It’s easy to forget the new coronavirus restrictions during the holidays so here is a reminder to help keep you and your loved ones safe(r) this week.
Per Gov. Ralph Northam’s new executive order ––which went into effect on Dec. 14–––social gatherings are now limited to 10 people or less.
In addition, there is a “modified stay-at-home” order which starts at midnight through 5 a.m. with exceptions for essentials like groceries, work travel and medical emergencies.
Now, residents five years and older must wear masks and everyone has to wear masks indoors and outdoors with a minimum social distance of six feet apart from people not in your household.
A few things to keep in mind:
Modified stay-at-home order
- All individuals in Virginia must remain at their place of residence between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.
- Exceptions include obtaining food and goods, traveling to and from work, and seeking medical attention.
Face mask requirements
- All Virginians aged 5 and older are required to wear face coverings in indoor settings shared with others and when outdoors within six feet of another person.
- The order expands the current statewide mask mandate, which has been in place since May 29, and requires all individuals aged five and over to wear face coverings in indoor and outdoor public settings outside of their own household.
- These changes are consistent with new CDC guidelines, released Dec. 4, which recommend universal wearing of face coverings.
Social gatherings
- All social gatherings must be limited to 10 individuals, down from the current cap of 25 people.
- Social gatherings include, but are not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, regardless of whether they occur indoors or outdoors.
- This does not apply to religious services, employment settings, or educational settings.
- Restaurants and retail stores are already governed by strict social distancing requirements, and are not included in this limit.
Indoor dining rules
- Virginia restaurants are currently governed by strict social distancing and sanitization requirements, which remain in place.
- The on-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol remains prohibited after 10 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.
Here are the latest numbers for the Historic Triangle, courtesy of the Virginia Department of Health’s website:
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