Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday ordered Virginia residents to wear masks in indoor public areas to combat the coronavirus.
Virginians over the age of 10 will be required to have a face covering when using public transportation and visiting salons, barbershops, and retail stores. Masks also must be worn in restaurants, except when eating.
The announcement, which Northam strongly hinted at last week, comes as he faces criticism for not wearing a mask at the oceanfront of Virginia Beach over the Memorial Day weekend.
“I was not prepared — I am responsible for that,” Northam said. “The next time, I will be better prepared. But this is not just about me. This is about all Virginians and their public safety.”
Northam said that police departments will not be enforcing the mask requirement. That will fall to the Virginia Department of Public Health, yet Northam did not provide specifics on how it would be enforced.
Virginia is the eighth state to institute some form of mask requirement, following Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
