COVID-19 Restrictions On Schools, Bars Eased By Northam Order

VIRGINIA — Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order Wednesday easing some of the mass gathering restrictions imposed on Virginia businesses, religious institutions, and schools in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the occurrence of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline across the state, that's considered a fluctuating trend, according to the order. For that reason, many of the restrictions concerning mass gatherings, social distancing, and wearing masks remain in place until June 30, unless Northam issues a new executive order changing them.

Under Northam's new order, patrons at a restaurant may be seated at the bar for service, as long as a minimum of 6 feet is maintained between parties.

For races or marathons, indoor race organizers are now required to stagger starts and separate runners into groups of 50 or less. Outdoor races where physical distancing of runners can be maintained, such as marathons or cross country, may include no more than 100 participants per grouping.

In educational or school settings, other events or gatherings, even if they are on school property or sponsored by the school, must adhere to all physical distancing, sanitization plans, and others guidelines that apply to the educational entity. In other words, school dances, performances, fundraisers, and similar social events are governed by the same restrictions as the school.

While there are no restrictions on how many people can attend a religious service in Virginia, services of more than 50 people indoors or 100 people outdoors are subject to the same guidelines as other mass gatherings. These restrictions cannot bar a person from attending a religious service.

Under Northam's new executive order, it is now a Class 1 misdemeanor for individuals to violate mass gathering restrictions at religious services. Violations of regular mass gathering guidelines were already subject to a Class 1 misdemeanor, which "is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both."

COVID-19 Data

On Thursday, 1,373 additional COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths were reported, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The seven-day average of daily cases is 1,336 and seven-day average of daily death reports is 18.6.

The positive average of PCR tests remains stable at 5.9 percent as of April 18. On average, 18,011 PCR testing encounters are reported daily in Virginia.

Hospitalizations stand at 1,104, which include 269 patients in the intensive care units and 14 5on ventilators. COVID-19 patients make up about 8.3 percent of the 13,425 occupied hospital beds in Virginia.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients remains at 28 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 78 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.
Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Tuesday to Wednesday:

• Alexandria: 11,522 cases, 550 hospitalizations, 133 deaths; increase of three cases and one less death
• Arlington County: 14,903 cases, 822 hospitalizations, 250 deaths; increase of 19 cases and one hospitalization
• Fairfax County: 74,988 cases, 3,853 hospitalizations, 1,067 deaths; increase of 148 cases, two hospitalizations and two deaths
• Fairfax City: 540 cases, 47 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; no changes
• Falls Church: 418 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; increase of two cases
• Loudoun County: 26,928 cases, 1,015 hospitalizations, 274 deaths; increase of 79 cases and seven hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,294 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 46 deaths; increase of 10 cases
• Manassas Park: 1,187 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; increase of two cases
• Prince William County: 44,092 cases, 1,594 hospitalizations, 479 deaths; increase of 61 cases and six hospitalizations and one less death.
• Fredericksburg: 2,022 cases, 99 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of 15 cases
• Spotsylvania County: 9,5o3 cases, 301 hospitalizations, 113 deaths; increase of 30 cases
• Stafford County: 10,867 cases, 348 hospitalizations, 73 deaths; increase of 34 cases, two hospitalizations, and one death