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Sunday, Aug. 8, marks final chance to register for “Do it for Babydog” Vaccination Sweepstakes
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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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GOV. JUSTICE AGAIN URGES WEST VIRGINIANS TO GET VACCINATED AS CASES CONTINUE TO CLIMB
During Friday’s briefing, Gov. Justice reported that the total number of active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia has now reached 3,372; nearly four times the number of active cases seen throughout the state less than a month ago.
“We're starting to see a more rapid increase,” Gov. Justice said. “There needs to be more and more concern about getting yourself vaccinated because we're running out of time.”
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Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are also climbing.
The number of active hospitalizations in West Virginia is now 210, up from 185 as of the Governor’s previous briefing on Wednesday. Of those currently hospitalized, 32.4% are in the ICU.
Gov. Justice also reported that West Virginia now has five counties in the Red category of the County Alert System map: Cabell, Marshall, Upshur, Wetzel, and Wyoming counties.
The map also now features 12 Orange counties, six Gold counties, and 13 Yellow counties; meaning that 36 of the state’s 55 counties are now above the Green category.
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Gov. Justice went on to report that there are now 129 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant that have been identified in 32 counties across the state.
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To view COVID-19 variant data:
- Go to the WV COVID-19 Dashboard at Coronavirus.wv.gov
- Make sure the “Overview” tab is selected
- Click yellow box reading: “Click here to view variant data”
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“With all the risks that are out there, you need to move today,” Gov. Justice said. “We all know how to stop it. All we’ve got to do is get vaccinated.
“But it will only get worse if we don't really aggressively run and get vaccinated today,” Gov. Justice continued.
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“DO IT FOR BABYDOG” SWEEPSTAKES REGISTRATION ENDS SUNDAY, AUG. 8
Gov. Justice provided a reminder to all West Virginians that the deadline to register for the final prize drawing in the “Do it for Babydog” Vaccination Sweepstakes is Sunday, Aug. 8, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
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The final round of prizes for vaccinated West Virginians ages 18 and older include:
- One grand prize of $1.588 million
- One second place prize of $588,000
- Two brand-new custom-outfitted trucks
- Five lifetime hunting licenses
- Five lifetime fishing licenses
- Five custom hunting rifles
- Five custom hunting shotguns
- 25 weekend getaways to West Virginia State Parks
Additionally, two vaccinated West Virginians ages 12-25 will win a full four-year scholarship to any public institution in the state.
The final round of prizes will be awarded on Tuesday, Aug. 10.
The final giveaway was originally scheduled to take place earlier this week. But, with demand for vaccines increasing in response to the increased threat of the Delta variant, Gov. Justice announced that he would be extending the program.
Just since Wednesday, another 3,000 vaccine doses have been administered statewide.
All West Virginians who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to register for the sweepstakes.
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Over 381,000 West Virginians have registered for the “Do it for Babydog: Save a life, Change your life” Vaccination Sweepstakes to date.
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BOOSTER BATTLEFIELD ASSESSMENT
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice announced that more information about signing up for the Booster Battlefield Assessment is coming soon.
West Virginia's Booster Battlefield Assessment is the first statewide program in the country to test and measure antibody levels among vaccinated individuals.
Earlier this week, Joint Interagency Task Force Director Jim Hoyer said that any West Virginians who are interested in participating in the Booster Battlefield Assessment should call the West Virginia COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line at 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.
“We're going to get you more information about how to sign up soon,” Gov. Justice said. “In the meantime, we appreciate you calling in.
“We’re going to move to get antibodies checked in our nursing homes first, and then we're going to move to others,” Gov. Justice continued. “We're going to get a lot of really valuable information.”
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OUTBREAK REPORT
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now 10 active outbreaks associated with churches throughout West Virginia. The churches are located in Cabell, Fayette, Jackson, Jefferson, Marion, McDowell, Nicholas, Putnam, and Raleigh counties.
Additionally, there are now 14 active outbreaks in long-term care facilities across the state.
Meanwhile, there are 29 active inmate cases and four active staff cases across the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation system. To view the latest DCR case update, click here.
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U.S. AND STATE FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF AUG. 5-6 IN HONOR OF TWO WEST VIRGINIA HEROES
Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks about COVID-19 to announce that yesterday he issued two proclamations, ordering that all United States and West Virginia flags on all State-owned facilities throughout West Virginia be displayed at half-staff on Aug. 5-6 as a mark of respect for two fallen West Virginia servicemen who have been returned home to be laid to rest.
The flag order on Thursday, Aug. 5, honored the day of memorial services for Navy Patternmaker 1st Class Stanislaw F. Drwall of Thomas, WV.
Drwall was on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft, sustaining multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsizing, resulting in the deaths of 429 crew members, including Drwall. He was 25 years old.
Drwall’s remains were exhumed from a Honolulu cemetery in 2015 and identified using DNA and other analysis on March 25, 2021.
Click here to read more: Drwall Flag Order
The flag order on Friday, Aug. 6, honored the day of memorial services for Army Cpl. Pete W. Conley of Chapmanville, WV.
Conley was reported missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was 19 years old.
On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea turned over 55 boxes, purported to contain the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War. Conley’s remains were identified on June 5, 2020.
Click here to read more: Conley Flag Order
“As you see these flags at half-staff, I ask you to please remember these two fallen heroes. But not only that, please remember all those that serve to give us everything that we have,” Gov. Justice said. “We love them and we thank them.”
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GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF BILL RANEY TO WEST VIRGINIA PSC; APPLAUDS PSC ORDER EXTENDING LIFE OF THREE POWER PLANTS
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice took time to announce that he has appointed Bill Raney to the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
“Bill has served this state extremely well. He led the charge with the West Virginia Coal Association for years and years,” Gov. Justice said. “He'll be sworn-in in the coming weeks and I know Bill will do a tremendous job.
“He loves our state beyond good sense, just like I do, and I think the world of him,” Gov. Justice continued. “He is so qualified and so well-versed it's unbelievable.”
Click here to view appointment letter
The Governor also announced that, on Wednesday, the PSC granted Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power approval to make the upgrades necessary to comply with federal environmental regulations at the Amos, Mountaineer, and Mitchell coal-fired power plants.
The Commission’s approval provides an opportunity for all three plants to remain operational through 2040.
“This is really great news,” Gov. Justice said. “I commend the PSC on this decision, I think it's the right decision. As I've said so many times, we cannot afford to risk our baseload generation capacities and we must do everything we can to protect these plants and protect these great jobs all across our state.”
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GOVERNOR RECAPS TRIP TO WHEELING FOR WVML CONFERENCE, ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND RIBBON-CUTTING
Additionally, Gov. Justice took time to recap his visit to Wheeling yesterday for a pair of events.
First yesterday, Gov. Justice addressed hundreds of community leaders from across the state at the West Virginia Municipal League’s 52nd annual conference; held this week at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling.
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The WVML is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan association of cities, towns, and villages established in 1968 to assist local governments and advance the interests of their citizens. All 230 municipalities within West Virginia are members of the WVML.
During his remarks, the Governor commended municipal leaders for their role in helping West Virginia achieve one of the nation’s most successful responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also brought Babydog onto the stage for a surprise appearance and to encourage all in attendance to get vaccinated.
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Following the conference, Gov. Justice made his way to the Wheeling YMCA to take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new, state-of-the-art J.B. Chambers Memorial All-Inclusive Playground.
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The playground is designed for all children to enjoy, featuring equipment that allows children in wheelchairs and children with autism to participate fully. It also features multiple pieces of equipment that are the first of their kind in the world.
Click here to read more about both events
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