Arlington County Courthouse Requires Cloth Face Covering or Face Mask

Published on May 19, 2020

Arlington, VA - Beginning May 22, 2020, cloth facial coverings will be available for all people who do not have one as they enter the Arlington County Courthouse, Sheriff Beth Arthur announced. This comes after the Honorable Judge Newman, Arlington County Chief Judge, ordered that all patrons who enter the Courthouse will be required to wear a cloth face covering or face mask.

As we learn more about how COVID-19 spreads, along with evidence of widespread COVID-19 illness in communities across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people wear a cloth face covering to cover their nose and mouth in the community setting. A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer but may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. A cloth face covering should be worn whenever people must go into public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Related: How to Make a Cloth Face Covering with County Board Chair Libby Garvey

"I am happy that we can offer a cloth face covering to those individuals who need to come into the Courthouse for official business. It is important that we all work together to get through this challenging time," said Sheriff Arthur.

Sheriff Arthur understands that not everyone will have a facial covering or remember to bring one with them and she has worked with the County to ensure the safety of the public and those individuals working in the Courthouse. Patrons will be asked to return their cloth face covering as they exit the Courthouse and each evening, the cloth face coverings will be thoroughly washed.