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CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response leadership team held another news briefing today to update the public on the State’s latest pandemic response efforts.
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OVER 70,000 WEST VIRGINIANS NOW REGISTERED FOR “DO IT FOR BABYDOG” VACCINATION LOTTERY
During Tuesday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that just four days after online registration opened for the Governor’s “Do it for Babydog: Save a life, Change a life” vaccination lottery, more than 70,000 West Virginians have already registered to win one of several major prizes that will be given away in the upcoming sweepstakes.
“What we’re trying to do is to bring a smile to many people’s faces through this lottery,” Gov. Justice said. “We’re tickled to death to be able to give away a lot of incredible stuff, but we need all West Virginians to step up and get vaccinated.”
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The prize giveaways include a $1.588 million grand prize, a $588,000 second prize, weekly drawings for $1 million, full scholarships to any West Virginia state college or university, custom-outfitted trucks, weekend vacations at state parks, lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, and custom hunting rifles and shotguns.
All West Virginians ages 12 and older who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to register by visiting Doitforbabydog.wv.gov.
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Lottery drawings will begin later this month with the first drawing scheduled to be held on Sunday, June 20 – also known as West Virginia Day in honor of the State’s birthday – with additional drawings continuing through Sunday, Aug. 4.
“Anybody who has received their first shot is eligible,” Gov. Justice said. “So if you’re out there and you haven’t received your shot yet, for God’s sake go get your first shot and get yourself registered. And if you’ve already been vaccinated, make sure you register as well.
“Save a life. Change your life. Please get vaccinated. Please get registered,” Gov. Justice continued. “We’re going to have some really fun days ahead drawing these prizes. We’re going to put a big smile on a lot of people’s faces.”
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STATE COVID CZAR WARNS OF EMERGING DELTA VARIANT, URGES VACCINATIONS
Also on Tuesday, State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh took time during his remarks to once again urge West Virginians to get vaccinated, explaining that the so-called Delta Variant of COVID-19, which has become the most common form of COVID-19 around the world, is about 40% more infectious than the most common variant currently seen in West Virginia.
“When we start to look at these variants, we know that these variants happen when people who have not been vaccinated get infected and the virus starts to grow and replicate,” Dr. Marsh said. “The virus is a messy replicator, so it makes mistakes, genetically, when it reproduces and these genetic mistakes can add up and give the virus advantages to make the virus more infectious and to make the virus more deadly.
“What we now find is that, if people are fully vaccinated, two weeks after their vaccination, the CDC now reports that there is a 91% real world protection against getting COVID-19 and virtually total protection – 100% protection – against hospitalization, against death, and against severe disease,” Dr. Marsh continued. “Please choose vaccination if you’re eligible and please consider choosing that with the rest of your family if anyone hasn’t been vaccinated.”
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VACCINATED RESIDENTS AGES 16-35 CAN REGISTER TO RECEIVE $100 SAVINGS BOND OR $100 GIFT CARD
Once again on Tuesday, Gov. Justice offered a reminder that online registration is open for his “Beat 588...Bad” West Virginia Strong Vaccine Incentive Program.
All West Virginians ages 16-35 who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are able to register online to receive either a $100 savings bond or a $100 gift card.
The $100 incentive is retroactive, meaning all West Virginians ages 16-35 who have received the COVID-19 vaccine at any point are eligible.
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VACCINE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
COVID-19 vaccinations are now available to all West Virginians ages 12 and older.
All West Virginians interested in being vaccinated are urged to visit Vaccinate.wv.gov or call the West Virginia Vaccine Info Line: 1-833-734-0965. The info line is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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At the direction of Gov. Justice, West Virginia continues to expand vaccine access in innovative new ways, including setting up vaccination sites at several high-traffic locations across the state, offering vaccines through senior organizations, collaborating with hospitals and healthcare facilities to vaccinate patients, communicating vaccination information with younger West Virginians through social media and streaming services, and much more.
In addition to clinic locations, vaccinations continue to be made available at Walgreens locations, the Med Shoppe/Leader network of pharmacies, Walmart locations, and additional independent pharmacies throughout the state as part of the federal pharmacy partnership in West Virginia.
West Virginians can visit Vaccines.gov for assistance in locating and securing an appointment at one of these federal pharmacy partners.
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The Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) on COVID-19 vaccines continues to ask manufacturers and businesses across the state to increase vaccine access for employees and their families by reaching out to the JIATF to organize vaccination clinics at their facilities. Additionally, church leaders are still urged to contact the JIATF for help organizing vaccination clinics for interested members of their congregations.
Anyone interested in organizing one of these vaccination clinics is asked to contact the West Virginia Vaccine Info Line: 1-833-734-0965.
