COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice announces 2020 State Fair of West Virginia will move forward as scheduled

​CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice joined West Virginia health leaders and other officials today for his latest daily press briefing regarding the State’s COVID-19 response.

STATE FAIR OF WEST VIRGINIA
On Thursday, Gov. Justice announced that the State Fair of West Virginia’s Board of Directors has voted to move forward with plans to hold the 2020 State Fair as scheduled, from Aug. 13, 2020 through Aug. 22, 2020.

“We congratulate all those with the State Fair on their decision to move forward,” Gov. Justice said. “They’re going to abide by strict guidelines, but the fair is so meaningful to so many people. It’s a phenomenal event and it’s a celebration of West Virginia.”

Safety guidelines for the reopening of all fairs, festivals​, amusement parks, and rides​ are available.

In the interest of public health, numerous programming changes including limited crowds, changes to concerts and free entertainment, and increased advance ticket sales will be announced in the coming weeks. State Fair officials will also be implementing measures for social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures, employee screening, and COVID-19 testing for carnival employees and other groups working the fair. Specific procedures will be posted on the State Fair website when they become available.
 
The State Fair of West Virginia works closely on public health issues with a variety of local and national public health agencies, including the Greenbrier County Health Department and Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. Fair organizers will continue to collaborate with these expert partners, watch for any new developments around COVID-19 that would impact the fair operation, and make modifications accordingly.

REOPENING STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Also on Thursday, Gov. Justice announced that plans continue to be made to transition State employees back into government office buildings.

“Many people have worked from home and they have done terrific work, I don’t think we’ve skipped a beat,” Gov. Justice said. “I want our state workers to know that their safety is paramount and our highest concern.”

The Governor said that he wants Cabinet Secretaries to have the flexibility to bring employees back in a way that makes sense for their individual agency. Telework will continue for the most vulnerable individuals and for offices that can maintain full services with remote work.

The West Virginia National Guard will help ensure each agency has proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures in place for each facility.

Safety guidelines for the reopening of government office buildings are now available.

“Our people have done a terrific job,” Gov. Justice said. “They’ve kept us running in the most essential way; they kept our government up and going.

“We congratulate them on that and, as we bring them back, we just want them to feel like we’re bringing them back in a very safe atmosphere.”

NURSING HOME VISITATION GUIDELINES NOW AVAILABLE
Additionally Thursday, Gov. Justice offered a reminder that guidelines are now available outlining the procedures to resume visitation at West Virginia’s nursing homes.

Yesterday, the Governor and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources unveiled a multi-phased plan to resume nursing home visitation, with limitations, beginning as early as next Wednesday, June 17.

If, on June 17, a nursing home has had no active COVID-19 cases for at least the past 14 consecutive days, visitation will be permitted to resume, with certain restrictions in place.

Gov. Justice announced that, under the plan, appointments will be required to visit any nursing home. 

Additional visitation rules will be determined on a facility-by-facility basis, but may include restrictions to the number of visitors permitted at once, age restrictions, time limits, contact limitations, and more.

On March 12, Gov. Justice asked all nursing homes to ban visitation to their facilities. On April 17, Gov. Justice issued an executive order to test every nursing home resident and employee – making West Virginia the first state in the nation to order the full testing of its nursing homes.

WEST VIRGINIA STRONG – THE COMEBACK  |  SAFER AT HOME ORDER
Week 7 of the Gov. Justice reopening plan – West Virginia Strong – The Comeback – is now underway and announcements regarding future reopenings have been made. The Governor's Safer At Home order also remains in effect. 

CLARIFICATION ON FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISERS
Also on Thursday, Gov. Justice clarified that fire departments are not restricted from holding fundraiser events.

“We had a question yesterday in regard to our volunteer fire departments and their ability to raise money,” Gov. Justice said. “All we ask is that you maintain social distance and hold these fundraisers in a safe manner.

“I urge our people to know how important our volunteer fire departments are,” Gov. Justice continued. “We should all try to find a way to support these great organizations and the need that all of us have for them. 

“This is an area where we all need to step up to the plate. Please, West Virginia, search your heart, and if you can find a way to help or donate or come to some fundraising event, do so please.”

$10,000 DONATED TO FOOD BANK THROUGH WEST VIRGINIA ABCA
Additionally Thursday, Gov. Justice congratulated the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (WVABCA) for facilitating a $10,000 donation by the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association to the Mountaineer Food Bank to assist those adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to thank them for stepping up and making this donation and I especially want to thank our Commissioner of the WVABCA, Fred Wooton, for his work with this organization,” Gov. Justice said. “I also want to take this opportunity to thank all our West Virginia food banks for their incredible work and service to West Virginians throughout this pandemic. Please remember these organizations and, if you can, please donate to them.”

