RICHMOND, Va. – Gov. Ralph Northam delivered his daily coronavirus update Monday, announcing that all schools in Virginia will remain closed until end of the academic year.
Right now, there are 258 cases across Virginia.
The governor also announced that effective at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 the following recreation and entertainment businesses are considered non-essential and must close to the public:
- Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, and other indoor entertainment centers;
- Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities;
- Beauty salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed that would not allow compliance with social distancing guidelines to remain six feet apart;
- Racetracks and historic horse racing facilities;
- Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs, and all other places of indoor public amusement.
When it comes to food, all dining and congregation areas in the following establishments must close to the public beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24. These establishments may continue to offer delivery and/or takeout services. Establishments include:
- Restaurants
- Dining establishments
- Food courts
- Farmers markets
- Breweries
- Microbreweries
- Distilleries
- Wineries
- Tasting rooms
These changes will remain in statewide for at least 30 days.
The construction industry is not included in this announcement.
On Saturday, Northam announced that testing criteria for coronavirus would be altered to give additional priority to medical professionals who have treated coronavirus patients and to those in longterm care facilities.
[Where are Virginia’s coronavirus cases? The latest from the health department]
During Tuesday’s update, Northam announced a ban in Virginia on gatherings more than 10 people.
[Interactive map from Johns Hopkins shows how coronavirus is spreading in real-time]