Posted on 03/23/2020 1:44:10 PM PDT by ncson
"RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today issued a statewide order to protect the health and safety of Virginians and reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Executive Order Fifty-Three orders the closure of certain non-essential businesses, bans all gatherings of more than 10 people, and closes all K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year. Governor Northam is also urging all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home, if and when possible."
. . . verbiage omitted . . .
"Public Gatherings
All gatherings of more than 10 people are banned statewide, beginning at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. This does not include gatherings that involve the provision of health care or medical services, access to essential services for low-income residents, such as food banks; operations of the media; law enforcement agencies; or operations of government."
. . . verbiage omitted . . .
"The following retail businesses are considered essential and may remain open during normal business hours:
Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers . . .
Beer, wine, and liquor stores;
Retail functions of gas stations and convenience stores; . . .
Laundromats and dry cleaners."
. . . . . .
Now for the good part... . . . excerpt from a FAQ from the above source . . .
[https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Regarding-EO-53.pdf]
"What about religious services? Can I still go to my church, synagogue, or mosque?
Virginians are strongly encouraged to seek alternative means of attending religious services, such as virtually or via drive-through worship. Places of worship that do conduct inperson services must limit gatherings to 10 people, to comply with the statewide 10-person ban.
(Excerpt) Read more at governor.virginia.gov ...
Fellow Virginians and Christians - please remember this next time this man Northam is on a ballot for anything more important than street sweeper.
This may be the only thing this idiot governor does that makes sense.
Not a good look.
The baby killer says he is concerned with saving lives.
Has he proposed a hood or blackface as a cure yet?
LOL
How in the F are liquor stores essential services?
The churches could actually turn this in their favor, by booking many services in a day, limited to nine congregants and the clergyman.
I do not expect public officials to grasp the pharmaceutical value of the Eucharist as “the medicine of immortality” (+Ignatius of Antioch, 2nd Century Martyr) but even the most dense can understand that Christ's offering is “food indeed”.
As for the 10—other than being a number that Dr. Faux-see pulled out of a hat without a shred of scientific evidence—clergy could simply schedule multiple abbreviated services through out the day.
I just found out here in MD, our bike shop is still open! It is considered “essential”!
(Gov closed all non-essential today.)
Tell me there isn’t some kind of agenda here.
As a pastor in virginia I find this very insulting to try to follow this.
Uhhmmm....they have ice?
LOL!
Heard from doc in my neighborhood that liquor stores are being kept open because the government doesn’t want all the alcoholics in withdrawal clogging the ERs. Liquor industry gets most of their of revenue from people who have 10+ drinks PER DAY. Eye opener.
That explanation makes good sense.
Keep the booze flowing.
When I went to WM last week, there was minimal bread and milk, and no eggs at all, but huge amounts of beer, wine, and liquor.
Not sure if that continues, I haven’t been back.
Remember: the Commonwealth of Virginia owns the ABC stores, which is the only place in the state you can buy a bottle of “hard” liquor or in greater quantities. Gotta make sure the liquor revenue keeps rolling in...
This idiot governor closed the schools till June! If there is anything that guarantees the continued disruption of the economy this is it. If the virus subsides in the next few weeks (a distinct possibility) the parents still have to try to figure out how to take care of the kids. This means that some of them will lose their jobs. This means that some small businesses will go out of business and this means that all of the kids get short changed on their education. Ole’ coonman needs to consider opening the schools in the summer to make up for this.
What did you expect from a Communist?
He’s a slime and at first glance this sounds bad, but peeps don’t congregate in stores as churches do.
In these times, home entertainment is all that we’ve got going. And we’re free
to visit the church and our pastors. Save the sermon for a couple of weeks when the panic dies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.