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WEST VIRGINIA CLOSING IN ON STATEWIDE VACCINATION GOALS
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Justice announced that out of 367,011 West Virginians ages 65 and older who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, 310,421 such individuals have received at least one dose of vaccine; a rate of 84.6%.
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“We’re only four-tenths of a percent from the target that we set that nobody thought was even close to possible,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s amazing.”
As part of the Governor’s recently announced “Call to Arms” vaccine initiative, State COVID-19 pandemic response leaders have set a goal of administering at least one dose of the vaccine to 85% of all residents ages 65 and older by West Virginia’s 158th birthday on June 20, 2021.
Pandemic response leaders also set goals of administering at least one dose of the vaccine to 75% of residents ages 50 and older and 65% of the total number of eligible West Virginians.
West Virginia has already surpassed the goal for the 50 and older age range, reaching a 75.9% first-dose vaccination rate on Tuesday. Meanwhile, nearly 60% of all eligible West Virginians have received at least one shot to date.
“Our numbers continue to climb,” Gov. Justice said. “And, as they do, if we can just continue to step up and get vaccinated, we’ll get to that 65% and we’ll do it really close to our State’s birthday.”
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FACE COVERING REQUIREMENT LIFTED FOR FULLY VACCINATED WEST VIRGINIANS ONLY
Gov. Justice recently modified West Virginia’s face covering requirement to align with updated CDC guidance, which says that anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, regardless of crowd size.
The lifting of the face covering requirement only applies to those who have been fully vaccinated; meaning that at least two weeks have elapsed since the administration of a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or that at least two weeks have elapsed since the administration of a first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The Statewide Indoor Face Covering Requirement is still in effect for all West Virginians who are not yet fully vaccinated, and will remain in effect for these individuals until June 20, 2021.
Face coverings must still be worn where required by federal law. Additionally, any private business or school system can still require individuals to wear a face covering.
According to the CDC, currently authorized vaccines in the United States are highly effective at protecting vaccinated people against symptomatic and severe COVID-19. Additionally, a growing body of evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people are less likely to have asymptomatic infection or transmit COVID-19 to others.
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COVID-19 DATA AVAILABLE AT CORONAVIRUS.WV.GOV
For more information about West Virginia’s latest COVID-19-related data, visit the West Virginia COVID-19 Dashboard at Coronavirus.wv.gov.
The dashboard provides a detailed breakdown of case numbers, vaccination data, and more; including the color-coded County Alert Map system, hospitalization data, and several additional features.
The dashboard is updated Monday-Friday at 10 a.m.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Justice reported that there remain seven active church-related outbreaks in West Virginia. The active outbreaks are located in Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Taylor, and Webster counties and account for a total of 52 cases, up from 36 such cases as of his previous COVID-19 briefing on Thursday last week.
There are now six active outbreaks in long-term care facilities across the state, down from 11 such outbreaks on Thursday last week.
The Governor also reported that there are now just three active inmate cases across the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) system, down from six on Thursday last week. Meanwhile, there remain three active staff cases across the DCR system. To view the latest DCR case update, click here.
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COVID-19 TESTING STILL AVAILABLE ACROSS STATE
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Justice provided an overview of the 51 counties across the state that currently have free COVID-19 testing sites available through the Governor’s Aggressive Testing initiative.
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Testing is available to all residents, including asymptomatic individuals. Proof of insurance is not required. Attendees should bring identification, such as a driver’s license or proof of address, to help in returning test results. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
An interactive online map of all free testing locations across West Virginia is available online. Users can filter the map by type of testing site or by county. Each location is marked on the map with a pin. After finding a testing location nearby, users are able to click on the pin for more information about that particular testing site, including the specific location and timeframe during which testing will be held.
Click here to view all locations, dates, times, and more details
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GOV. JUSTICE COMMENDS WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING REQUESTED FUNDING BILLS
Additionally, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks on COVID-19 to thank the West Virginia Legislature for coming together in Special Session on Monday and swiftly passing his requested funding bills.
Among the funding measures approved was the transfer of $150 million from General Revenue to the State Road Fund.
“We can take $150 million out of our surplus and pour into our roads; pour it into paving, the repair of slips, and all kinds of different issues in all 55 counties,” Gov. Justice said. “This is a great step forward to make our state more and more attractive to others, and I salute the Legislature and thank them in every way for stepping up.
“This money is much needed and it will continue our record-breaking road maintenance activities all across our state,” Gov. Justice continued.
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GOV. JUSTICE OFFERS CONDOLENCES AFTER THE PASSING OF MINGO COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Justice took time to offer his condolences after the Mingo County Commission announced the passing of Commissioner Gavin Smith.
“Please join Cathy and I in our prayers for his family and all of his loved ones,” Gov. Justice said. “Thank you so much, Gavin, for your contributions to our great state. But, more than anything, thank you for being a great West Virginian.”
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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.
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