Ralph Northam to begin lifting coronavirus restrictions from Northern Virginia Friday

Northern Virginia can begin reopening Friday, while face masks will be required inside businesses and public transportation throughout the state, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced Tuesday.

The move follows a letter from local elected officials over Memorial Day weekend saying the counties surrounding Washington, D. C., were nearly ready to begin reopening, according to an NBC affiliate. The rest of the state had been allowed to begin its reopening process earlier this month.

Northam said full details on the reopening plan for Northern Virginia would be released Wednesday.

With phase one of reopening starting Friday, restaurants and bars can operate with outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity as long as businesses have permits for outdoor seating, according to official Safer at Home: Phase 1 guidelines.

The phase one guidelines also said houses of worship will be required to operate at 50 percent capacity.

The mandatory guidance applies to all store... (Read more)

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