Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
MARYLAND (WMAL) – There’s good news for Virginians going stir crazy and longing for a haircut or to go to a restaurant: Gov. Ralph Northam plans to start reopening the state Friday, May 15.
At a press conference Monday Northam said he was extending the closure of non-essential businesses beyond its Friday, May 8th expiration but said he plans to enter the first of the state’s three phase reopening plan next week. That phase includes guidelines for businesses – including industry specific ones – to keep customers and workers safe.
“You’ll still be safer at home. Large gatherings are still a bad idea. It means continued social distancing, teleworking and face coverings, but it also means we’re moving forward,” Northam said.
There have been protests in Virginia and across the nation as people become frustrated with extended stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic and the closures of non-essential businesses. Many businesses owners say they will have to close for good if they can’t re-open soon, leaving governors in the difficult place of trying to balance their state’s economic health and public health. Virginia’s stay-at-home order went into effect March 30. Some have said it’s too early to lift stay-at-home orders because numbers continue to increase. As of May 4, Virginia had 19,492 total cases, which was an increase of 821 cases from the previous day. A total of 684 Virginians have died from COVID-19, an increase of 24 in the past 24 hours. Last week Northam said the state slowed the spread of the virus but wasn’t out of the woods yet.
Phase I includes guidelines for businesses to promote physical distancing between colleagues and customers. It also limits gatherings like conferences and trade shows and requires businesses to do more disinfecting according to Northam.
“But here’s the bottom line: You’ll be able to get your haircut, but you’ll need an appointment, and you’ll see new safety measures in the salon. It means you can go out to eat again, but restaurants will use less of their seating to spread people out more,” Northam said.
Gyms will also be open but with fewer customers allowed in at a time, and houses of worship will be able to hold in-person services so long as there is social distancing Northam said.
Industry-specific guidelines will be released in the next few days according to Northam.
He expects each of the three phases to last around two to three weeks. He added Phase 2 will further ease restrictions if the numbers continue to trend downwards.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan have each discussed their reopening plans but have said it is too soon to implement them. The three leaders had said they would work together on reopening. Northam said he has been talking to Bowser and Hogan.
“We’re probably not gonna do everything on the exact day,” Northam said.
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