnight. Virginia law does not distinguish between restaurants and bars, however, under the current restrictions, people who choose to consume alcohol before 10 p.m. must be served as in a restaurant and remain seated at tables that are distant from each other. six feet.

Northam is also sharing a new video to inform residents of Virginia of additional measures taken by the Commonwealth to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Virginia averages 1,500 new cases of COVID-19 per day, up from a high of around 1,200 statewide in May, officials said.

State officials say that while the number of cases per capita and the positivity rate in Virginia remain comparatively low, the five health regions are seeing an increase in new cases of COVID-19, positive tests and hospitalizations.

“Everyone is tired of this pandemic and the restrictions on our lives. I am tired, and I know you are tired too,” Northam said. “But as we saw earlier this year, these mitigation measures are working. I have no doubts that we can unite as one Commonwealth to bring this virus under control and save lives.”

Virginia’s new measures are the latest in a series of canceled reopens and intensified security efforts in the region.

The District of Columbia now requires travelers from all but four states to be tested for COVID-19, once before travel and again if they plan to stay in the district for more than three days.

In Maryland, state officials have lowered capacity limits for dining establishments and urged people not to travel to states where the coronavirus is spreading too quickly.

Montgomery County has reduced capacity limits for many businesses, including indoor dining, to 25%. The county had previously stopped granting waivers for alcohol sales after 10 p.m.

Prince George County is tightening restrictions and requiring masks to be worn outdoors.

And in Frederick County, Md., The Board of Health decided to implement new regulations in both the County and City of Frederick starting at 5 p.m. Friday to help slow the spread of the disease. COVID-19.