Morgan County businesses and public buildings have taken turns closing for days at a time as the COVID-19 respiratory illness moves steadily through the community.
Morgan County remains red on the state’s COVID-19 alert system map, signifying the highest level of community transmission. The county’s infection rate ranged from 69 to 85 percent during the last week.
McDonald’s in Berkeley Springs, normally busy on Monday morning, was still taped off to signal that it was closed for business due to COVID concerns. Drive-through service was expected to reopen on Tuesday.
Last week the Morgan County Public Library in Berkeley Springs reopened after being shuttered for several days. Library officials posted a message on their social media page saying the closure was due to COVID-19.
On Monday, McDonald’s in Berkeley Springs was still closed – entrances to the parking lot, drive-through and restaurant blocked by yellow caution tape and two vehicles. Workers there also posted on social media that the fast food restaurant had voluntarily closed due to COVID and the local rise in cases.
McDonald’s planned to reopen drive-through service on Tuesday, with the lobby remaining closed.
“The proper steps have been taken to keep our employees and customers safe and we will reopen Tuesday,” the post said. “Lobby will be completely closed until further notice.”
Businesses where an employee or patron has tested positive for COVID are urged to do thorough cleaning when they find out about the exposure onsite.
Because the coronavirus cannot live on surfaces for long periods, one way to reduce spreading the virus is to close a building for seven days to let the virus die off, public health officials say.
