UPDATED: Mon County bar closure extended

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Governor Jim Justice has extended the bar closure in Monongalia County.

“WVU has recommended that we keep the bars closed for at least another seven days,”Justice said,”We’re going to keep the bars closed for another seven days and see where we stand.”

The closure is extended to August 20 at 12:01 a.m.

The order keeps bars in the county closed for on-premises consumption of food or drinks or occupancy by the general public. However, customers are still permitted to pick up food or drinks to be taken away. Customers can be seated, for dining, at tables and bar tops within “bar areas” of restaurants, hotels, and other similar facilities, subject to the same limitations that are in place for restaurants.

This is the second time Justice has extended the bar closure order in Mon County since it was first announced in late July.

Justice said he wants to use data and advice in order to reopen the businesses as soon as it is safe to do so.

“During that seven day period we’re accumulating protocol from the bar owners, landlords, the medical community and restaurant owners,”Justice said,”But, we’re accumulating how we can open our bars.”

During the first week of July Mon County reported nealy 400 active COVID-19 cases, that number has dropped to 52 as of Wednesday, August 12. Current data from the DHHR reports more than 50 percent of active cases are in the 29-year-old and younger age group.

“The numbers are better there, they have done much better and that’s good,”Justice said,”Now, if we can come with a protocol that truly works of going ahead and reopening and having those businesses function, we’ll do so.”

Justice said in July he consulted with members of the Mon County commission, but with this closure they have backed away from offering the local perspective.

“We called upon the Mon County Commission in the beginning and they gave us direction on whether to close, now they’re kind of diving in a ditch and saying they don’t have any input, we don’t want to weigh in on this,”Justice said,”To be perfectly honest, that’s their county and they should surely to goodness have input.”

Mon County commission president Ed Hawkins told WAJR News statewide COVID Czar Dr. Clay Marsh asked for input hours before the closure was extended. Hawkins told Dr. Marsh the commission has never provided input on bar closures, nor had they been asked to until today.

Hawkins said the only input offered to the governor by the commission was to suggest tables in “bar areas” could be used to serve food since the bar was ordered closed. Additionally, Hawkins said they asked the governor to make masks mandatory in April, but no reply was received.

“To say this commission sidestepped, ducked, ran for cover or whatever is totally not the case.”Hawkins said,”This commission is dedicated to leadership and we will continue to do so.”

Justice said the order was extended to prevent students from congregating in small areas and possibly spreading the virus.

“Really, we’re trying to be sympathetic to our business community up there and what they’re doing,”Justice said,”But, we’re also trying in every way we can to protect the community.

This story will be updated with comment from Mon County commissioners.