CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice joined West Virginia health leaders and other officials today for his latest daily press briefing regarding the State’s COVID-19 response.
During Friday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that, after continued discussions with members of the West Virginia pandemic response leadership team regarding the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases and the increasing number of vaccinated West Virginians, he is lifting capacity restrictions on several types of West Virginia businesses, increasing the social gathering limit, and permitting more youth travel sports to take place.
On Friday, Gov. Justice signed Executive Order 8-21, which increases the capacity limit for all restaurants and bars to 100% of their seating capacity; up from 75% previously.
This change applies only if social distancing can be maintained between groups that arrive and sit together.
Bars may only increase capacity to the extent that they have physical seating for every patron. No standing room for people to congregate will be allowed.
This change will be effective at midnight tonight.
These businesses must still continue to follow all applicable safety guidelines, including, but not limited to, mandatory face coverings and social distancing.
At the direction of Gov. Justice, the DHHR has amended its rules to lift all capacity limitations for small businesses, retail stores, and grocery stores, provided that all such businesses continue to follow all applicable safety guidelines, including, but not limited to, mandatory face coverings and social distancing.
The Governor also announced that he will be increasing the capacity limit for other businesses that still had capacity restrictions, such as gyms, fitness centers, and museums, to 100% of their capacity.
These businesses must also continue to follow all applicable safety guidelines, including, but not limited to, mandatory face coverings and social distancing.
Executive Order 8-21 also increases the social gathering limit to 100 people; up from 75 previously.
This limitation applies only for any gathering of people for purely social purposes. The limitation does not apply to any activity, business, or entity that has been deemed essential, such as religious services, weddings, group meetings, conferences, or other special events held for essential businesses and operations.
This change will be effective at midnight tonight.
Those partaking in such purely social gatherings must continue to social distance, wear face coverings, and follow all other applicable safety guidelines.
Executive Order 8-21 also allows all youth travel sports to take place, except for games, practices, or any other types of competition within counties designated as “Red” in the DHHR’s County Alert System map.
This restriction on Red counties 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.
This change will be effective at midnight tonight.
Those participating in such youth travel sports must continue to follow all applicable safety guidelines.