Virginia’s House of Delegates plans to meet in person

As Virginia and the rest of the nation continue to loosen pandemic restrictions, the state’s House of Delegates plans to meet in person at the Capitol when the governing body next convenes.

“With infection rates falling and our Commonwealth’s vaccination rollout program among the best in the country, it is time our body returns where it belongs, in the Capitol, in the People’s Chamber,” Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn tweeted Monday.

The decision came three days after Gov. Ralph Northam announced fully vaccinated Virginians can stop wearing masks indoors “in most situations.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had eased federal guidelines the day before.

[ Related: Fully vaccinated Virginians can stop wearing masks “in most situations,” Northam says ]

To comply with social distancing guidelines through the pandemic, House members had been meeting remotely while senators donned masks inside a sparsely filled conference room at Richmond’s Science Museum of Virginia. Virginia has 40 senators and 100 delegates, making it easier for the Senate to meet in person.

House Democratic Majority Leader Charniele Herring and House Democratic Caucus Chair Rip Sullivan released a joint statement in response praising the change.

“The House Democratic Majority followed the science and took the necessary safety precautions, allowing us to meet and do the people’s business through the height of the pandemic — and in turn protect members, staff of the House of Delegates, and our constituents,” the statement said. “But the success of the vaccine rollout means we can soon safely convene in person for the first time in over a year.”

The General Assembly is expected to meet again this summer.

The state plans to lift all coronavirus restrictions by May 28 — moving its anticipated reopening date up by two weeks.

Anyone not vaccinated is “strongly encouraged” to cover their face in public. State officials say workers in restaurants, stores and gyms have to wear a mask unless they’re fully vaccinated, and people still have to wear masks if they’re on public transit, in health care facilities and in crowded indoor settings.

Businesses can still require masks, and they will still be required in schools. The new mask rules take effect at midnight.

Northam’s office said public health experts decided to relax rules because of low infection and high vaccination rates.