Select locations will be limited in capacity
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
No more gatherings allowed in certain areas of the city.
Interim City Manager Emily Muzzarelli took advantage of the recent authorization from council allowing her to limit gatherings as COVID-19 numbers rise.
Muzzarelli mandated Thursday that certain areas of the city would be limited to the number of people permitted to gather at private residences and in eating and drinking establishments. Her order includes gatherings outside.
It went into effect at midnight and prohibits parties and social gatherings at residential units in certain areas of the city.
The boundaries of the affected areas are from 8th Street to Stewart Street and Monongahela River to Jones Avenue. Also affected is North High Street to Union Avenue and Cornell to Forest Avenue.
Authorization comes from city council’s approval of Emergency Ordinance 2020-5 on Sept. 1. Since then, the rate of COVID-19 infection in Monongalia County increased from 17.86 per 100,000 people to 37.33 per 100,000 people, and Monongalia County is now designated “red” on Gov. Jim Justice’s County Alert System. The increase in infections has coincided with numerous reports of large student gatherings failing to observe mask requirements and social distancing protocols.
To assist in the prevention of these high-risk house party events, which would likely further the spread of COVID-19 infections, the following public health measures are adopted:
- Parties and social gatherings are prohibited at residential units, including their yards or parking lots, in the areas determined by the city manager. This restriction does not limit residents and their family members from using their residential property, nor does it limit deliveries, maintenance, repairs or other regular business at these properties. All other nonresidents are prohibited from gathering at these residential units.
- Any Assembly Occupancy Permit for a residential property within the areas is suspended during the effective period of this order. There was no information on when the order would end.
- Any violation will be deemed a public nuisance subject to summary abatement by Morgantown Police, or other law enforcement officer, including the fire marshal and deputy fire marshals. In addition, any violation shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $250-$500.
Maps showing the exact areas under the order can be viewed below, or found at: https://www.morgantownwv.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3513/Written-Order-Maps-of-COVID19_ProhibitedGatherings_20200910_Revised0432
Click on the images to enlarge.
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