The Week 1 phase of reopenings will
begin on Thursday, April 30. From there, each phase of the reopening
process for Weeks 2-6 will begin on Monday of each subsequent week. Case
numbers will continue to be monitored throughout the entire reopening
process.
Reopening is a
Choice, Not a Requirement
Businesses included in each phase of this reopening plan are not required
to resume operations on any specific date. This plan provides the option
for reopening, not a requirement.
Week 1
In the Week 1 phase of reopenings, hospitals across West Virginia will be
able to resume elective medical procedures, provided that they have a
plan in place to safely phase-in procedures based on clinical judgement
while following all CDC guidelines – as ordered by Gov.
Justice last week. Additionally, hospitals seeking to
resume elective procedures must also have adequate inventories of
personal protective equipment (PPE) and a plan to respond if there is a
surge of COVID-19 patients in the future. Each hospital has the
discretion to determine the best time to apply to restart elective
medical procedures at their facility. The West Virginia Department of
Health and Human Resources Office of Health Facility Licensure &
Certification will approve each application.
Also during Week 1, outpatient health care operations may resume,
including primary care, dentistry, physical/occupational therapy,
psychological/mental health, and similar practices. However, providers
must follow guidance issued by their boards and/or associations to which
are designed to keep healthcare professionals and patients as safe as
possible.
Additionally during this period, testing of daycare staff across the
state will begin.
Week 2
All businesses included in the Week 2 phase of reopenings will be
required to operate with physical distancing measures in effect.
Businesses will also be required to implement efforts to increase
sanitation and the use of face coverings.
Further guidance on reopening requirements for each business sector
included in the Week 2 phase of the plan will be available soon.
Any small business with fewer than 10 employees would be able to resume
operations during Week 2. Additional guidance for small businesses will
be available soon.
Additionally, all businesses providing professional services, such as
hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, and pet grooming will be permitted
to reopen. However, customers will be required to make appointments to
utilize these services and must wait in their vehicles rather than inside
the business. Additional guidance for professional service businesses
will be available soon.
Outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted under strict physical
distancing restrictions. Additional guidance for outdoor dining
establishments will be available soon.
Although churches and funeral homes were deemed essential, many chose to
stop in-person services. During Week 2, those that wish to resume
in-person services will be encouraged to follow additional guidelines
such as limiting seating to every other pew, maintaining physical
distancing and wearing face covering restrictions. Additional guidance
for churches and funeral homes will be available soon.
Weeks 3-6
Several additional types of businesses will be permitted to reopen from
Weeks 3-6. The opening schedule for these businesses will be based upon
the recommendations of state medical experts and upon testing data
available at that time.
These businesses include office/government buildings, specialty retail
stores, parks and/or restrooms and facilities at parks, gyms, fitness
centers, recreation centers, dine-in restaurants, hotels, casinos,
spas/massage establishments, and other businesses.
The Governor’s Office will announce which of these businesses will be
able to reopen at least one week in advance of its respective reopening
date. Additional guidance on reopening will be made available for each of
these businesses at that time.
Conditions for
Reopening to Slow, Stop, or Reverse
In the event that West Virginia’s number of positive COVID-19 cases
surges above the 3% threshold, the schedule of reopenings may be slowed,
stopped, or reversed.
Additionally, any unexpected increase in COVID-19 positive
hospitalizations or any significant outbreaks of community-based
transmission (not including clusters or outbreaks in nursing homes or
other vulnerable communities) may slow, stop, or reverse the reopening
process as deemed necessary by Gov. Justice and state health experts.
Businesses With No
Timeline for Reopening Right Now
Due to safety concerns, at this time, there is still no timetable to
reopen visitation at nursing homes.
Additionally, entertainment venues such as movie theaters, sporting
events, and concerts will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
West Virginians
Should Continue to
As the reopening process gets underway, West Virginians should continue
to practice good social distancing, maintaining at least six feet of
separation between each other.
Additionally, people are encouraged to continue wearing face coverings in
public where other physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
The Governor’s Stay At Home order
will remain in place until lifted at a later date.
Individuals are also required to continue following all county health
department regulations and businesses are encouraged to continue allowing
employees to telework if possible. |