|
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.
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE ENCOURAGES MORE YOUNG WEST VIRGINIANS TO GET VACCINATED
During Wednesday’s briefing, Gov. Justice continued his pleas for more young West Virginians to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“One thing is absolutely for certain, and that is the more of us that are vaccinated, the less will die,” Gov. Justice said.
The Governor reported that the statewide death toll from COVID-19 has now reached 4,219, with 85 more deaths being reported since his previous briefing Monday, including 22 as a result of the DHHR’s data reconciliation with official death certificates.
Of the 85 latest West Virginians to lose their battle against COVID-19, nine were in their 40s, four were in their 30s, and two were in their 20s.
“I really encourage our young people to get vaccinated,” Gov. Justice said. “We should always be respectful of others’ choices and we should always be neighbors loving neighbors. But, at the same time, we need more and more of us to get vaccinated.”
|
|
CASE NUMBERS & HOSPITALIZATIONS UPDATE
On Wednesday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now 8,469 active cases of COVID-19 statewide; down by 564 cases since the Governor’s previous briefing on Monday.
The active case count is down by 21,275 since peaking one month ago, dropping by 71.5% in that timeframe.
COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov
Meanwhile, the state continues to see a steady downward trend in the number of severe COVID cases.
The number of hospitalizations, patients in ICUs, and patients on ventilators have all dropped between 28.7% and 34.4% since peaking in the final week of September.
The number of hospitalizations is now 714; down by 109 over the past week alone. Since peaking at 1,012, hospitalizations have dropped by 298 (29.4%).
The number of patients in ICUs is now 211; down by 28 over the past week alone. Since peaking at 296, the number of patients in ICUs has dropped by 85 (28.7%).
The number of patients on ventilators is now 128; down by 47 over the past week alone. Since peaking at 195, the number of patients on ventilators has dropped by 67 (34.4%).
The County Alert System map continues to show modest improvement, featuring four green counties, four yellow counties, 10 gold counties, 23 orange counties, and 14 red counties.
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE: WEST VIRGINIA SETS ALL-TIME STATE RECORD-LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Gov. Justice announced earlier in the day Wednesday that West Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.2% for September 2021; the lowest such rate ever recorded in all of state history.
Click here to read more
|
|
West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also decreased in September, dropping to 4.6%; just two-tenths of a percentage point away from the all-time state record of 4.4%, set in June 2008.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has now decreased for 17 consecutive months.
For the seventh straight month, West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains better than the national unemployment rate.
The number of unemployed state residents decreased by 2,100 in September, while total employment grew 1,200 over the month. Overall, West Virginia’s labor force participation rate has returned to its pre-pandemic level and is continuing an upward trend which began in 2017.
Click here to view WorkForce West Virginia’s most recent Labor Force Summary
Click here to view available jobs in West Virginia
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE URGES RESIDENTS TO GET BOOSTER SHOT IF ELIGIBLE
With the percentage of fully vaccinated residents hospitalized for COVID-19 slowly creeping higher in recent weeks, Gov. Justice took time during his briefing to encourage all West Virginians to determine if they qualify for a booster dose and then get one if they are eligible.
West Virginians who received specifically the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may qualify for the booster shot if it has been at least six months since their second dose.
The CDC recommends that:
- People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings SHOULD receive a booster shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their second dose of Pfizer.
- People aged 50–64 years with *underlying medical conditions SHOULD receive a booster shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their second dose of Pfizer.
- People aged 18–49 years with *underlying medical conditions MAY receive a booster shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their second Pfizer dose, based on their individual benefits and risks.
- People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting MAY receive a booster shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their second Pfizer dose, based on their individual benefits and risks.
|
|
* = Underlying medical conditions: State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh noted that the list of underlying medical conditions that would qualify an individual to receive the booster shot is extremely broad and includes anybody who is overweight, has high blood pressure, is a current or former smoker, has heart or lung conditions, is diabetic, is pregnant, has liver or kidney disease, has received a transplant, has cancer, has substance use disorder, has HIV, has had a stroke or other brain disorder, has dementia or other neurologic disease, has Down Syndrome, has sickle cell anemia, and more.
Click here to read more (via CDC)
|
|
|
|
If you are eligible for the booster shot, you can go to any location offering COVID-19 vaccines with your vaccination card to receive the booster. If your card has been lost, you can request a new one from the DHHR.
|
|
SCHOOL OUTBREAK REPORT
On Wednesday, Gov. Justice reported that, per the West Virginia Department of Education, there are currently 40 school outbreaks in 18 counties with 602 confirmed cases.
COVID-19 Outbreaks in State Public Schools (WVDE)
A total of 53 county school systems have either face covering requirements or a criteria for requiring face coverings. Only two counties – Pocahontas and Tucker counties – do not have a face covering requirement at this time.
WV Department of Education COVID-19 Updates
|
|
GOVERNOR SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER
Gov. Justice signed Executive Order 28-21 on Tuesday, relating to temporary employees of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and local boards of health throughout West Virginia who are engaged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
WEST VIRGINIANS ENCOURAGED TO GET FLU VACCINE
With flu season getting underway, Gov. Justice and State health officials took time to encourage all West Virginians to get their flu vaccine.
According to health officials, everyone 6 months and older should receive this vaccine.
In addition to providing protection from the flu, this vaccine helps reduce the burden on hospitals and healthcare systems.
Flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time.
Click here to learn more
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE TO HOLD FALL TROUT STOCKING EVENT TOMORROW AT 11 A.M.
Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks on COVID-19 to announce that he will be holding an announcement tomorrow morning, Thursday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m., to kick off fall trout stocking season in West Virginia.
“I encourage everyone to tune in to that announcement tomorrow morning,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s a wonderful time of year. The fall colors are just starting to come out, and they’re beautiful beyond belief.
“We’re going to make a gigantic announcement on a beautiful trout stream tomorrow,” Gov. Justice continued. “I think you’ll really like it.”
|
|
|
|