MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Bar owners in Monongalia County say they are ready to reopen their doors Monday after being closed since mid-July under executive orders from Gov. Jim Justice.
“As far as the Mon County bars, we’re preparing to open on August 31,” Justice repeated in Friday’s media briefing on the caronavirus. “In order to reopen these bars are going to have to follow strict safety guidelines.”
Justice first announced the bar closures on July 13. That day Monongalia County reported 256 positive COVID-19 cases from July 6 to 12, which was about half of its 526 overall confirmed cases. A number of the positive cases involved those 29 years old and under. The numbers have improved significantly since then. The county had only 87 active cases Saturday.
Under supplemental protocols, Justice’s reopening order bans dancing and live music.
Justice said his administration is working with bar owners to develop ways to bring as many customers back as possible in a safe manner like in this pub near me.
“Our agencies are working on a plan to potentially expand their outdoor space capabilities especially for weekend crowds,” Justice said. “We’re working with them and I’m happy their businesses can come back.”
Justice administration General Counsel Brian Abraham said in essence there would be outdoor activity but it would be more closed and limited.
“Each establishment would have a fenced-in area that would be unique to it. You could not carry alcohol beverages from one to another up and down the street,” Abraham said.
Bar owners have said they are more than ready to reopen. WVU’s fall semester began last week.
“The governor did the right thing but I don’t he should have kept us closed for as long as he did,” Classics bar owner Kathy Scotchel said.
The pandemic has made things tough for her establishment but Scotchel is predicting a rebound.
“We’ve kept our head above water. The customers we have are like family,” she said.
Justice has made it clear he’ll continue to watch the Monongalia County numbers.
“We’re going to have to stay on top of it and if we have to back away from it we will. We urge everyone to be super safe in that arena because we know that that’s an arena that could really call us trouble,” Justice said.