NEWS RELEASE Contact: Chief, Cynthia McAlister
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE cmcalister@purcellvilleva.gov; 540-338-7422
GOVERNOR EXTENDS KEY PROVISIONS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER FIFTY THREE UNTIL MAY 14th
PURCELLVILLE, Va., May 6, 2020 — On May 4, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam extended the expiration deadline of Executive Order 53, continuing the closure of all non-essential services and businesses who cannot feasibly adhere to social distancing guidelines until May 14, 2020 at midnight. Executive Order Fifty-Three originally signed on March 24, prohibited crowds of more than 10 people; closed recreation, entertainment, and personal care businesses; and limited restaurants to offering takeout and delivery services only. Executive Order 53 was set to originally expire on April 23, then extended until May 8, and now will be extended by one additional week. Therefore, gatherings of more than 10 people are still banned and all businesses that had to initially close due to the order have to remain closed until May 14 at the earliest.
The Stay at Home Order, issued through Executive Order 55, remains in effect until June 10th, as it was originally set, and directs Virginians to stay home unless they must leave for essential services.
Providing health data supports doing so, Governor Northam has outlined a three-phase plan to ease restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Phase I of easing restrictions would continue social distancing, teleworking, recommendations that people wear face coverings in public, and the ban on social gatherings of more than 10 people. It would ease some limits on business and faith communities, and would transition the stay at home directive to a “safer at home” guideline, especially for those in vulnerable populations.
It is expected that Phase I would last two to four weeks, as would the two subsequent phases, depending on health metrics.
More specific guidance on each phase will be available in the coming days.
As a reminder, the following recreation and entertainment businesses are considered non-essential and are currently still closed to the public:
Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, and other indoor entertainment centers, fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities;
Beauty salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed that would not allow compliance with social distancing guidelines to remain six feet apart;
Racetracks and historic horse racing facilities;
Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs, and all other places of indoor public amusement.
Please refer to the full text of Executive Order 53, and Executive Order 55, and here for additional frequently asked questions.
The Purcellville Police Department asks for the public’s continued assistance in achieving voluntary compliance to the extension of the Governor’s Order. It should be noted that violations of the Governor’s Order Fifty Three or Fifty Five constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor pursuant to § 44-146.17 of the Code of Virginia and could result in criminal charges. A Class 1 misdemeanor is punishable by jail time for no more than twelve months and/or a fine of no more than $2,500.
Please remember to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for the wearing of cloth face coverings in public, maintaining a social distance of six feet, and following proper handwashing and sanitizing guidelines.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of over 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for its green initiatives with most recently being the Tree City USA recipient for the 12th year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and is ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
###