WEST VIRGINIA STRONG SUMMER FOOD ASSISTANCE MAP
Also Thursday, Gov. Justice reminded West Virginians that an interactive free-feeding location map is now available online.

Click here to view the map

The free-feeding locations have been made available through a multi-agency effort between the West Virginia National Guard, the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, the West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WV VOAD), and the United Way,

If food distribution locations aren't available in some communities, individuals are encouraged to call 211 for further assistance.

GOVERNOR CONGRATULATES BURCH ON APPOINTMENT AS PERMANENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT
Also on Thursday, Gov. Justice congratulated State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch, after the West Virginia Board of Education voted yesterday to name Burch as the permanent West Virginia Superintendent.

“Clayton is very deserving. He is doing a terrific job and I am really, really proud of him,” Gov. Justice said. “He is knocking it out of the park and he is really on his game. I have full confidence that he will lead one of our most important departments very well and I congratulate him in every way.”

UPDATE ON STATEWIDE TESTING OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Gov. Justice also provided another update from the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation on the Enhanced Testing initiative, recently ordered by Gov. Justice, to test all inmates and employees within the State’s network of correctional facilities for COVID-19.

The Governor announced that, as of Thursday morning, there were a total of nine active COVID-19 cases at five jails and two prisons across West Virginia.

Click here to view results of the Enhanced Testing initiative

Since beginning the testing initiative, more than 9,000 inmates and employees have now been tested.

The Division of Corrections remains on track to expand testing to all facilities by June 12.

FREE COMMUNITY TESTING: GREENBRIER, HANCOCK, LOGAN, AND WOOD COUNTIES
Gov. Justice also offered a reminder that free community COVID-19 testing will be provided this Friday, June 12, and this Saturday, June 13, in Greenbrier, Hancock, Logan, and Wood counties.

The effort is part of a plan to provide free optional testing to all residents in several counties that are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 transmission. It targets residents who have struggled to be seen by a physician or do not have insurance to pay for testing. However, other residents, including those who are asymptomatic are welcome to be tested.

Testing is scheduled as follows:

Greenbrier County
Friday, June 12 & Saturday, June 13
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Dorie Miller Park, 2300 Rosewood Avenue, Co Route 32/1, Lewisburg, WV 24901

Hancock County
Friday, June 12 & Saturday, June 13
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Weirton Event Center, 3322 East Street, Weirton, WV 26062

Logan County
Friday, June 12 & Saturday, June 13
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cora Volunteer Fire Department, 28 Aldridge Branch, Logan, WV 25601 

Wood County
Friday, June 12 & Saturday, June 13
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Parkersburg High School, 2101 Dudley Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26101

Click here to read more

FREE COMMUNITY TESTING: GRANT, HAMPSHIRE, AND HARDY COUNTIES
Additional free community testing will also be provided in Grant, Hampshire, and Hardy counties on Saturday, June 13 only.

Testing is scheduled as follows:

Grant County
Saturday, June 13
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
EA Hawse Health Center,  111 S. Grove Street, Petersburg, WV 26847 

Hampshire County
Saturday, June 13
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
EA Hawse Health Center, 22338 North Western Turnpike, Romney, WV 26757

Hardy County (Three locations)
Saturday, June 13
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
EA Hawse Health Center, 17978 WV 55, Baker, WV 26801
EA Hawse Health Center, 8 Lee Street #127, Moorefield, WV 26836
EA Hawse Health Center, 106 Harold K. Michael Drive, Mathias, WV 26812

Click here to read more

CITY AND COUNTY GRANT APPLICATION REMINDER
The Governor once again offered a reminder that the State recently sent out the application for cities and counties throughout West Virginia to apply for funding through the federal CARES Act.

A new web portal is now available for city and county government officials to apply for this grant funding, at grants.wv.gov. Interested parties can also call the helpline: 1-833-94-GRANT.

WEST VIRGINIANS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS
Once more today, Gov. Justice asked all West Virginians to participate in the 2020 United States Census.

Every West Virginian who does not respond to the Census represents a loss of $20,000 in federal funds over the next 10 years for the state and its local communities. The funds can go toward things like healthcare, education, infrastructure, school lunch programs, and more.

Be counted in minutes: 2020census.gov.

DATA UPDATE
Gov. Justice provided another overview of statewide data on COVID-19, highlighting that West Virginia’s cumulative percentage of positive test results has dropped to 1.83 percent.

West Virginia continues to excel in several metrics compared to its surrounding states and the national average. View the latest COVID-19 data at Coronavirus.wv.gov.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Click here to view all Executive Orders and other actions taken by Gov. Justice to combat the spread of COVID-19 in West Virginia.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and more, call the State’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-887-4304 or visit Coronavirus.wv.gov.