CHARLESTON, W.Va. >> West Virginia churches, small businesses and restaurants with outdoor seating are set to reopen next week as the state reached a coronavirus testing benchmark that Gov. Jim Justice recently loosened.

Today marked the third day in a row that the state’s positive test rate stayed under 3%, allowing the state to enter week two of the Republican governor’s plan to lift virus restrictions.

“Now we’ve got to bring our state back to life,” said Justice.

The governor’s administration earlier this week said without explanation that it was shifting its reopening criteria. Instead of needing cases to decline for two consecutive weeks, a three-day drop would suffice. Clay Marsh, a West Virginia University official leading the state’s virus response, had previously said he wanted the two-week benchmark. A White House plan for states also endorses a two-week decline in cases.

Marsh now says the state has enough downward trend lines to start lifting restrictions, though he did not specifically address why the benchmark was eased when asked during a news conference.

Del. Evan Hansen, a Monongalia County Democrat, has pointed out there would need to be an astronomical number of new positives for the state to get over a 3% positive rate since the figure is based on tests since the outbreak began, instead of only new cases.

Week two of the governor’s plan, which begins Monday, also allows barbershops, nail salons, dog groomers and funeral homes to be reopened. The businesses have to meet certain safety requirements, such as monitoring employees for virus symptoms and wearing protective equipment if staffers come in contact with the public.

If the state remains under a 3% positive test rate, offices, gyms, hotels and businesses could reopen in the following weeks. The plan could slow or stop if cases jump.

Justice’s plan began this week with hospitals allowed to resume elective surgeries, testing of daycare staff and outpatient services such as dentists, psychologists and physical therapists.

The governor has ordered testing of staff and patients in all nursing homes in the state, which has roughly doubled the number of people screened for the virus. Testing for the general public is still limited.

There have been about 1,100 confirmed cases of the virus in West Virginia after around 43,000 tests, according to the state health department. Forty people in the state have died, with 11 recorded in the last week. Officials have not given clear details on testing and safety equipment availability they want to meet as part of the reopening plan.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can bring about more severe illness and even death.