Recent Updates During the week of April 19, 2021, Governor Ralph Northam issued two announcements regarding key changes to his next steps in the “Forward Virginia” plan on easing restrictions in the Commonwealth. Every Virginian must continue to practice safety measures that have been proven to keep everyone safe: maintain proper physical distancing, avoid gatherings with individuals outside of your household, practice hand sanitation, and wear masks while indoors and in public. The key changes in the Fifth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two, which went into effect on April 21, 2021 include: All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbrewers, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms may allow patrons to be seated at the bar for service, provided there is a minimum of six feet between parties.