PINEVILLE, W.Va. – A new resolution passed in the Town of Pineville aims to keep Wyoming County “in the green” and student athletes on the field.
During the August Town of Pineville Council meeting, Mayor Mike Kodak presented a thorough explanation of the Wyoming County Board of Education’s push to wear masks and practice social distancing in order for Wyoming County Schools to be able to return to face-to-face classes and also in order for the fall sports season to commence.
After hearing Mayor Kodak’s presentation, the Pineville Town Council voted unanimously to support the Board of Education’s #WyoCoGoForGreen initiative.
“Council feels it’s important that we, as a community, demonstrate and model good mask-wearing behavior. As a result of said Council vote, the Council members declared, by unanimous vote, a resolution,” said Mayor Kodak. “It is the Town of Pineville’s hope that everyone will work together and mask up so that Wyoming County will stay “in the green” and students can enjoy returning to class along with their full season of sports.”
The Council encourages the continued wearing of face masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. While Wyoming county is currently in its “green phase” status, residents are reminded that could change it precautionary behaviors are relaxed.
Green phase means that there is minimal community transmission of COVID-19, yellow phase represents increased community transmission, orange represents heightened community transmission, and red phase, which means substantial community transmission, causes in-person public school instruction and all school-related activities including sports to stop until yellow level is maintained.
This color-coding alert system for school and school activities is updated and released every Saturday through Governor Justice’s office and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services.
The Town of Pineville’s resolution endorses the state mandate that masks be wom in businesses and buildings, calls on residents and workers to continue wearing face covering that have enforced health guidelines. Both the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the wearing of cloth face masks while in public or areas where social distancing measures cannot be maintained.
This recommendation is based on how the disease spreads – through respiratory droplets – and emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that show face coverings reduce the spray of droplets when wom over the nose and mouth. Mask wearing is going to save lives. It might not be yours, but it could quite possibly be a loved one or a next-door neighbor.