Today Governor King Northam ordered new, more stringent, limitations on our liberties and our businesses.
Masks are now mandated for everyone over 5 years of age, previously it was 10. Public and private gatherings are no longer limited to 250, but to a mere 25, both indoors and outdoors. This cap of 25 people does not apply to religious services, employment or schools. This rule will apply only to parties, celebrations, and other social gatherings indoors and outdoors.
Too bad if you had a wedding planned, or a 50th anniversary celebration or an event like the annual Republican Advance. You are out of luck, and most likely out the money you prepaid for the event. This will hurt so many of our small businesses but King Ralph does not seem to care about the small business in Virginia, at all. It seems these new rules would also prevent the meeting of County Republican committees across the state since 25 will rarely constitute a quorum. Another bonus for the King.
The order also bans the sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol after 10:00 pm at all restaurants, breweries, wineries etc. Bars, for the most part, are already closed.
From the Dailypress.com,
The new order from Gov. Ralph Northam also says violations of state guidelines for retailers on masks, maintaining distances between customers and staff and enhanced cleaning will be prosecuted as class 1 misdemeanors, which subject offenders to up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
“COVID-19 is surging across the country, and while cases are not rising in Virginia as rapidly as in some other states, I do not intend to wait until they are. We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from getting worse,” Northam said.
These new restrictions will take effect at midnight on Sunday, November 15th.
Remember when many Republicans thought COVID would be forgotten once the election was over? Judging by what’s happened in Maryland and Virginia, they were very wrong. It seems Governors in a number of states are doubling down on restrictions. And Biden believes he can mandate mask-wearing nationwide. This is going to get so much worse before it gets better.
UPDATE: To read all of today’s new orders, the announcements were attached as amendments to the governor’s executive order 67 and executive order 63. All of the governor’s executive orders can be found here. He certainly enjoys his executive orders. It’s good to be King.