Northam: Virginia not ready for Phase 3 yet

Virgnia Gov. Ralph Northam provided guidelines for Phase 3 of the state’s reopening process, during a press conference Thursday in Northern Virginia. The state will not be entering Phase 3 this week, Northam said.

According to the Forward Virginia guidelines, Phase 3 will permit:
• social gatherings of as many as 250 people;
• no capacity cap for non-essential businesses and restaurants;
• outdoor venues to be open at 50% capacity with a cap of 1,000 people;
• gyms to be open at 75% capacity;
• children care centers to fully reopen;
• outdoor swimming pools to be open at 75% capacity.

Face coverings still will be a requirement while indoors during Phase 3, Northam said.

“Studies increasingly show how effective face coverings can be to reduce the spread of this virus,” he said.

The state is not moving to Phase 3 yet, Northam said, because officials want to be cautious.

“Our health data is positive. We are also monitoring other states,” he said. “We’re going to be cautious and careful and watch the data for a little while longer before we move forward.”

The rise in cases in southern states that have had more lenient COVID-19 guidelines served as a warning, he said.

“As you have seen, there have been surges in other states that have eased restrictions prematurely,” he said. “While our data is good and restrictions will ease, the virus has gone nowhere.”

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