West Virginia Strong – The Comeback

(November 13, 2020​) All West Virginians age 9 and older are required to wear a face covering at all times inside all indoor public places. The requirement does not apply to anyone who has trouble breathing or anyone who is otherwise unable to remove their own face covering without assistance. It also does not apply to anyone inside a restaurant and actively consuming food or beverages, anyone is inside a closed room by themselves, or inside one’s residence. For children ages 2 years old through 8 years old, face coverings are not required. However, it is recommended that parents or guardians use their best judgment as to when to assist their children, ages 2 through 8, with wearing a face covering. Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, children younger than 2 years old, anyone who has trouble breathing, and anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance should not wear face coverings and are exempt from the face covering requirement. Face shields are an acceptable substitute for those with physical conditions that may cause them to be unable to properly wear a face covering.​ Additionally, all businesses and organizations that invite the public into their facilities must post adequate signage advising guests of the requirement and are also responsible for enforcing the requirement to ensure it is being followed.

(October 13, 2020​) All bars in Monongalia County are permitted to reopen, so long as these establishments follow all appropriate guidelines provided by state health experts. Any Monongalia County bar intending to reopen must implement all additional safety measures described in each of the following guidance documents: Supplemental Protocols for Reopening Monongalia County Bars​ and A Guide to Safely Opening Restaurants and Bars​. The West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, working with state and local police, will increase their enforcement operations. Failure to adhere to the guidelines and these supplemental protocols will result in suspension of a restaurant’s or bar’s license to operate or its WVABCA license, as applicable, and/or other appropriate enforcement measures.​

(September 15, 2020) Travel sports teams are prohibited from participating in games, practices, or any other types of competition within counties designated as gold, orange, or red in the color-coded County Alert System map.​ This restriction does not apply to teams that play in defined, relatively small geographic areas, such as within a single county or a few counties in the state of West Virginia.

(September 15, 2020) The limit for all purely social gatherings within counties designated as gold, orange, or red in the color-coded County Alert System​ map is currently 10 individuals. The limitation does not apply to any activity, business, or entity that has been deemed essential, such as religious services, weddings, or group meetings, conferences, or other special events held for essential businesses and operations, as defined by Executive Order 9-20, as amended.

(July 14, 2020) The limit for all purely social gatherings within counties designated as green or yellow in the color-coded County Alert System map remains 25 individuals.​ The limitation does not apply to any activity, business, or entity that has been deemed essential, such as religious services, weddings, or group meetings, conferences, or other special events held for essential businesses and operations, as defined by Executive Order 9-20, as amended.​​

(August 25, 2020) Visitation by the general public to any of West Virginia's nursing home facilities may resume in counties with low incidence rates of COVID-19. Each county is assigned a color status, based on the West Virginia County Alert System color-coded map (Click "County Alert System" tab). Visitation protocols may vary based on each county's color assignment.