Reopening Guidance

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Governor Jim Justice has outlined a recovery plan to reopen West Virginia entitled “West Virginia Strong - The Comeback.”

Guidance for each of the businesses that are allowed to reopen are listed on the Governor’s webpage: https://governor.wv.gov/Pages/The-Comeback.aspx. Under this new plan West Virginians are still encouraged to practice social distancing, wear face coverings while in public, and follow all county Health Department regulations.

What businesses can be open right now?
1. All Businesses classified as Essential in the Governor’s Order 9-20. Some examples of these businesses are generally classified as:
  - Healthcare
  - Grocery stores and Pharmacies
  - Food, Beverage, and Agriculture. This includes farms and Restaurants, but note that Restaurants may only serve customers via drive through and outdoor seating.
  - Essential Government Functions
  - Human Service Organizations and Child Care Facilities and Providers
  - Essential Infrastructures
  - Manufacture, Distribution, and supply chain for Critical Products and Industries
  - Gas Stations and some other Transportation and Travel related
  - Hardware and Supply Stores
  - Critical Trades
  - Mail and Shipping
  - Religious Entities
  - Laundry
  - Professional Services
  - Note that the categories listed are SOME of the GENERAL categories, you should look at the language of the 9-20 Order for additional businesses and specifics.
2. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 2 beginning Monday, May 4^th:
  - Small Businesses with fewer than 10 employees
  - Restaurants with takeaway service or outdoor dining
  - Religious entities and funeral homes
  - Barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, pet grooming, and other professional services regulated by the WV Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists
3. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 3 beginning Monday, May 11^th:
  - Wellness Centers operated by or with West Virginia licensed health care providers
  - Drive-in movie theaters
  - Outdoor guided fishing and rock climbing (Effective as of May 15^th)
4. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 4 beginning Monday, May 18^th:
  - Fitness Centers
5. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 4 beginning Thursday, May 21^st:
  - Indoor Dining at Restaurants
  - Large/specialty Retail Stores
  - State Park Campgrounds for in-state residents only
  - Hatfield McCoy Trail System
  - Outdoor recreation rentals (Kayaks, bicycles, boats, rafts, canoes, ATs, and similar equipment)
  - Outdoor motorsport and powersport racing with no spectators
  - Tanning businesses
  - Whitewater rafting
  - Ziplining
6. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 5 beginning Tuesday, May 26^th:
  - State Park cabins and lodges (In-state residents only)
  - Bars (indoor at 50% capacity and outdoor bars)
  - Museums and visitor centers
  - Zoos
7. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 5 beginning Saturday, May 30^th:
  - Spas and massage businesses
  - Limited video lottery retailers
  - Swimming pools
  - Bowling alleys, pool halls, roller rink, and other places with indoor amusement
8. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 6 beginning Friday, June 5th:
9. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 7 beginning Monday, June 8th:
10. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 7 beginning Wednesday, June 10th:
  - Private campgrounds and State Park campgrounds, cabins, and lodges to out-of-state guests
11. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 8
  - There are no additional openings for Week 8
12. The following entities that are listed in the Governor’s Safer at Home plan as permitted to open in Week 9 beginning Monday, June 22nd:

What Social Distancing Requirements are Currently Imposed on Businesses?
- All businesses included in Weeks 1-5 will be required to operate with physical distancing measures in effect and will also be required to implement efforts to increase sanitation and the use of face coverings. See the links above for the requirements for each industry.
  - In addition to the guidelines outlined by the Governor, all retail businesses permitted to open must continue to follow the requirements of W.Va. 64 CSR 114.These requirements include:
    - No more than 2 members of the public may enter a business per 1,000 square feet of customer floor space at any given time.
    - Businesses of less than 1,000 square feet shall not permit that space to be occupied by more than 5 persons, including employees, at any given time.
    - All businesses should track the number of people who enter and leave to control capacity.
    - Display directives to public at each point of entry
- All businesses permitted to open (as well as all citizens) should continue to practice social distancing measures, including wearing masks in public, marking areas six feet apart where persons are likely to stand or wait in line, encouraging customers to place an order ahead to allow pick up and payment without entering the business.