Virginia is again easing restrictions on social gatherings, sporting events, entertainment and restaurants.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that the latest rollback will begin May 15.
Capacity limits for social gatherings will expand to 100 people for indoor settings — up from 50 — and 250 people can convene outside, instead of 100.
Entertainment venues and amusement parks will be able to allow people inside up to half of its capacity, or 1,000 people. Currently, venues can only allow 30 percent capacity, or 500 people under the previous amended executive order. Outdoor facilities will also be able to operate at 50% capacity — up from 30%.
Up to 250 people can attend indoor sporting events, instead of 100, or the arena can operate at 50% capacity. Outdoor sporting events will go from 500 people to 1,000 or 50% capacity, whichever is less.
Restaurants can resume selling alcohol after midnight, and can keep their dining rooms open between midnight and 5 a.m. Permitted dining establishments can only allow takeout food and drink services for patrons during those hours under the current order.
Other eased restrictions for restaurants, outdoor running races and school performances were quietly posted on to the governor’s website Wednesday, with one allowing people to sit at restaurant bars for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Northam said in the news release more than half of Virginia’s adult population has been vaccinated.
“Vaccination numbers are up, and our COVID-19 case numbers are substantially lower than they were earlier this year,” Northam said in a news release. “So, we have been able to begin easing some mitigation measures. We took a few more targeted steps this week, and we will do more next month.”
source pilotonline