Gov. Ralph Northam speaks at his Feb. 24 COVID-19 update.
As more pharmacies across the state receive vaccine doses from the federal government and the number of COVID-19 cases declines, Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday he will roll back certain restrictions beginning Monday.
Starting March 1, alcohol sales will be allowed in restaurants up to midnight instead of 10 p.m. Curfews will end, and outdoor social gatherings — previously limited to 10 people — will go up to 25 people, Northam said during his COVID update. Public venues, now limited to no more than 250 people outside, will also see restrictions loosened. At outdoor venues, 1,000 people or 30% capacity can gather; indoor venues cap attendance at 250 people or 30% capacity.
Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Health has been working furiously to figure out logistics of delivering shots at pharmacies through the federal government’s partnership. This week, the number of doses Virginia pharmacies receive has doubled to 52,000 weekly, and more locations and retail chains will be involved soon, Northam said. About 220 vaccination events are scheduled across the state this week, and 1.1 million people in Virginia have gotten at least their first doses.
