By Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice announced Tuesday evening that he has ordered restaurants, bars and casinos in West Virginia to close, effective at midnight, in an attempt to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Just 10 minutes before the 6 p.m. televised address to Mountain State residents, Justice was notified of the first confirmed positive case of the coronavirus in West Virginia — an unidentified Eastern Panhandle resident whom state Public Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp later said is being treated on an outpatient basis with a less serious case of the illness.
“We knew it was coming. We’ve prepared for that, and we shouldn’t panic,” Justice said of the first confirmed case.
In the address, the governor announced his ordering of the closure of restaurants, bars and casinos to reduce the potential for spread of the coronavirus in those venues. Restaurants and bars may continue to provide carry-out, curbside and drive-through food services, as well as home delivery.
Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch, speaking at a news conference that followed Justice’s announcement, said the governor plans to keep those business closed or on take-out only operations for two weeks, and then evaluate where things stand at that point.
“The idea is to stop the transmission of this disease by not getting too close to people,” Crouch said of eliminating gatherings of people at restaurants, bars and casinos. …