Virginia’s Safety and Health Code Board took steps to establish COVID-19 health and safety rules through the regulatory process, rather than relying simply on Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive orders, which have concerned some business groups.

The board stopped short of adopting any rules, but took significant steps in a meeting that lasted more than seven hours. The board voted 9-3 to declare that the virus poses a grave danger to workers and that temporary emergency standards are necessary.