Virginia business restrictions are extended to May 14

Gov. Ralph Northam has extended the closure of certain Virginia businesses for an additional week, through May 14.

The governor announced the decision Monday afternoon during his daily briefing on the commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, responding to questions from the press, Northam seemed to rule out the prospect of letting Southwest Virginia businesses that compete directly with Tennessee businesses open ahead of those in other sections of Virginia.

Northam explained that state officials are planning to reopen Virginia’s economy and relax social restrictions in three phases, all of which will be driven by data on coronavirus cases.

The first phase could begin next week if the data indicate doing so is safe, he said.

But for now, Northam indicated he is extending his Executive Order 53, which was set to expire May 8.

The order required the closure of several types of businesses where social distancing is not possible, including hair salons, barber shops, fitness centers, tattoo and piercing shops and others. The order also closed certain entertainment venues and public recreation facilities and limits restaurants to takeout and delivery service.

If the data indicate it is safe to enter phase one after May 8, Northam said, it will mean, for example, that people can go to the hair salon or sit down in a restaurant, but there will be clear social distancing requirements along with stringent cleaning and disinfection requirements.

Farmers’ markets will get greater flexibility, he said.

Northam noted that in phase one, churches will be able to resume in-person services, “but social distancing still matters.”

The governor has faced criticism from some religious organizations and, most recently, from Southwest Virginia U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, for ordering churches to cease in-person services.

Northam said phase one will last about three weeks, as will each of the following two phases.

Moving to phase three will depend on seeing no evidence of the virus rebounding for a sustained period, the governor said.

Responding to a reporters’ question about when he might announce any change from the new May 14 restriction date, Northam said it will depend entirely on the data, particularly the number of COVID-19 deaths.

He also was asked to discuss the prospect, raised last week, that some regions of Virginia could open up faster than others.

At the end of April, seven coalfield-region lawmakers urged Northam to consider easing restrictions here sooner than elsewhere. They cited the fact that northeast Tennessee businesses have a competitive advantage over Virginia businesses because of more relaxed virus restrictions. Northam indicated last week that he was open to the idea.

But Monday, the governor said if the data suggests phase one can start May 15, it should start statewide. He noted that opening one region early could cause people elsewhere in Virginia to travel there and potentially carry COVID-19 with them.

Also, Northam said, he doesn’t want to be in the position of picking regional winners and losers within Virginia. The last thing the commonwealth needs is additional divisions among citizens, he added.

Meanwhile, the governor’s Executive Order 55, which directs Virginians to stay home unless they must leave for essential services, remains in effect until June 10.

For assistance, resources from across state government, and up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Virginia, visit virginia.gov/coronavirus.