Virginia Craft Brewers Guild

COVID-19 Resource Center

Daily Updates
Prevention and Response Recommendations
Government Resources
Industry Best Practices and Resources

The VCBG is committed to providing members with factual, reliable and timely information regarding COVID-19 and its potential impact on Virginia’s craft beer industry, its employees and its supply-chain.

Daily Updates

September 15, 2021 – View our most recent report on the VA FPS & US OSHA ETS: COVID-19 Bulletin & Alert 9/15.

September 8, 2021 – The revised VOSH COVID-19 Final Permanent Standard goes into effect.

July 27, 2021 – The CDC updates its recommendations for indoor mask use.

June 1, 2021 – The VCBG updated its VA Craft Brewery Pledge to reflect recent changes and issued a Best Practice Recommendation on vaccination proof/mask wearing.

May 14, 2021 – Governor Northam announced that Virginia will end COVID-19 mitigations on May 28th. [press release].

April 29, 2021 – Governor Northam Updates Mask Guidance to Align with CDC Changes [press release]. The CDC guidelines state that fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks outdoors when alone or in small gatherings. Mask use is still required indoors and outdoors at large crowded events like concerts, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies. 

April 22, 2021 – Governor Northam Announces Expanded Capacity, Social Gathering Limits to Begin May 15 [press release].

April 5, 2021 – The CDC updated guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting your facility. Note: These guidelines contradict the Virginia COVID-19 Final Permanent Standard.

April 1, 2021 – The VCBG updated the Virginia Craft Brewery Pledge in accordance with capacity increases. View the newest version here.

March 25, 2021 – The Virginia Dept. of Taxation finalized the PPE Sales Tax Exemption Guidance & Certificate. Learn more here.

March 23, 2021 – Governor Northam Announces Limited Capacity Increases for Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings, Some Entertainment Venues as Vaccinations Rise [press release here]

February 24, 2021 –Governor Northam Increases Capacity Limits for Outdoor Sports and Entertainment Venues [document here]

February 16, 2021 – Virginia Launches Central Pre-Registration Website for COVID-19 Vaccine.

January 27, 2021 – 16VAC25-220, Final Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus that Causes COVID-19 goes into effect today. Under the new Final Permanent Standard, infectious disease preparedness and response plans must be completed by March 26, 2021. Training requirements are effective on March 26, 2021. The Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) developed a suite of online courses to assist manufacturers comply with these standards. Online courses are available 24/7 at manufacturingskillsinstitute.org/covid-19-certification-program.

December 2020 – The VCBG has updated the Craft Brewery Pledge in line with updated Phase 3 Reopening Guidelines.

November 2020 – Updated OSHA Guidance Documents:

September 2020

August 2020

July 2020

June 2020

  • 6/2 – Governor Northam announced Phase 2 guidelines to ease public health restrictions. Phase 2 will begin June 5, with the exceptions of Northern Virginia and Richmond City, which will remain in Phase 1. View the full press release here.
  • 6/5 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. View the webinar here.
  • 6/9 – Governor Northam confirmed that Loudoun County will enter Phase 2 on Friday, June 12. Review the Phase 2 Guidelines in preparation for reopening.
  • 6/12 – VCBG hosted thier final all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. View the webinar here.
  • 6/18 – Governor Northam released his Phase Three Reopening Guidelines. We currently do not have a date for moving into Phase Three.
  • 6/25 – View the updated Craft Brewery Pledge. The entire Commonwealth is expected to move into Phase 3 Reopening on July 1st.
  • 6/30 – The Governor released additional restrictions for bar seating while entering Phase 3: Governor Northam Prohibits Congregating in Bars, Stresses Caution As Virginia Moves to Phase Three.

