Week two of the West Virginia comeback to business is scheduled to begin on May 4, 2020.

The plan for the second week of the comeback will allow many of Shepherdstown’s businesses to reopen soon. According to the state’s guidance, small businesses with less than 10 employees can reopen. Profession services can begin to operate again, by appointment only and waiting in vehicle instead of inside the building — these include hair salons, nail salons, barbershops and dog grooming businesses. Outdoor dining will be allowed, along with takeout, at restaurants.

Funerals and church services will be able to take place. However, they must have a limited gathering size, so that attendees can social distance by sitting in every-other-pew and wearing face coverings.

West Virginians are still required to maintain social distancing, in spite of this easement of restrictions. We should still continue to practice physical distancing, wearing face coverings in public, follow the statewide Stay at Home Order until it is lifted, obey all county Health Department regulations and work from home, when possible.

While these reopening restrictions are more lenient than before, they are hopefully still strict enough to keep the COVID-19 pandemic at bay. However, the state may need to return to its stricter business policy if there is an unexpected increase in COVID-19 positive hospitalizations, the cumulative percent of positive test results surges above three percent. or there are outbreaks of community-based transmission (not clusters or outbreaks in nursing homes or vulnerable communities)–these kind of outbreaks will be treated on a county-by-county or regional hotspot basis.

As we move forward in easing restrictions, choices will become more complicated. We must make decisions about our safety and the safety of others. Please follow the guidelines when taking advantage of the week two choices. Also visit our website, www.shepherdstown.us, for up-to-date information.

If you are unable to access the website, you may call Shepherdstown Town Hall at 304-876-2312 and we will make every effort to answer your question or provide you with a path to acquire requested the information. Please visit governor.wv.gove/pages//thecomeback.aspx for more information about the decrease in regulations.

Please support our community businesses. Be calm, be patient and make thoughtful decisions. Be safe!

Mayor Jim Auxer