Northern Virginia is on track to move into an early stage of loosening pandemic restrictions by the end of the week, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced Tuesday. Northam also said a new statewide mask requirement will go into effect for people entering barbershops, stores, restaurants and public transportation on Friday.

“This is not about punishing people, it’s not about certainly putting people in jail, and charging them large fines,” Northam said. “We’re trying to promote safety.”

Northern Virginia moving to Phase One would move Virginia closer to a unified set of rules. Most of the rest of the state loosened restrictions on May 15, while the leaders in Northern Virginia said they had too many new COVID-19 infections — and too few tests — to safely reopen.

On Monday, the leaders of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties sent the governor a letter saying they were prepared to ease restrictions. They also requested to move to Phase Two with the rest of the state.

The governor’s message for wearing masks was undermined by photographs that showed him without a mask in Virginia Beach Saturday. Northam said he only expected to speak with the press and the mayor of Virginia Beach.

“Some well-wishers came up to me and asked to take pictures. I was not prepared because my mask was in the car. I take full responsibility for that,” he said.

“We’re all forming new habits and routines,” he added.

The mask requirement will apply to adults and children aged 10 and older, Northam said. There will also be exemptions for people who are eating, drinking, exercising or who have a health condition that prevented them from wearing a mask, Northam continued.

Worker advocates previously protested Northam moving to let up on restrictions without protections in place for employees in front line jobs. On Tuesday, the governor framed the mask rule as a way to keep workers safe.

“As more businesses open to the public, the people who work there are put in a vulnerable position when other people come in without a mask,” he said. “Science shows us that masks can help stop the spread of the virus.”

Enforcement may be a stumbling block. Northam said the mask requirement will not carry criminal penalties. Current state code does not provide for a civil penalty either, he said, although Northam added that lawmakers could take up the matter during a special summer session.

Northam’s Chief of Staff Clark Mercer said the Virginia Department of Health would enforce the mask requirement as it enforces health codes at restaurants, though he did not give details. Further, Northam said the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry would draft new, enforceable standards for workplace safety around COVID-19.

Republican leaders in the House of Delegates called the new rule a “mask edict.” In a statement, House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah and the party’s caucus chair and whip wrote, “We are deeply concerned about Governor Northam’s actions today. It is unconscionable to require businesses to enforce a government mandate under threat of sanction from government agencies. This puts yet another burden on businesses already reeling from months of being shut down or severely limited.”

Republican State Sen. Amanda Chase of Chesterfield, who is running to succeed Northam as governor, wrote in a message to her supporters, “I will not be masked, tested, tracked or chipped to support this liberal agenda.”

This story has been updated with comments from Republican leadership in the Virginia House of Delegates.