Governor Ralph Northam says he plans to further relax restrictions on businesses and public gatherings next week, saying trends related to cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and other health metrics were moving in the right direction.Northam said at a news conference Tuesday that he's planning for the state to enter Phase 3 of reopening July 1. Under Phase 3, restaurants and nonessential retail stores would no longer have to limit indoor capacity to 50% of what their space can hold. Social gatherings of up to 250 people would be allowed. Recreation and entertainment venues at may operate at 50% occupancy, or a maximum of 1,000 people.
The current plan is to have Richmond, northern Virginia and portions of the state's Eastern Shore enter Phase Three with the rest of the state. Those areas were granted a delay in entering the first step of Northam's reopening plan due to a high number of cases.
