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Governor Northam Announces Face Covering Requirement and Workplace Safety Regulations
May 26, 2020 – Governor Ralph Northam signed Executive Order Sixty-Three, requiring Virginians to wear face coverings in public indoor settings to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Governor also directed the Department of Labor and Industry to develop emergency temporary standards to prevent workplace exposure to COVID-19.
The Governor’s statewide requirement for wearing face coverings is grounded in science and data, including recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that individuals should wear face coverings in public settings. Face coverings do not take the place of public health guidelines to maintain six feet of physical distancing, increase cleaning and sanitation, and wash hands regularly.
A face covering includes anything that covers your nose and mouth, such as a mask, scarf, or bandana. Medical-grade masks and personal protective equipment should be reserved for health care professionals. Under the Governor’s executive order, any person age ten 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 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 ten minutes
Exemptions to these guidelines include while eating and drinking at a food and beverage establishment; individuals who are exercising; children under the age of two; a person seeking to communicate with a hearing-impaired person, for which the mouth needs to be visible; and anyone with a health condition that keeps them from wearing a face covering. Children over the age of two are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering to the extent possible.
The Governor is also directing the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry to develop emergency temporary standards for occupational safety that will protect employees from the spread of COVID-19 in their workplaces. These occupational safety standards will require the approval by vote 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 of Labor and Industry will be able to enforce the standards through civil penalties and business closures.
The full text of Executive Order Sixty-Three and Order of Public Health Emergency Five is available here.
The text of amended Executive Order Fifty-One is available here.
Governor Announces Details for Phase One of “Forward Virginia”
Governor Ralph Northam signed Executive Order 61 and announced Phase One of the “Forward Virginia” plan to reopen the Commonwealth. The executive order modifies public health guidance in Executive Order 53 and Executive Order 55. The Governor has noted that the timing of the three-phase plan will be based on certain health data.
While Phase One began on May 15, Governor Northam has signed Executive Order 62 granting the City of Richmond, Accomack County, and several localities in Northern Virginia with an exemption to the state-mandated easing of the Phase One restrictions, per the localities’ requests. Under Executive Order 62, these localities will begin Phase One no sooner than midnight on Thursday, May 28.
Below you will find an overview of the information outlined for Phase One.
Phase One:
- The ban continues on social gatherings of more than 10 people and maintains recommendations for social distancing, teleworking, and wearing face coverings.
- All businesses should make modifications to maintain six feet of physical distancing, increase cleaning and sanitization of high contact surfaces, and provide enhanced workplace safety measures.
- Retail establishments will be allowed to operate at 50 percent occupancy.
- Restaurant and beverage establishments may offer outdoor dining at 50 percent occupancy.
- Personal grooming services may begin operating by appointment only, with only one appointment per service provider at a time.
- Fitness centers may offer outdoor exercise services.
- Campgrounds may also begin taking reservations for short-term stays.
- Places of worship may continue holding drive-in services, and services may be held inside at 50 percent capacity.
Additional guidance for businesses and religious services can be found below.
May 19, 2020 – Governor Ralph Northam shared new resources to protect Virginians from eviction and support individuals who have lost their job or income due to COVID-19.
These tools include StayHomeVirginia.com, a new website to help Virginians navigate housing programs, services, and resources. The website offers guidance on working with landlords, financial institutions, and other organizations to use eviction and foreclosure protections during this health crisis. Resources include relief for private mortgage holders, multifamily complexes, and tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Northam Outlines Three Phase Plan to Ease Restrictions on Businesses and Gatherings.
The Governor has also outlined his three-phase plan to ease restrictions on businesses and gatherings and expressed the timing of these phases will be based on when health data supports doing so. Phase I of this plan is expected to begin on Friday May 15, and each phase will likely last between two and four weeks.
View the outline of the three-phase plan, Forward Virginia Blueprint, here.
View the data briefing presented here.
