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Mayor Says Mask Mandate Not Warranted in Wheeling

Mayor Glenn Elliott, left, and Councilman Chad Thalman wear masks as they attend the July 1 swearing-in ceremony of the new Wheeling City Council. Thalman tested positive for COVID-19 the following week.

WHEELING — Mask mandates are becoming more prevalent everywhere as coronavirus cases continue to rise, but harsher crackdowns pushing for face coverings in public places seem to be dependent not only on increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in a community but also on its citizens’ tendency to comply.

Earlier this month as reports of coronavirus cases continued to rise statewide, Gov. Jim Justice ordered that masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces and workplaces.

In mid July, Morgantown City Council took it a step further and passed an emergency ordinance requiring people in the city to wear masks. The new ordinance carried with it fines ranging between $25 to $500 for violations.

In Wheeling, city leaders have continued to urge citizens to follow state recommended guidelines for wearing a mask and for maintaining social distance to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Although numbers of new cases continue to grow on a daily basis, Wheeling city officials indicated they had not discussed the issue of possibly drafting an ordinance similar to the legislation that recently brought about Morgantown’s mask mandate.

Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott said he had looked at Morgantown’s ordinance after it was passed, but it has not been something members of city council have discussed or considered at this point. If things get worse, however, the mayor noted that all options that could help prevent the spread of the virus should and will be explored.

“I look around town, and I think a lot of people are complying with the governor’s guidelines,” Elliott said. “If the numbers keep going up, we’re going to have to consider all of the options out there. But this (mask mandate ordinance like the one passed by Morgantown City Council) is not something we’ve been actively looking at.”

The recent uptick in cases comes in the wake of having many businesses reopen after being shut down in the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many in the community have attributed new cases among younger people as a driving factor for the rising numbers, as more people have been traveling for summer vacations and getting out and about more often to simply catch a break from cabin fever.

“It’s a concern for the very young and the very old — who I think themselves are taking precautions,” Elliott said. “But we have to remind the people who may not personally be at risk that their actions can have an impact. It’s really about doing what’s best not only for you but for your greater community.”

Concerns over the growing number of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks have affected those in the Ohio Valley and beyond. The summer surge in cases prompted the state of West Virginia to roll back its maximum public gathering number from 100 to 25 earlier this month. In recent weeks, the state of Ohio has mandated the wearing of masks in public places both indoor and outdoors where social distancing is not possible. Major retailers like Walmart and Kroger recently have adopted mask mandates for all customers.

Most businesses in the city of Wheeling have reopened, but some have since taken steps back in recent weeks, as well. Some businesses prepared to bring employees back to work inside offices only to reinstitute practices of working from home for those who can do so. Wheeling City Council had returned to in-person meetings for two sessions before opting to return to virtual online meetings after state restrictions on public gatherings had tightened again — and after Wheeling Vice Mayor Chad Thalman discovered he had become infected with the coronavirus.

Holding meetings via a computer screen is not the ideal way to conduct city business, Elliott said last week. The mayor noted that during city council’s meeting July 7 when they convened in the council chambers, Ohio County had 108 positive cases of COVID-19. That number has grown to 245 cases as of Monday.

“We’re meeting virtually again for now. We’d like to be in council chambers, but in Ohio County, the number of cases continues to increase,” he said. “The cases are still growing at a rate that is a concern. We’re not out of the woods yet. At least for the time being, council is going to continue to meet virtually. I hope for folks at home, it still gives you a chance to observe your city government in action. I know it’s not ideal. In-person meetings are always superior, but we’re doing the best we can. Obviously, the need for social distancing and to wear masks when you’re in public places is still there. We’re hoping to see those numbers come back down a little bit, but as of right now, the numbers are getting worse, not better.”

Wheeling Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum thanked the team of local health officials who keep city leaders up-to-date on the latest figures related to the health crisis.

“I want to thank the Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and EMA Director Lou Vargo, Deputy Director Wayland Harris and Planning Director Dave Weaver, as well as Health Department Director Howard Gamble for keeping us safe and providing all the necessary information that we need to make sound and thoughtful decisions as a council,” Ketchum said. “I reiterate that masks work, and we should all be wearing them when we go out.”

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