May 2020

  • 5/1 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. They discussed the next stages into the plans to reopen the state, and how those stages will impact taproom sales and safety. View the webinar here.
  • 5/2 – OSHA released Guidance for Restaurants and Beverage Vendors Offering Takeout or Curbside Pickup.
  • 5/8 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. They discussed the “VCBG Back to Work Plan” and “Craft Brewery Pledge.” View the webinar here.
  • 5/11 – Virginia Department of Health (VDH) released guidance on ending isolation in non-health care settings and ending quarantine for exposed persons. View the Ending Isolation Guidance Graphic here.
  • 512 – Governor Northam announces a delayed Phase 1 Reopening for Northern Virginia. This includes the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Manassas Park; and the towns of Dumfries, Herndon, and Vienna (Northern Virginia Region).
  • 5/14 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. This webinar was held at a unique time with the focus on Phase 1 reopening for the majority of the membership. Accomack County, Richmond City, and specific areas of Northern Virginia remain closed. View the webinar here.
  • 5/14 – Governor Northam announces a delayed Phase 1 Reopening for the City of Richmond and Accomack County.
  • 5/22 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. View the webinar here.
  • 5/26 – Governor Northam announces Executive Order 63, requiring face masks to be worn indoors in public buildings. He is also directing the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry (VADOLI) to develop emergency temporary standards for occupational safety that will protect employees from the spread of COVID-19 in their workplaces. These standards will address personal protective equipment, sanitation, record-keeping of incidents, and hazard communication. Upon approval from the Virginia Safety & Health Codes Board, VADOLI will be able to enforce the standards through civil penalties and business closures.
  • 5/29 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. View the webinar here.

April 2020

  • 4/3 – US OSHA provided enforcement guidance related to wearing protective equipment during the N95 shortage. View their press release here. They also issued guidance related to wearing protective equipment certified in other countries or jurisdictions. View that guidance memo here.
  • 4/3 – VCBG hosted the first of a series of weekly all-member webinars dedicated to the COVID-19 response. Bill Walton from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) and Chris Van Orden from the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provided information about employment and Small Business Administration (SBA) financing. View the VCBG’s presentation here. View SBDC’s presentation here.
  • 4/10 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. Bob Morris, Executive Director of Center for Applied Innovation, provided information about Project BeerSpirits: Turning Out of Code Beers Into Hand Sanitizer. View the presentation here. View the webinar on YouTube.
  • 4/15 – CDC & CISA released Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19. See also a printable flyer containing Do’s and Don’t’s for Essential Workers Exposed to COVID-19 for your workplace needs.
  • 4/15 – Governor Northam announced that entertainment businesses such as movie theaters and gyms must remain closed until May 8, extended a previous order set to expire April 23. View the press release here.
  • 4/15 – VCBG partnered with Secret Hopper to create a comprehensive guide for How to Maximize Your Customers’ Online Experience.
  • 4/15 – Governor Northam announced that entertainment businesses such as movie theaters and gyms must remain closed until May 8, extended a previous order set to expire April 23. View the press release here.
  • 4/16 – Governor Northam requested additional federal support for Virginia’s workers. View the press release here.
  • 4/16 – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that employers who are unable to fulfill annual testing, inspection, training, and auditing due to the COVID-19 outbreak will be granted relief as long as the company makes good faith efforts to stay in compliance. OSHA will evaluate “whether the employer makes good faith efforts to comply with applicable OSHA standards and, in situations where compliance was not possible, to ensure that employees were not exposed to hazards from tasks, processes, or equipment for which they were not prepared or trained.” Read the enforcement memorandum and OSHA-provided examples of certain tests that may qualify here.
  • 4/17 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. Adam Monk, President of McClung Companies provided information on accessing PPE. View the webinar on YouTube.
  • 4/17 – The White House released guidelines for reopening the country using a three-phased approach. The guidelines largely encourage states to make their own decisions based on the conditions locally. The plan calls for states to move to the first phase of reopening after exhibiting a downward trend of documented cases or positive tests over a two-week period. The guidelines also lay out important steps for both employers and individuals that are aligned with current CDC guidelines. You can see the president’s guidelines here.
  • 4/21 – The US Department of Justice issued a warning regarding fraudulent 3M PPE. View it here.
  • 4/22 – VCBG announced their first ever virtual 5/10K, The Virginia Craft Beer Run, to support Virginia’s craft beer industry. View the full press release here.
  • 4/24 – VCBG hosted an all-member webinar dedicated to the COVID-19 response. Representatives from Virginia ABC spoke on their recent response in letting breweries manufacture hand sanitizer and the Guild kicked off The Virginia Craft Beer Run, a virtual 5/10K that begins their digital marketing campaign to encourage Virginians to buy more craft beer. View the webinar here.

