Northam: At least a week until Phase II for Va.; new testing sites announced

Virginia would stay in Phase I of the lifting of COVID-19 safety restrictions for at least another week, until June 5, but that 鈥渢he trends are encouraging,” Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday.

Northern Virginia, as well as Richmond and Accomack County, join the rest of the commonwealth in entering Phase I on Friday. It’s the same day as the start of the face covering requirement.

REOPENING PLANS AROUND THE REGION:

D.C.
Northern Virginia
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Frederick, Anne Arundel and Charles counties

He also remarked on the opening of 39 across Virginia, including 12 in Northern Virginia.

The governor and his counsel also said that enforcement of his executive order requiring masks in public indoor spaces was a matter of personal responsibility. But the Virginia Department of Health could be notified of what Counsel Rita Davis called 鈥済ross, egregious and repeated鈥� violations of the order.

Northam said that public beaches in Virginia will open to recreational activities on Friday. Social distancing must be maintained, and groups can be no larger than 10.

He also said NASCAR and other vehicle and horse races can begin, although no spectators will be allowed. That includes the NASCAR race scheduled for Martinsville June 10.

The 39 new CVS testing sites include a dozen in Northern Virginia 鈥� two in Loudoun County, one each in Arlington County and Alexandria, four in Fairfax County, two in Prince William County and one in Stafford County.

Here are the Northern Virginia sites:

6400 Landsdowne Center, Alexandria
7205 Little River Turnpike, Annandale
3401 Charles Street, Bailey’s Crossroads
16712 Jefferson Davis Highway, Dumfries
10090 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax
3921 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax
9009 Silverbrook Road, Fairfax Station
1020 Seneca Road, Great Falls
616 East Market Street, Leesburg
19305 Ruby Drive, Leesburg
6360 Hoadly Road, Manassas
902 Garrisonville Road, Stafford

Northam said he would be tested 鈥渟oon鈥� as well.

Mask enforcement

Asked whether businesses were being forced to choose 鈥渂etween health and wealth,鈥� Northam said again that the economic crisis in Virginia and across the U.S. wouldn鈥檛 go away until the health crisis does, and the sooner business owners and customers realize that, the sooner that could happen.

If someone enters a business without a mask, Davis said, a business owner can ask them to put one on.

鈥淚f that patron still refuses,鈥� Davis said, 鈥渃ertainly that business owner can suggest to that patron to maybe return at a time when they are more convinced they should be wearing a mask.鈥�

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Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here:聽听触听听触听

鈥淭he intent of this is to do the right thing,鈥� Northam said, 鈥� 鈥� it鈥檚 not to lock people up.鈥�

He added, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want businesses in the practice of enforcing this, and we don鈥檛 want confrontations to occur.鈥�

鈥淭his recovery is consumer-driven,鈥� Northam added. 鈥淎nd there are many Virginians who are following the guidelines and want to protect themselves and others. And I would just encourage businesses to keep that in mind.鈥�

If customers don鈥檛 feel comfortable going into a business, 鈥渢hey鈥檙e not going to go,鈥� he said.

Northam added that more Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles locations would also open soon. If your driver鈥檚 license or state ID expires before July 31, you鈥檒l have until Aug. 31 to renew.

He also announced that he and first lady Pam Northam would host Virginia Graduates Together, a virtual statewide graduation celebration, on Friday at 5 p.m.

Virginia Graduates Together will be shown on Virginia Public Media, Facebook Live and many stations across the commonwealth, including WETA, and on the YouTube channels of all those outlets.

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