FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Manager Rescinds Order Prohibiting Gatherings in Select Locations

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Today, City Manager Kim Haws signed a written order rescinding the order in Emergency Ordinance No. 2020-05 prohibiting parties and social gatherings at residential units in certain areas of the city.

Authorization for the emergency measures, and for the rescinding of the order comes from council's prior emergency ordinances and the approval of Emergency Ordinance 2020-6 on Dec. 15, which authorized the City Manager to continue public health measures put into place by city council in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of now, conditions in the community do not indicate that large student gatherings in the areas affected by the Sept. 10 order are a current source of additional COVID-19 infections in Monongalia County. Additionally, it is anticipated that fewer student residents will occupy these areas during the semester break at West Virginia University, and that dense indoor gatherings are therefore less likely.

The following measures from Emergency Ordinance 2020-01, 2020-02, 2020-03, 2020-04, and 2020-05 remain in effect:

• Suspension of minimum parking requirements and temporary sign regulations;
• Mask requirements for all individuals age 9 and over when in confined, indoor spaces;
• Required closure of outbreak sites until deemed safe for reopening by the Monongalia County Health Department;
• Suspension of regular inspections of rental housing units; and
• 25-person gathering limits except for essential businesses as provided in the Governor's orders.

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