Sheriff Overton Responds to Governor’s Stay at Home Order

ROCKY MOUNT – Governor Northam has issued a temporary stay at home order Monday due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), extending to June 10, 2020. This order, number fifty-five, is placing restrictions on public gatherings solely to protect each person. The Office of the Sheriff is encouraging everyone to take these restrictions seriously.

“These are unprecedented times that we must all take the necessary precautions to protect our loved ones and our entire community”, Sheriff Overton said. “The health and well-being of all residents should be on the hearts and minds of each person. We must sacrifice as a whole for the safety of all in our community.”

The Office of the Sheriff is encouraging all Franklin County residents to follow Governor Northam’s order to stay at home, and when necessary to leave your residence, to practice social distancing of remaining at least 6 feet from others. These restrictions are to protect you, your loved ones, and your community.

Sheriff Overton and his administration will continue to utilize guidance from the Office of the Governor, the Virginia Department of Health, and the local COVID-19 task force to monitor the spread. We will continue to keep our enforcement and visibility a priority for our community, with various safety measures put into place. Those measures include, but are not limited to, wearing masks, gloves, protective eye wear, lessening contact with the public when possible, and exercising social distancing when possible. We are constantly re-assessing and utilizing information from the sources mentioned above to ensure that we are providing the best services that we can under these unprecedented circumstances.