As Promised, Justice Lifts Restrictions on Restaurants, Business, Bars and More; Mask Mandate Remains
By Jeff Toquinto on March 05, 2021 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
As promised, Gov. Jim Justice eased restrictions on policies put on businesses aimed at helping stem the spread of COVID-19 set for midnight this evening.
Justice said they are going to move capacity of restaurants and bars to 100 percent of their seating capacity. The one condition, said Justice, social distancing must be maintained.
“I encourage everyone to use good sense and absolutely try at all times that you can to keep your mask on unless you’re eating or drinking,” 
said Justice.
said Justice.
The restrictions relating to standing areas at bars and restaurants remain the same. It will not be allowed.
Capacity standards are also being lifted on small businesses and retail outlets. Justice said “we don’t see that as a problem” with COVID spread.
“We absolutely expect you to continue to wear a mask. We’re not backing off of our mask mandate at this time,” said Justice, who said that remains in place for entering public buildings.
Restrictions on facilities such as gyms and fitness centers, as well as museums, can go to 100 percent capacity. Justice emphasized again that will be allowed only if social distancing is done and done properly.
The public gathering limit has been increased again. Recently, it went from 50 to 75. Today, Justice announced that gathering limit is now at 100.
Restrictions were also lifted on travel youth sports teams. The only exception is if the county the team is from is “red” on the DHHR Web site. Currently, there are no red counties in West Virginia.
Justice also talked about the upcoming fairs and festival season. He said that he knows they are hurting and hopes to announce what will be done with those events statewide in the future. He did not say when.
“As we get closer, we’ll clarify guidelines. Hopefully, they’ll go on as in the past,” said Justice.
Justice said they are working with the WVSSAC on attendance at sporting events. He said the state will follow the SSAC’s lead in any changes.
The mask mandate, Justice said, will not be influenced by what other states are doing. A handful states have lifted mask mandates.
"I'm going to continue to listen to the medical experts ... I'm not going to jump just because others are jumping," said Justice.
The governor said the state is now showing 48 straight days where active COVID-19 cases have decreased. He also said there are nine outbreaks in the long-term care facilities in West Virginia, while just one church outbreak and that is in Nicholas County.
The state’s prison system has 278 inmate cases with 210 at the Western Regional Jail. Only nine staff members are currently COVID positive.
Justice started the briefing with the readings of the latest deaths due to COVID-19 complications. Although there were no deaths reported Thursday, there were nine on the DHHR report Friday. The state total is now 2318.
“Thank God we’ve only lost nine since Wednesday, but it’s still too many,” said Justice that the number of deaths has dropped in the last seven weeks by 85 percent.
