IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF KANAWHA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA

RE: ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER MODIFYING KANAWHA

BUILDING COVID-19 OPERATING PROCEDURES
MANDATORY MASK POLICY

WHEREAS, on May 24, 2021, the Chief Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit entered an

Administrative Order which modified the Covid-19 Judicial Building Operating Procedures mandating face

masks for all individuals entering the Judicial Building, by making face masks optional for "fully

vaccinated" individuals, but maintaining mandatory face masks for non-vaccinated individuals; and

WHEREAS the Delta variant ofCOVID-19 is causing surges in cases across the United States, and

new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to increase across the United States,

particularly in areas with higher rates of community transmission and lower vaccination coverage; and

WHEREAS, on July 27, 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, based upon scientific

health data, recommended that everyone in areas with high COVID-19 infections rates wear masks in public

indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status; and

WHEREAS, due to the recent surge of Covid-19 virus infection and transmission rates in Kanawha

County, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Data Tracker Map for COVID-19 lists Kanawha

County as a high-risk area; and

WHEREAS, the Administrative Order entered on May 24, 2021, provides that '' ... until such time

that Covid-19 does not pose a serious health risk to the public and particularly to individuals who are not

vaccinated, ''fully vaccinated'' individuals may be required to wear a facial covering in confined and/or

congested areas of the Judicial Building, where adequate social distancing is not possible due to the size of

the space and/or the number of persons who are occupying this same space."

THEREFORE, due to escalating health risks to the public posed by the rapid spread of COVID-19,

it is hereby ORDERED that the Covid-19 Judicial Building Operating Procedures shall be modified,

and effective Monday, August 23, 2021, the mandatory mask policy previously adopted shall be reinstated.

and all vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons entering the Kanawha County Judicial Building shall be

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required to wear a face mask, and to socially distance where feasible or otherwise required within the

Judicial Building.

It is further ORDERED that the Court Administrator shall place signs at the entrance of the

Judicial Building which clearly states that all persons shall wear face masks upon entry to the Judicial

Building, and make face masks available to the public at the security entrance of the Judicial Building

It is further ORDERED that Courthouse Security shall enforce the mandatory mask policy and

shall inform the Chief Judge of any problems and/or conflicts that arise due to the enforcement of the

mandatory face mask requirement set forth in this Administrative Order.

It is further ORDERED that all other requirements set forth in the Judicial Building Operating

Procedures and/or previous Orders regarding Covid-19 safety measures and protocol shall remain in effect

unless otherwise modified by Administrative Order and/or by the Chief Judge.

The Circuit Clerk SHALL have this Order filed in the Administrative Docket and certified copies

of the Order shall be provided to all Kanawha County Circuit, Family Court Judges, Magistrates, and the

Mental Hygiene Commissioners, Kanawha County Trial Court Administrator, Kanawha County Magistrate

Clerk, Kanawha County Commission (Attn: Jennifer Herald), Courthouse Security (Attn: Justin

Underwood), Kanawha County Health Department, Brian Abraham, Chief of State to Governor Jim Justice,

and the Administrative Director of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

ENTERED this 25h day of AUGUST 2021.

CARRIE L. WEBSTER CHIEF JUDGE

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit