Gov. Northam: Social gatherings, venue capacity limits to increase beginning May 15

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in a video message Thursday announced additional rollback of COVID-19 restrictions.

“Starting May 15th, social gatherings can have a few more people, more people can go to theaters and entertainment venues, and more people at sporting events,” said Northam.

Citing half of adults in the state receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and a continued decline of virus cases, Northam is allowing expansion of capacity for social gathering to increase to 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors. Entertainment venues also got the okay to increase indoor capacity to 50% or 1,000 people, and up to 50% capacity with no cap limit for outdoor venues.

“We’re aiming to significantly ramp up vaccinations even further, and aim to reduce mitigation measures in June hopefully all the way,” Northam said.

Northam’s announcement comes just a day after he updated Executive Order 72 to allow for restaurants to reopen bar areas, and allows for gatherings in instructional settings in addition to permitting school theatrical and musical performances as long as the performers are students, teachers, administrators, or other school staff.

To watch Northam’s announcement, click here.

Photo Courtesy: Governor of Virginia via Youtube