Required Universal Face Coverings To Reduce Spread Of COVID-19 in West Virginia

With the opening of several businesses in West Virginia the Governor’s opening guides have specific requirements for employees and guests, including the wearing of masks or cloth face coverings.

Small businesses with 10 or fewer employees:  Require employees to wear PPE when appropriate, with special considerations for those employees that come into contact with the general public.

Restaurants with takeaway service or outdoor dining: Require all employees to wear cloth face coverings at all times. Such coverings shall be cleaned or replaced daily

Religious entities and funeral homes: Ensuring all attendees sanitize their hands and put on a mask or face covering before entering the building.

Barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, pet grooming and other professional services: Professionals should wear masks as a safety measure when providing a service. These masks can be disposable or cloth and must be disposed of or washed properly as required by the CDC.  Disposable masks should be made available to consumers and may only be used for a single customer.

Wellness centers operated by or with WV licensed health care providers: Encourage all employees and patrons to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where applicable, including appropriate face coverings.

Drive-in movie theaters: Require employees to wear PPE as and when appropriate, with special considerations for those employees that come into contact with the general public.

Outdoor guided fishing: Outfitters are encouraged to provide all guests with masks upon arrival, if they do not already have them. Patrons should be encouraged to use cloth or disposable face coverings while on the premises.

Indoor dining at restaurants: Require all employees to wear cloth or disposable face coverings at all times. Such coverings shall be cleaned or replaced daily.

Large/specialty retail stores: Require employees to wear PPE when appropriate, with special considerations for those employees that come into contact with the general public.

State park campgrounds: Guests should be strongly encouraged to wear cloth or disposable cloth face coverings. Require employees to wear a mask or cloth face covering at all times when the employee is on duty.

Hatfield McCoy Trail System: Riders are encouraged to wear face appropriate face coverings or face shields while stopped. All riders, by law, must wear a helmet while riding. Employees should wear proper personal protection equipment (PPE), including cloth face coverings and gloves, when working on shared equipment and interacting with riders.

Outdoor recreation rentals: Outfitters are encouraged to provide all guests with masks upon arrival, if they do not already have them. Patrons should be encouraged to use cloth or disposable face coverings while on the premises. Employees must wear proper personal protection equipment (PPE), including cloth face coverings, when working on shared equipment and interacting with patrons.

Lodging Facilities: Guest should be strongly encouraged to wear cloth or disposable cloth face coverings in common areas.  Bellmen and valets should wear a mask or cloth face covering when interacting with guests.  Workers and guests should be informed to wear cloth face coverings at all times in property public spaces and common areas.

Tanning:  Require employees to wear PPE when appropriate, with special considerations for those employees that come into contact with customers.

The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department strongly supports the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that everyone, general public, wear non-medical face coverings in public settings.

This recommendation was made as a way to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 and should not replace the recommendations to practice social distancing (staying 6 feet apart), to stay home, and to frequently wash and sanitize your hands. A non-medical face covering can be a scarf, a bandanna or other face covering.

Residents should wear masks or cloth face coverings in retail spaces, on public transportation and in other public settings when social distancing is difficult.  Face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing.

Residents still need to follow all “Stay-At-Home” orders and continue to maintain a safe distance from others when out at the grocery store or other essential businesses

Medical masks including N95 and other similar surgical apparatus need to be reserved for use by hospital staff, first responders and other health care providers to protect them and to make sure they are available when we need their help.

The recommendations are based on CDC guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Research shows that the coronavirus can be spread by people before they have symptoms and by people who may never get symptoms. Wearing a cloth face covering helps protect people around you if you are infected but do not have symptoms.

Face coverings can be made out of household items such as t-shirts, towels and bandanas. The coverings should fit snugly, cover the nose and mouth, have multiple layers of fabric (cotton, linen or fleece), and be washable.  Masks should be washed with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle frequently.  Face coverings should be removed carefully after use without touching eyes, nose, or mouth, and should be washed regularly.