Virginia requires face coverings in public places
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| Felix the Bear, who lives on Davian Drive in Annandale, takes public health seriously. [Liz Milner via Nextdoor] |
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings in public indoor settings to help contain the spread of coronavirus. The rules takes effect May 29.
Northam also called for emergency standards to prevent exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace and extended Virginia’s state-of-emergency declaration.
A face covering includes anything that covers one’s nose and mouth, such as a mask, scarf, or bandana. Medical-grade masks and personal protective equipment should be reserved for health care professionals.
Related story: Fairfax County to begin reopening May 29
Under Executive Order 63, everyone age 10 and older must wear a mask or face covering at all times while entering, exiting, traveling through, and spending time in the following public settings:
- Personal care and grooming businesses.
- Essential and non-essential brick and mortar retail, including grocery stores and pharmacies.
- Food and beverage establishments.
- Entertainment or public amusement establishments when they are permitted to open.
- Train stations, bus stations, and on intrastate public transportation, including in waiting or congregating areas.
- State and local government buildings and areas where the public accesses services.
- Any indoor space shared by groups of people who may congregate within six feet of one another or who are in close proximity to each other for more than 10 minutes.
Certain exemptions to the face-covering rule are allowed. People are not required to wear face coverings while eating, drinking, exercising, communicating with a hearing-impaired person, of if it interferes with a health condition. Children under age 2 are not required to wear a face covering but those older are strongly encouraged to do so.
The face-covering requirement is based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, which also call for social distancing, increased sanitation, and frequent hand washing.
“We are making progress to contain the spread of COVID-19 and now is not the time for Virginians to get complacent,” Northam said. “Science shows that face coverings are an effective way to prevent transmission of the virus, but wearing them is also a sign of respect. This is about doing the right thing to protect the people around us and keep everyone safe, especially as we continue to slowly lift public health restrictions in our commonwealth.”
Northam also directed the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry to develop emergency temporary standards to prevent workplace exposure to COVID.
These occupational safety standards will require approval of the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board and must address personal protective equipment, sanitation, record-keeping of incidents, and hazard communication. Upon approval, the department will be able to enforce the standards through civil penalties and business closures.
12 responses to “Virginia requires face coverings in public places”
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the baby kkkiller northam trampling on our constitutional rights….nice!
What constitution right are you referring to exactly?
the constitution is supposed to keep us free from tyranny…being forced to wear a mask that does nothing to stop the spread of covid 19 by the people who masterminded this plandemic("deep state", Bill Gates and the pizza gate crew) is tyranny…but you have a real nonchalant attitude towards the tyranny in this country eye notice
Bill Gates caused coronavirus? Go on…
This has to be a Poe's Law situation, right? Nobody can actually this insane.
Most people already are, so this won't change much. Also, I'm 99% sure that nobody's constitutional rights are being violated by this order. But then, the people who make ridiculous statements like that probably haven't even read the Constitution, so…
More like probably can't read it.
you might feel pretty bad about yourself when you realize you went along with the tyranny, who knows, maybe you are down with the population control agenda and you won't feel bad about being spineless cowards…but my conscience is clear…eye went against the tyranny
To assume that a constitutional right has or has not been violated without at minimum reading and understanding the Constitution and applicable jurisprudence is equally ill-informed. That said, constitutional principles are by thier nature limiting principles that only give certain powers to the executive with all other powers remaining with the people. So, one would have to look at the US Constitution and VA Constitution to see whether the powers are authorized. I've talked to a few lawyers who think that the restrictions weren't legal to begin with. In fact, if you read any of the Northam executive orders, they cite his executive power and some VA statutes that don't, on their face, give him the authority. A closer read may reveal that they do, but I am dubious of any order that bypasses the legislature.
You get out of here with your well reasoned discussion!
Ten comments into this blog post and not a single mention of how Penny Gross is to blame. I'm disappointed.
Let’s all do what we can to help one another. I’m raising my hand to say I’m willing to protect you, your children, and your parents by wearing my mask. Please, would you do the same for me and mine?