When making decisions about going to public spaces or attending social events, it's important to think about the risk of spreading COVID-19. Factors to consider include your own ability to wear a mask, your risk for developing severe COVID-19, and whether you live with someone at higher risk for developing severe illness. Additionally, factors about the risk of spreading COVID-19 at the particular social events should also be considered:
- Level of COVID-19 spread in the community: Higher levels of COVID-19 in the community where the gathering will be held or where the attendees are coming from mean that there is a higher risk that someone could be infected with COVID-19. VDH has developed a dashboard to help make decisions based on data.
- The number of people at the gathering: If there are many people in a space, it may be harder to stay at least 6 feet from others. The risk of COVID-19 spread also increases if there are more people at the event or if they come from many different places.
- Location: Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings. Gatherings in large, well-ventilated spaces are safer than gatherings in smaller spaces that are not well-ventilated.
- Duration: Spending less time with people outside your household is safer than spending longer time.
- Behavior of people attending the gathering: If other guests have not been following social distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, and mask recommendations before the event, then there is a greater risk of one of them having COVID-19. If guests at the event are not practicing safe behaviors at the event, then COVID-19 could spread at that event. Certain activities, including cheering or singing, are known to increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. If people are drinking alcohol, they may be less likely to practice safe behaviors like keeping at least 6 feet from others, wearing a mask, or not shouting.
See the tabs below for information about specific public or social settings.
Guidelines for recreational sports can be found in Phase Three of Forward Virginia. VDH has released some additional Considerations for Recreational Sports.
Pools may open in Phase Three for exercise and lessons with some restrictions to allow for physical distancing. More information about pools and other aquatic facilities in Virginia can be found here. Frequently Asked Questions about Pools in Phase Three can be found here.
Recommendations for the safe operation of libraries can be found here.
Both small gatherings, such as dinner parties and birthday parties, and large gatherings, such as weddings and funerals, pose a risk of spreading COVID-19 among communities. This is especially true if there is a high level of community transmission. Social gatherings are currently limited to 10 individuals, per Executive Order 72, and should follow the relevant section in the Guidelines for All Business Sectors. More information about Social Gatherings can be found on the CDC webpage: Considerations for Events and Gatherings.
Low Risk Activities:
- Virtual-only activities, events, or gatherings
Medium Risk Activities:
- Smaller in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart
- Outdoor gatherings.
- Guests wear masks, do not share objects
- Guests come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).
Higher Risk Activities:
- Large-sized in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
- Events where participants are from outside the community, county, or town.
- Indoor gatherings in small, poorly-ventilated spaces.
- Activities that increase respiration, such as singing, shouting/cheering, or exercising.
Recommendations for Hosting Gatherings
- Remind invited guests to stay home if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or have COVID-19 symptoms --even if they only have very mild symptoms. People who are waiting for a COVID-19 test result should also stay home.
- Host your gathering outdoors whenever possible. If this is not feasible, make sure the room or space is well-ventilated (for example, open a window).
- When guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave or give an “air hug” and verbally greet them.
- Provide masks for guests or ask them to bring their own.
- Wear masks, especially when less than 6 feet apart from people (indoors or outdoors) and when indoors.
- Provide hand sanitizer in addition to clearly marked hand washing areas.
- Remind guests to wash their hands before serving or eating food.
- Use single-use hand towels or paper towels for drying hands so guests do not share a towel.
- Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks.
- Make sure everyone uses their own cup and dishes and uses utensils to grab shared foods like chips.
- Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible.
Recommendations for Attending Gatherings
- Stay home if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (even if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19), if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
- Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet or more from people who don’t live in your household. Be particularly mindful in areas where it may be harder to keep this distance, such as check-in areas, parking lots, and routes of entry and exit.
- Wear a mask when interacting with other people to minimize the risk of transmitting the virus.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer immediately before eating food or after touching any common surfaces like hand railings, payment kiosks, door handles, and toilets.
It’s important to find reasons to celebrate this year. We know connecting with family and friends is vital to maintaining your emotional well being. However, as COVID-19 transmissions continue to spread throughout Virginia, it is important that we celebrate safely. The safest way to commemorate special events is at home, with the people that live with you. Consider the following suggestions for safer ways to celebrate this year:
Low Risk Activities
- Virtual parties with your friends and family.
- Celebrating at home, with the people that live with you.
Medium Risk Activities
- Small, indoor gatherings comprised of people from different households, where everyone remains masked and socially distanced.
- Outdoor gatherings where everyone remains masked and socially distanced.
High Risk Activities
- Large, in person gatherings where it is difficult to remain six feet apart from others.
- Celebrating in indoor, poorly ventilated spaces.
- Remaining less than 10 feet apart while cheering or loudly celebrating.
- Gatherings with people from different communities.
Remember the best way to celebrate is by making smart decisions for yourself and others!
While the 2020 general election is past, some districts have special elections in upcoming months. The Virginia Department of Elections encourages voters to consider alternative options for voting during the COVID-19 epidemic. In general, the more closely people interact with each other and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. The best way to avoid becoming infected is to avoid being exposed to the virus altogether. This is particularly important for people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. There are many options for voting this year that can reduce your interaction with other people, including absentee or early voting. Consider the recommendations below when you are making a plan to vote. More recommendations about safer voting can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. To access a toolkit for reducing the spread of COVID-10 during the elections, click here.
Tips for Voting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Make a plan: visit the Department of Elections website for more information on options for voting in Virginia.
- Individuals under isolation and quarantine on Election Day will be strongly encouraged to vote absentee in order to comply with isolation/quarantine and reduce risk to others.
- If a person unexpectedly finds themselves in an isolation or quarantine period that includes Election Day, there may be options available for “emergency absentee voting”. Please visit the Department of Elections website or call your local registrar/elections office to learn more.
- Vote at a time when the polling place is not crowded
- Consider curbside voting if offered at your location:
- If you are 65 or older, or have a physical disability, you may vote on Election Day without leaving your vehicle. Use the designated parking space at the polling location and follow instructions on any signage. Wear a mask while in your vehicle and keep the window rolled up unless communicating with a poll worker.
- Wear a cloth face covering/mask, if you are able, at all times while voting.
- Exercise proper social distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet of separation from other voters and poll workers.
- Consider staying more than 6 feet away from people who are not wearing cloth face coverings.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Do not use physical greetings, such as handshaking.
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before and after voting. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
- Avoid touching your face and face covering.
Individuals under isolation or quarantine during Election Day are strongly encouraged to vote absentee in order to comply with isolation/quarantine and reduce risk to others. If absentee deadlines have been missed, there is an option to pursue emergency absentee voting:
You may cast an emergency absentee ballot if you were unable to meet the "vote by mail" application deadline for any of the following reasons (Va. Code § 24.2-705):
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- Your hospitalization or illness;
- The hospitalization, illness, or death of a spouse, child, or parent; or
- Other emergency found to justify receipt of an emergency absentee ballot
Requirements for emergency absentee voting:
- You may request to vote emergency absentee at any time prior to 2:00 pm on the day preceding the election
- If you are approved for an emergency ballot, your general registrar shall provide the absentee ballot to your designated representative for delivery to you
- You shall mark the ballot in the presence of your designated representative (all parties should be masked and maintain distancing)
- The ballot shall be counted only if the ballot is received by the general registrar prior to the close of polls
A printable version of this guidance can be found VDH Voting Guidance in English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.