Virginia's Phase 3 Reopening Scheduled To Begin July 1: Governor

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia plans to enter phase three of its coronavirus reopening plan for businesses and other establishments across the state, including Northern Virginia, starting July 1, Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday at a news conference in Richmond. The governor said public health metrics are moving in a direction that makes him confident the state can safely start phase three next week.

Phase three will allow for social gatherings of up to 250 people from the current limit of 50 people, and will also allow for restaurants and retail businesses to operate at full capacity.

"This gives us about three and a half weeks in phase two where we have been able to follow the data," Northam said at the news conference. Northern Virginia and Richmond entered phase two of the reopening plan on June 12, while the rest of the state entered phase two a week earlier on June 5.

“It still means you are safer at home," he said. "It means we are still encouraging teleworking. People still need to focus on physical distancing in all situations outside of their homes." Furthermore, the face covering requirement will remain in place for indoor public spaces, the governor said.

Along with increasing the numbers at social gatherings from 50 to 250 people, phase three will lift the cap on restaurants, beverage services and nonessential retail. Personal care and grooming businesses will also have continued physical distancing measures and staggered appointments. Entertainment venues such as museums and zoos can open at 50 percent capacity with the maximum limit being 1,000 people.

Gyms and fitness centers can operate at 75 percent capacity, and recreational sports will have continued physical distancing requirements. Swimming pools can operate at 75 percent capacity and expand to free swim with physical distancing requirements. Overnight summer camps will remain closed.

Northam said that the rate of positive cases among those tested is now at 6.4 percent and continues on a downward trend. Northam added that testing in the state has surpassed the goal of 10,000 tests per day on average. He also said numbers show a downward trend in COVID-19 patients on ventilators and in intensive care units.

Under phase three, Virginians will still have a responsibility to continue hand-washing and not gather in large groups, the governor said.

Asked at the news conference whether he would consider reversing course and moving back to phase two or phase one if the state sees a spike in cases, Northam said: “If we see surges in the commonwealth and we’re going in the wrong direction, obviously we’re going to have to make difficult decisions to do that.”

Northam said he would not have made the decision to begin phase three next Wednesday if he weren't confident in the state's hospital capacity. "Also, the fact that we now have the testing capabilities" that allow at least 10,000 coronavirus tests a day to be conducted in the state on average made him more comfortable in selecting July 1 as the start date for phase three, Northam said.

But the governor cautioned the public that the coronavirus has not gone away. "There continue to be surges in other states, and we are monitoring that very closely," Northam said. “I want to reiterate that everyone should continue to take this pandemic very seriously. Be cautious, and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and the people around you.”

“If we become complacent and don’t continue to follow these guidelines, then the possibilities are there that we would have to go back and I don’t want to do that," Northam said. "I don’t think anybody wants to do that.”

Patch editor Gillian Smith assisted in the reporting of this story.

RELATED:

• Virginia's Coronavirus Positive Rate Reaches New Low: Northam
• More Detailed Race, Ethnicity Coronavirus Data Added In Virginia
• Virginia Will Not Enter Phase 3 Of Reopening This Week: Northam