April 29, 2020: Governor Northam Announces Elective Medical Procedures Can Resume
Governor Ralph Northam announced that hospitals and dentists will be allowed to resume non-emergency procedures as of midnight Thursday, April 30.
In March, elective medical procedures were banned under Public Health Order Number 2, signed by Governor Northam and State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver. This was done to preserve personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to allow hospitals to focus resources on COVID patients.
Governor Northam said non-emergency procedures can resume because social distancing and other measures have slowed the spread of the COVID virus. Thanks to the efforts of all Virginians, hospitals have not been overwhelmed with a surge in patients. The administration is working closely with hospitals and dental practices to ensure they resume operations safely, use necessary PPE, follow all CDC guidelines, and take all measures to protect the health of employees and patients.
Governor Northam Extends Business Closures for Two Weeks to May 8
Governor Ralph Northam announced that he will extend Executive Order Fifty-Three for two weeks, through Friday, May 8, 2020.
Executive Order Fifty-Three originally signed on March 24, bans crowds of more than 10 people; closes recreation, entertainment, and personal care businesses; and limits restaurants to offering takeout and delivery services only.
“As we have seen from our data and models, social distancing is working, and we are slowing the spread of this virus,” said Governor Northam. “But it is too early to let up. By extending this order to keep certain businesses closed or restricted, we can continue to evaluate the situation and plan for how to eventually ease restrictions so that our businesses may operate without endangering public health.”
Governor Northam’s Executive Order Fifty-Five, which directs Virginians to stay home unless they must leave for essential services, remains in effect until June 10.
Read the full press release here.
Governor Northam Announces Plans to Postpone Upcoming Virginia Elections in Response to COVID-19
Governor Ralph Northam today requested the General Assembly move the May General Election and all special elections scheduled for May 5, 2020 to the November 3, 2020 General Election date to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Governor is also exercising his statutory authority (§ 24.2-603.1 of the Code of Virginia) to move the June primary elections from June 9, 2020 to June 23, 2020.
Moving the upcoming May elections requires action by the General Assembly. The plan the Governor is proposing includes the following measures:
- There will be one ballot in November.
- Voters who are qualified in November will be able to vote in November. An individual who was not qualified in May but is qualified in November will be able to vote.
- All absentee ballots already cast will be discarded. Virginians will have an opportunity to vote for local elected officials in November.
- Those officials whose terms are to expire as of June 30, 2020 will continue in office until their successors have been elected on the November 3, 2020 and have been qualified to serve.
Read the full press release here
On March 30, Governor Ralph Northam issued a Stay at Home Order (Executive Order 55) requiring all Virginians to stay home, with a few exceptions. Individuals are allowed to travel for essential services only, which includes going to the grocery store, picking up medication, caring for sick family members, and picking up items from restaurants and other essential retailers. The order goes into effect immediately and remains in place until June 10, 2020. Additionally, all higher education institutions are required to stop all in-person classes and instruction, and all Virginia beaches are closed except for fishing and exercise.
EO 55 serves to reinforce the guidelines previously outlined in EO 53, which places restrictions on the following three categories of businesses:
- Recreational and entertainment businesses, like bowling alleys and movie theaters, must close;
- Restaurants and other businesses providing food and beverage services, like breweries and wineries, may only offer takeout and delivery services, as long as they are able to comply with social distancing and hygiene requirements; and
- Non-essential brick and mortar stores may stay open as long as they restrict their stores to 10 patrons or less, not including staff, and comply with social distancing recommendations.
Professional businesses not listed above must utilize telework as much as possible. Where telework is not feasible, such businesses must adhere to social distancing recommendations, enhanced sanitizing procedures, and apply relevant workplace guidance from state and federal authorities, including CDC, OSHA, and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.
All businesses deemed essential, and guidelines for operating during the pandemic can be found in Executive Order 55 and Executive Order 53.
The full press release can be found here.
Additional guidance and a Frequently Asked Questions document regarding EO-53 can be found here.
The latest news releases from the Office of Governor Ralph Northam can be found here.
