Northam lifts mask indoor mandate – for some settings
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| Northam announced new COVID guidelines in a video released May14. |
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam lifted Virginia’s universal indoor mask mandate to align with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Northam also announced in a video message May 14 that all distancing and capacity restrictions will end on Friday, May 28, two weeks earlier than planned.
The CDC guidelines state that fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks in most indoor settings – except on public transit, in healthcare facilities, and in congregate settings.
Masks will continue to be required in K-12 public schools, given low rates of vaccination among children.
Related story: Northam to lift capacity limits for businesses
Virginia is able to take these steps as a result of increasing vaccination rates and declining COVID levels.
Virginia is currently reporting a positivity rate of 3.5 percent, which is lower than at any time since the start of the pandemic. The seven-day average of new cases is 555, the lowest number in over 10 months. Virginia is currently recording its lowest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations at 684.
More than 4 million Virginians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, representing over 63 percent of the adult population.
“I strongly urge any Virginian who is not yet vaccinated to do so. The vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19,” Northam said.
Related story: Youths age 12-15 can now get COVID vaccinations
Virginians can take part in the Day of Action by:
- Signing up to be a COVID Community Ambassador. Ambassadors will help share COVID updates and materials from experts and sources with their networks and in their local community.
- Sharing your vaccination story on social media. Add a Facebook profile photo frame, upload a backdrop to your next virtual meeting, or record a short video highlighting why you chose to get vaccinated using the hashtag #VaccinateVirginia.
Thank you Lord Emperor Northam.
I don't really understand the issue here. Did you want to get the restrictions loosened or not? It's been a crisis situation. He's made sound decisions backed by the best information we have. When things are bad, he's had to tighten up and now that people are getting vaccinated and the numbers are dropping, he's loosening things up bit by bit. That's practically the definition of steady leadership.
Anonymous 9:30, people like 11:40 don't care about facts and logic–they just want to be obnoxious. Your well-made points will bounce off them like a Superball off the pavement.
–kda
What is the "best information"? I've lost some faith in the science that initially told us we don't need masks, then said we need masks to protect others, and then said we need masks to protect ourselves. Similarly, the best science said the corona virus came from bats, now it says probably a lab leak. The CDC says outdoor exposure causes less than 10% of Covid cases, but the NY Times says its closer to less than 0.1%. You can say that it's better to err on the side of caution, but being overly cautious imposes significant economic costs.