Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday, Dec. 10 new, targeted measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 as new cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in all areas of Virginia. Executive Order Seventy-Two directs Virginians — including Middlesex County residents — to stay at home between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., implements a universal mask requirement and lowers the limit on social gatherings from 25 people to 10 people. The order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. this Monday, Dec. 14 and remain in place through Jan. 31, 2021, unless rescinded or amended.
“New daily case numbers are higher than they have been at any previous point in the pandemic, and while the trends in Virginia are better than most of the country, we are taking action now to slow the spread of this virus before our hospitals get overwhelmed,” Northam said in a Dec. 10 news release. “We already have strong public health measures in place, and with these additional steps, we can turn this around. Virginians, if you don’t have to be out, stay at home. Whenever we are around other people, we all need to wear a mask, indoors and out.
“These are common-sense things we can all do to take care of each other and stay safe. This is not about getting people in trouble — this is about everyone doing their part and reducing opportunities for people to get sick.”
