Virginia is on the cusp of notching its 200,000th case of COVID-19 since tracking began early this year, and with cases on the rise, Gov. Ralph Northam announced new restrictions.
Statewide, the percent-positivity rate of tests is at 6.5%, up from 4.7% in early October. The 7-day average of confirmed cases is now above 1,200 per day statewide — higher than it was at its highest peaks in May, July and late August. Earlier this week, Northam also noted an increase in hospitalizations due to coronavirus infections.
To help send those numbers back down, Northam on Friday afternoon implemented new restrictions that apply statewide starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16:
- Social gatherings, which had been loosened to allow up to 250 people, now are limited to just one-tenth that size. Gatherings indoors or outdoors may not exceed 25 people. (However, some gatherings, like the Alexandria Drive-In movies, are allowed to continue.)
- All Virginia residents ages 5 and older must wear masks in indoor public spaces. (The age was 10 years old and has been brought down to 5 years old.)
- There will be more emphasis at mask enforcement to ensure people are wearing masks — and wearing them properly — including inside places like grocery stores and other essential businesses.
- On-site alcohol consumption will end at 10 p.m. nightly and bars and restaurants, tasting rooms and similar venues must close by midnight.
“COVID-19 is surging across the country, and while cases are not rising in Virginia as rapidly as in some other states, I do not intend to wait until they are. We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from getting worse,” Northam said.
Here in Alexandria, the seven-day case average is back up above 20 cases per day, and very close to the seven-day average rate back in mid-July when the virus was at its highest point in this area.
Northam also acknowledged that we’re all going through some form of pandemic fatigue — a lot of people are tired of wearing masks, tired of maintaining social distance and, frankly, tired of hearing about it.
“Everyone is tired of this pandemic and the restrictions on our lives. I’m tired, and I know you’re tired, too. But, as we saw earlier this year, these mitigation measures work.”
Most school systems remain primarily virtual for now. Fairfax County Public Schools are moving forward with plans to bring back some students to classrooms this winter. Alexandria City Public Schools is also working to bring back some students, but the Virginia Dept. of Health COVID-19 schools guidance does not recommend opening schools fully at this time.
