03/14/2022
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 2022-8
The Court has continued to monitor the local and national emergency occasioned
by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have
now advised that all persons, regardless of vaccination status, 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, Standing Order 2021-11 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 daily and communicate with the Court Security Officers, Clerk’s Office,
Probation office, and judge’s chambers in each divisional courthouse as to COVID-
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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 coordinate with the General
Services Administration to post signage 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 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, internal Clerk’s Office space, and internal Probation
Office space is lifted.
5. Mask wearing during court proceedings and in judge’s chambers in courthouses shall
be at the discretion of the presiding judge.
It is so ORDERED.
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Entered: March 14, 2022
Michael F. Urbanski
Chief U.S. District Judge
2022.03.14 12:10:53
-04'00'
Michael F. Urbanski
Chief United States District Judge
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