Northam: Face coverings required in public in Va. starting Friday (VA)

WTOP ^ | 05/26/2020 | Rob Woodfork

[KevinB]

Face coverings will be required inside public establishments starting Friday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. He also addressed photos of him without a face covering interacting with well-wishers in Virginia Beach over the weekend.

At a briefing, Northam said that anywhere people can congregate in groups — including but not limited to stores, restaurants, barbershops, government buildings and public transportation — must wear face coverings, with a few exceptions for people:

Eating or drinking at a restaurant

Exercising

Who have a health condition that prohibits a face covering

Who are under the age of 10, although Northam strongly recommended children over 3 years old to wear one, if possible.

The governor said the order will be enforced by the Virginia Department of Health, not law enforcement, though Northam noted the penalty can be a Class I misdemeanor.

“This is about people’s health, it’s not about locking people up in jail and giving them large fines,” he said.

The governor’s Chief of Staff Clark Mercer said VDH enforcement will be akin to health inspections of restaurants, and the state is aware of the equity and practical issues that can arise from enforcing the order.

“This is for businesses that would grossly negligent and refusing to adopt this policy,” he said.

[StAnDeliver]

Mass. Civil. Disobedience.

[Qiviut]

I feel “smothered” & a bit claustrophobic in a mask - I haven’t been wearing one. Also, based on a lot of sources I’ve seen, a cloth mask is like putting up a chain link fence to keep out mosquitoes.

That being said, with Gov Blackface imposing masks & I do need to go to the store on occasion, I will be making one out of “flour sack”. It’s a level above cheese cloth - I use it for straining. It will be one ply & I’ve already checked it out - does not impede breathing at all. :-)