Good News for Virginia business and Virginia weddings, starting tomorrow, May 15, 2021. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is feeling optimistic about the number of vaccines administered and therefore is reducing restrictions, as follows:
- Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings (currently limited to 50 [indoors] and 100 [outdoors].
- Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people (currently 30 percent capacity or 500 people). Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity (currently 30 percent).
- Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people (or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less).
- Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
Your wedding may look like you dreamed it to be, instead of with 10 guests and photos in the pews. Bars can serve alcohol after 10pm and have people come order a drink from their favorite bartender. You might be able to tailgate at a football game, this fall. It almost feels….normal, right?
Here are your most frequently-asked questions, answered:
- Are masks still required? Yes. Masks must be worn at all times, unless eating or drinking, at the table
- Is 6′ distance between others required? Yes, with 6′ between parties
- Is bar seating and service allowed? Yes, with 6′ social-distance allowances
- Can business stay open until 2am Friday night? YES! Because the changes happen at midnight on the 15th
- Is alcohol still allowed to be served, to-go? Yes, up to 2 drinks, with each meal (up to 4, per order, maximum)
Virginia has now administered more than 5.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is currently giving 77,000 shots per day. Over 3.5 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine (more than 1/2 of all Virginia adults). Governor Northam said, “I’m optimistic that we will be able to take more steps in June. We are working to significantly ramp up vaccinations even further and aim to reduce capacity limits in June, hopefully all the way.”
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