Face Masks Encouraged But Not Required In VA: Gov. Northam

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday again strongly encouraged all residents to wear a cloth face mask if they must leave their home to shop for essential goods. But the governor stopped short of ordering residents to don a mask when they go out for exercise or to shop, even as leaders in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland, order residents to wear cloth face coverings to try to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

"It’s just a strong suggestion, and encouragement,” Northam said in his Friday briefing, WTOP reports.

Starting Monday, all shoppers across Montgomery County will be required to wear masks to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, or potentially face a fine. of up to $500, and repeat offenders will face $750 fines for every subsequent violation.

The order matches a similar announcement by Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requiring shoppers to use masks and for retailers to enforce social distancing.

Northam said he encourages people to use makeshift cloth masks, “not only to protect themselves, but also protect others. ... "As long as we can continue to work together, as long as we can continue to see that social distancing is working, that the curves are flattening, we’ll continue with our present guidelines,” Northam said, WTOP reports.

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Face masks are recommended as the state confirmed 5,077 people in Virginia have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. That is an increase of more than 560 since Friday. As of Saturday, 837 Virginians have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, an increase of 65 hospitalizations in 24 hours.

Of the 130 deaths from the virus, 47 were in central Virginia and 42 were in the northern region.

The governor issued a state-at-home order for residents to help contain the coronavirus outbreak. The order lasts until June 10. Local police will break up gatherings of 1o or more people, and residents are asked to contact the police if they see stores or other establishments not enforcing social distancing or limiting their customer counts to 10 or fewer people.

Northam said the availability of N95 masks should be reserved for first responders, health-care providers and workers at facilities like nursing homes. However, he encourages individuals to cover their faces when outside their homes for essential tasks, particularly around other people.

"I think it would not only protect them but ...others around them, so I would encourage that to happen," said Northam.

There are numerous online tutorials for making face masks on YouTube. Online retailers including Etsy, are currently selling the cloth masks, but shipping times vary.

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President Donald Trump said a week ago that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends all Americans wear nonmedical-grade face coverings when in public to help prevent transmission of the new coronavirus. He stressed that medical masks and respirators should be reserved for health care workers.

See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of Health for more information.

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