WHEELING — The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department announced restrictions to businesses still operating during the coronavirus pandemic that limit the number of people in stores and require companies to enact safety procedures to protect workers.

The county’s executive order announced Saturday afternoon comes a day after Gov. Jim Justice designated Ohio County a COVID-19 “hot spot” that gives local officials more power to enforce stricter rules in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department Administrator Howard Gamble said they followed similar guidelines to what other counties have required in their executive orders.

“It’s consistent with what’s been done (in other counties), and that’s important for public health,” Gamble said. “It’s very basic to what the governor’s original order said, but also trying to follow the spirit of what other counties are doing. Not doing anything above and beyond.”

One facet of the local order allows only two customers inside a business or store per 1,000 square feet of a building. Businesses are required to keep track of the number of people who enter and leave the store at a time on a “one-in, one-out basis” after the maximum capacity is reached.

The order also asks businesses to mark six-foot buffers where people would normally congregate, such as at a store’s checkout area, and create one-way aisles to limit close contact. Stores also are asked to encourage customers to place orders by phone or online to allow for pickup without entering a business.

In order to protect workers, businesses must limit staff to essential employees, implement physical distancing within the workplace, provide sanitizing supplies and even facemasks or gloves, if needed. Stores must also create physical barriers from the general public, which could include Plexiglas shields.

For outdoor activities, the order allows no more than five people in the same area at one time and requires a six-foot buffer to promote physical distancing.

Gamble said no changes will be made for the sale of alcohol to out-of-state customers, as has been done in Brooke and Hancock counties.

He added that many of the restrictions the county is enacting have already been voluntarily implemented by businesses and followed by residents.

“They’re doing it to the best of their ability, and I commend them for it,” Gamble said.

The health department has identified 21 positive cases of coronavirus as of Saturday afternoon. Of those cases, 11 people have been released from quarantine, while three of the 10 people with active cases are hospitalized.

People being tested for COVID-19 must remain in self-quarantine until the results are returned and reported to the health department, although that practice was already being followed since widespread testing began March 18 at Wheeling Hospital’s off-site testing location in Wheeling Park. Anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for 14 days in their residence and limit contact with others. People living with in the same residence or who have had contact with someone who has COVID-19 should contact the health department.

West Virginia State Police will enforce the order with help from county sheriff’s deputies and local police, if needed. The West Virginia National Guard is also authorized to assist in “spot checking” businesses and offer other support.

“Other actions may be added to these measures as needed in order to protect the health and welfare of the public,” the county’s executive order states.