Reopening Virginia

This article will briefly answer the following questions:

• What are Virginia’s reopening guidelines?
• What is the Virginia reopening phases?
• Why are reopening checks important for Virginia-based businesses?
• What checklists can be used to reopen Virginia safely?

Virginia Reopening Guidelines: Forward Virginia

“Forward Virginia” is the Commonwealth’s plan to reopen their economy, easing certain temporary business restrictions due to COVID-19. In building the need to adhere to reopening guidelines, Gov. Northam said, “We cannot race back to the lives we led before the pandemic. The path forward will not be business as usual.” Forward Virginia Phase One Guidelines generally look like:

• Safer at home—especially if more vulnerable
• No social gatherings of more than 10 individuals
• Continued physical distancing
• Continued teleworking or working from home
• Face coverings recommended in public

Virginia Reopening Phases

While the Northern Virginia Region and the city of Richmond remain in Phase 1 of reopening, most of Virginia will move into Phase 2 of reopening on June 4. To have a clearer picture of the difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of reopening Virginia, refer to the table below:

Reopening Virginia: From Phase 1 to Phase 2
	Phase One	Phase Two
Social Gatherings	10-person limit implementing best practices	50% capacity of the venue or 50-person limit (whichever is less) implementing best practices
Restaurant and Beverage Services	Takeout and Delivery
	50% capacity (outdoor seating only) implementing mandatory Phase 1 reopening guidelines	50% capacity (indoor and outdoor seating) implementing mandatory Phase 2 reopening guidelines
Personal Care and Grooming Services	By appointment only with strict physical distancing and required face coverings	50% capacity implementing mandatory Phase 2 reopening guidelines and best practices
Fitness and Exercise Facilities	Outdoor fitness classes only	30% indoor capacity implementing mandatory Phase 2 reopening guidelines and best practices
Recreational Sports	Prohibited	50-person limit for participants and spectators or 50% capacity of the outdoor venue and 30% capacity of the indoor venue (whichever is less) implementing mandatory Phase 2 reopening guidelines and best practices Incidental contact between family members is allowed, but close contact with other athletes is prohibited.
Campgrounds and Overnight Summer Camps	Closed	50-person limit implementing mandatory Phase 2 reopening guidelines and best practices
Entertainment and Public Amusement Venues	Closed	50-person limit or 50% capacity (whichever is less) of outdoor movie theaters, performing arts, concert, and sports venues, museums, botanical gardens, aquariums, zoos, and public and private social clubs implementing mandatory Phase 2 reopening guidelines and best practices
Places of Worship	50% indoor capacity implementing mandatory guidelines and best practices

Reopening Virginia Safely Through Self-assessments

Restrictions or policies are being modified according to the number of cases per county. Whatever phase a region, county, or city is currently in, all business sectors should adhere to Virginia’s reopening guidelines. COVID-19 risk assessments or phase-specific reopening readiness assessments with round-the-clock health and safety inspections can help Virginian employers reopen strong and safely continue business operations amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Elements of Virginia Reopening Checklists

A Virginia reopening checklist is a tool based on Forward Virginia’s mandatory requirements, best practices, and additional considerations to safely reopen businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak. It aims to encourage Virginians to keep practicing personal hygiene and physical distancing when at work, slowing the spread of coronavirus and lowering transmission rates in the workplace. Virginia reopening checklists for all businesses usually includes:

• • Physical Distancing Best Practices
  • Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Best Practices
  • Enhanced Workplace Safety Best Practices

To make it easier for Virginians to get safely back to business and continue safe operations amidst a global pandemic, we’ve surfaced these statewide guidelines-based reopening checklists you can download for free and use with iAuditor by SafetyCulture.

 

Disclaimer: Please note that these checklists are hypothetical examples and provide basic information only. They are not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should also seek professional advice to determine if the use of such checklists are permissible in your workplace or jurisdiction.