Politicians and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce are pushing back on an order from Governor Ralph Northam’s latest executive order requiring everyone to wear masks.
Jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, including Prince William County, are set to join the rest of the state at midnight in the first phase of reopening following the coronavirus pandemic. Anyone over the age of 10 must wear a mask in a public space to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the governor decreed.
The order dictates that masks must be worn in businesses, restaurants, on public transportation, and local and state government buildings.
Another aspect of the order is the authority given to the Virginia Department of Health to revoke a business’s license if customers don’t comply with the order.
“As businesses continue to adapt to the current environment and restrictions associated with “Phase One of the “Forward Virginia” plan, it is unreasonable to hold them accountable for the enforcement of this new mandate, which could create unsafe situations for workers tasked with confronting non-compliant customers,” states the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in a press release. “The Virginia Chamber continues to strongly encourage the use of face coverings to prioritize the safety of our citizens, but is deeply concerned by the burden the enforcement of this mandate will place on the thousands of businesses throughout
the Commonwealth.”
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) was joined by House Republican Caucus Chair Kathy Byron (R-Bedford), and House Republican Whip Jay Leftwich (R-Chesapeake) in issuing the following statement:
“We are deeply concerned about Governor Northam’s actions today. It is unconscionable to require businesses to enforce a government mandate under threat of sanction from government agencies. This puts yet another burden on businesses already reeling from months of being shut down or severely limited. Throughout this episode, the Governor has acted inconsistently. Through his own actions the Governor has squandered his capital as a physician whose advice people would be willing to follow. Virginians would be much more likely to follow the suggestions of a leader who instills confidence and leads with consistency.”
At home, reactions to the governor’s latest executive order have been mixed.
“I think it’s a little late on the jump since [Maryland] had been doing this about a month ago. I am worried about how this will affect communities of color and how enforcement of that order will happen since those communities have been under attack. I am excited that it’s being done for health reasons,” stated Delegate Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg, Stafford).
“This order is necessary as long as Virginia lacks the level of testing and contact tracing required to truly contain this virus. Because people can be walking around not knowing they’re carrying COVID-19, we have to take proper precautions to keep everyone safe. Wearing a face covering is mostly about preventing further spreading, which means it’s a simple way to help everyone around you,” stated Fredericksburg City Council Ward 1 representative Jason Graham.
Northam was photographed on the Virignia Beach oceanfront on Saturday posing for photos with beachgoers, not wearing a mask, and not taking proper social-distancing measures by standing at least six feet apart from people, as recommended by the CDC.
“I am extremely concerned that the governor’s mandate places the burden of enforcement on so many struggling small business owners that help our county run. The timing of this order is puzzling and I don’t understand how anyone can mandate any Virginian to do something you aren’t doing yourself,” states Stafford County Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vaunch.
In addition to standing six-feet apart, the CDC also now recommends wearing a mask to stop the spread of the coronavirus. As of Tuesday, May 26, two people in Virginia were reported to be hospitalized due to the virus.
Overall, a total of 4,385 people in Virginia have been hospitalized due to the disease, and 1,281 have died.
