Mon County rescinds limitations on liquor stores

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Limitations on liquor stores in Monongalia County have been lifted. The Monongalia County Health Department has rescinded an order that restricted the sale of spirits and hard liquor to only West Virginia residents and limited customers to three items per purchase.

The order was issued back on April 4th after a reported influx of Pennsylvania residents into Monongalia County to purchase hard liquor. ABCA Stores in Pennsylvania had been closed on March 16th, by an order from Governor Tom Wolfe.

Health officials in Monongalia County were concerned the influx of out-of-state residents could increase community spread of COVID-19 in Monongalia County. At the time, Monongalia County had one of the highest totals of reported COVID-19 cases in the state.

Even though the order has been rescinded, social distancing guidelines limiting the number of people in a store, providing adequate hand-washing stations and wearing a mask, remain in place.