TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNALWith the loosening of restrictions on restaurants as part of the first phase of Gov. Ralph Northam’s Forward Virginia plans, restaurant patrons were able to get back to normal (sort of) on Friday, with a number of restaurants in both counties expanding into outdoor dining, including Richardson’s in Mathews, at left, and Olivia’s in the Village in Gloucester, photo at right. Some restaurants that had no outside dining before COVID-19 created special outside spaces to fill demand. Other restaurants are planning to open their outside dining this week.

With the loosening of restrictions on restaurants as part of the first phase of Gov. Ralph Northam’s Forward Virginia plans, restaurant patrons were able to get back to normal (sort of) on Friday, with a number of restaurants in both counties expanding into outdoor dining, including Richardson’s in Mathews, at left, and Olivia’s in the Village in Gloucester, photo at right. Some restaurants that had no outside...