01/10/2023
!2!A. !34 .
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
IN RE: )
POLICY ON MASK WEARING )
AND COURTHOUSE ENTRY )
DUE TO COVID-19 )
STANDING ORDER 2023-2
The Court continues to monitor the local and national emergency occasioned by the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends that all persons wear a face covering in public or indoor settings in areas where
COVID-19 Community Levels are HIGH. In accordance with the CDC’s COVID-19
Community Levels model, which became effective on February 25, 2022, and due to the
recent surge of COVID-19 cases due to the current XBB.1.5. variant, Standing Order 2022-8
is AMENDED, in part, as follows:
1. All persons in a federal courthouse in the Western District of Virginia, including fully
vaccinated persons, must wear a face covering in public spaces in the courthouse
when Community Levels are HIGH in the city or county where the courthouse is
located based on the CDC’s COVID-19 County Check Tool located on the CDC
website.
2. The Clerk is DIRECTED to check the COVID-19 County Check Tool located on
the CDC website weekly and communicate with the Court Security Officers, Clerk’s
Office, Probation Office, and judge’s chambers in each divisional courthouse as to
COVID-19 Community Level in the city or county where the courthouse is located.
3. When the CDC COVID-19 County Check Tool on the CDC website indicates that
the Community Level in the city or county where the courthouse is located is HIGH,
the Clerk and Court Security Officers are DIRECTED to ensure that signage is
posted by the General Services Administration at the entrance to the courthouse
indicating that Community Levels are HIGH and that masks are required in all public
spaces in the courthouse. Court Security Officers shall inform those entering the
courthouse of this Order and shall enforce it by excluding any person from the
building who does not comply with its requirements. The Court Security Officers
shall provide any person barred from entering a building with a list of telephone
numbers for the agencies in the building.
4. If the CDC COVID-19 County Check Tool indicates that the Community Level is
below the HIGH level for the city or county where the courthouse is located, the
mask requirement in public spaces is lifted.
5. Mask wearing during court proceedings and in judges’ chambers in courthouses shall
be at the discretion of the presiding judge.
It is so ORDERED.
Entered: January , 2023
Michael F. Urbanski
Chief U.S. District Judge
2023.01.10 10:12:55 -05'00'
Michael F. Urbanski
Chief United States District Judge
