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Parking, no problem: WTOP goes shopping at reopened Northern Virginia mall

By Neal Augenstein
6 OF 6

Northern Virginia joined the rest of the state Friday in Phase One of reopening with restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that included local shopping malls.

Under the first phase of Gov. Ralph Northam’s recovery plan, retailers can welcome more customers into their stores — from a 10-person limit up to 50% capacity. Restaurants can reopen outdoor seating to patrons at 50% capacity.

Around noon Friday, WTOP took a trip to Fair Oaks Mall, in Fairfax, to see if shoppers were ready to come back to the mall, and whether stores and restaurants were ready to welcome them.

REOPENING PLANS AROUND THE REGION:

Md. vaccine policy ‘will be led by science’: New law decouples guidance from federal agencies

By Neal Augenstein
As of July 1, Maryland will determine which vaccines should be administered, severing its reliance on federal agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Vax Act, signed Tuesday by Gov. Wes Moore, authorizes Maryland's health secretary to set recommendations for immunizations, screenings and preventive services. It also requires insurance companies to cover vaccines endorsed by the state.
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