March 2020

  • 3/12 – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Declares State of Emergency, Outlines Additional Measures to Combat COVID-19.
  • 3/16 – State Corporation Commission (SCC) issued 60 Day Suspension of All Disconnections.
  • 3/16 – VCBG submits initial regulatory relief concepts to Northam Administration and VA ABC.
  • 3/16 – VCBG participates in national Guilds COVID-19 response conference call.
  • 3/17 – VCBG participates in COVID-19 conference call with Northam Administration to discuss potential assistance and next steps to slow the spread of the infection.
  • 3/17 – VMA, VCBG, NFIB and VA Retail Federation host Coalition for a Strong Virginia Economy conference call to discuss COVID-19 industry response.
  • 3/17 – VCBG Leadership Council meets to develop initial state regulatory relief proposal to submit to Governor Northam.  Identifies brewery operations and supply-chain designation as “essential services” as critical priority.  Develops best-practice advisory for off-premise sales/tasting room regulation.
  • 3/17 – ABC expedites Delivery Permit Approvals to 24 hours; Provides approval of curbside/parking lot off-premise sales for breweries.
  • 3/18 – VCBG Leadership Council meets to finalize best-practice advisory for off-premise sales/tasting room regulation and identify “novel containers” for disposable off-premise sales authorization from VA ABC.
  • 3/18 – Brewers Association calls upon Congress for a $3 billion in mitigation funding due to brewery closures.
  • 3/18 – VCBG submits its final “Phase 1” state regulatory relief proposal to Governor Northam.
  • 3/19 – US Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), released Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce.
  • 3/19 Tax Payment news – Sales Tax Payments may be deferred until April 20, if requested from the state. There will be no penalties and the General Assembly will be asked to repeal interest payments required by this deferral; State Corporate and Individual Income Tax Payments due May 1 will be deferred until June 1 and penalties and interest will be waived pending General Assembly approval.
  • 3/19 – Virginia is made eligible for Disaster Assistance Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Information can be found at SBA’s COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Loan page. Look for local assistance near you – view the map.
  • 3/19 – VCBG hosts member webinar to review “Phase 1” regulatory relief proposal, industry best-practices and get an update on Federal affairs from Brewers Association.  Special guest – Bob Pease, CEO, BA.  View or listen to recorded webinar here.
  • 3/19 – VA ABC revised decision and waived permit application requirements for all brewery delivery permits.
  • 3/20 – VCBG submitted to VA ABC their Regulatory Relief Request regarding the Off-Premise “Novel or Unusual Container” Definition.
  • 3/23 – ABC approved VCBG Regulatory Relief Request regarding the Off-Premise “Novel or Unusual Container” Definition. View a list of acceptable containers in item #11 of this report.

Prevention and Response Recommendations

The Guild created the “VCBG Back to Work Plan,” outlining necessary steps to reopen breweries, and the “Craft Brewery Pledge” (updated to reflect June 1 reopening, and continually as needed).

Government Resources

VIRGINIA STATE RESOURCES:

Governor’s Office/Northam Administration

  • Up-to-date information, assistance, and resources from across state government: COVID-19 Resource Center
  • Manufacturing Operations Identified as “Essential Services” Press Release. Craft beer is manufacturing.
  • Executive Order 63 – mandated face coverings in public buildings.

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation – COVID-19 Resource Center

Department of Health:

Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) – Licensee Resource Page

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) –

FEDERAL RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Department of Homeland Security – Guidance on The Essential Critical Infrastructure.

Department of Justice

Food and Drug Administration – Guidance for Industry on Hand Sanitizer

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Small Business Administration

Department of Labor – Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Questions and Answers. These requirements expired December 31, 2020.

State Department – Guidance on Travel

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) Guidance

Industry Best Practices and Resources

VCBG RESOURCES:

OTHER INDUSTRY RESOURCES:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has specific information for businesses, healthcare, laboratories, transportation, and more for responding to and preventing COVID-19 infections.

Brewers Association offers their own COVID-19 Resource Center.

Disclaimer:  The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials provided are for general informational purposes only and suggested guidance based on the best available information at the time.