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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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RECORD-SETTING COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE: ACTIVE CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, ICU PATIENTS, VENTILATORS IN USE ALL HIT NEW PEAKS
During Friday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia has reached a new record high number of active COVID-19 cases for the entire pandemic.
There are now 29,744 active cases; up more than 2,100 cases from the Governor’s previous briefing on Wednesday.
The statewide death toll from COVID-19 reached 3,370 on Friday, with 74 more deaths being reported since the Governor's previous briefing just two days ago, including 18 as a result of the DHHR’s data reconciliation with official death certificates.
“Unfortunately, today we have an overwhelming amount of deaths,” Gov. Justice said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to do one of two things: we’re either going to run to the fire and get vaccinated right now or we’re gonna pile the body bags up.”
West Virginia also saw new record highs Friday for total hospitalizations (922), ICU patients (277), and the number of patients on ventilators (169).
Over 82% of West Virginians who are hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated and over 91% of those in ICUs and on ventilators due to COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
Meanwhile, the County Alert System map now shows that 52 of the state’s 55 counties are now in either the highest-risk Red category or one step below in the Orange category.
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The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is fully FDA-approved for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
All West Virginians interested in being vaccinated are encouraged 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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GOV. JUSTICE ANNOUNCES MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY CLINICS ACROSS STATE
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice announced expanded monoclonal antibody distribution to numerous pharmacies, community health centers, and local health departments across West Virginia.
Distribution has expanded to over 30 counties this week alone and will expand to all counties as quickly as possible.
The West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) will be working directly with health organizations to stand up these clinics and secure the antibodies for distribution to patients.
“As the Governor has pointed out before, the antibodies are not a replacement for the vaccine, but they are a life saving tool, particularly if we get to an individual at the appropriate time,” JIATF Director Jim Hoyer said.
The Governor was joined for the announcement by Kanawha-Charleston Health Department Executive Director and Health Officer Dr. Sheri Young and Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper. The KCHD announced yesterday that they will be operating a monoclonal antibody clinic at their health department’s Charleston offices.
“Thank you Governor Justice and your wonderful team for allowing us to be on today and talking about our work here in Kanawha County. Without you, making sure that we have the supplies that we will need moving forward, we wouldn't be able to make the announcement that we are doing monoclonal antibody infusions, starting today, here at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department,” Dr. Young said. “So far we have successfully treated six individuals who were COVID-positive, and we’re happy to report that they're all doing very well.”
“We are proud to follow your leadership, Governor Justice, and frankly, when I first heard you a long time ago refer to COVID as a monster, well, if COVID was the monster, then Delta is the spawn of a monster,” Carper said. “We know what it does. It's killing people all over this country, all over your state of West Virginia, and it's because of a lack of people getting vaccinations, not their availability.”
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RAINY DAY FUND CROSSES $1 BILLION UNDER GOV. JUSTICE
Additionally Friday, Gov. Justice announced that, for the first time in state history, West Virginia’s Rainy Day Fund has officially crossed $1 billion dollars in total balance.
“We have now officially crossed a milestone that people would have never dreamed of,” Gov. Justice said. “We have absolutely done so by accumulating surplus after surplus after surplus. We’ve worked hard in this administration. We've worked hard with the Legislature. We work hand-in-hand.
The milestone was reached today after the $9.2 million remaining surplus from Fiscal Year 2021 was officially transferred into the fund.
The previous Rainy Day Fund high was $955 million on June 30, 2014.
This comes after Gov. Justice requested the Legislature approve an appropriation of $150 million for secondary roads and $253.8 million for other purposes from the same surplus.
“This state is so incredibly healthy right now, it's cooking,” Gov. Justice continued. “We’re going to keep doing everything we can to keep moving forward and building opportunities in West Virginia.”
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DO IT FOR BABYDOG ROUND 2: GOV. JUSTICE INTRODUCES MORE PRIZE WINNERS FROM VACCINATION SWEEPSTAKES
Gov. Justice recapped his journey across the state yesterday to surprise some of the biggest winners from the third week of prize giveaways as part of his “Do it for Babydog: Round 2” Vaccination Sweepstakes.
Gov. Justice made a pair of stops to surprise two young West Virginians with a life-changing opportunity: a full four-year scholarship to any public college or university in the state, including room and board, tuition, and books; a prize valued at over $100,000.
The Governor personally presented one scholarship prize to Livvi Miller, a senior at Hurricane High School in Putnam County.
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The Governor also presented a scholarship to Waylon Gilkeson, a young staff member at Greenbrier West High School who plans to return to school.
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Brenden McCutcheon of Morgantown, Katelyn Roberts of Spurlockville, and Caden Staggers of Keyser were also drawn as scholarship winners through the “Do it for Babydog” sweepstakes.
The Governor also traveled to the Fayette County Courthouse to surprise two additional major prize winners.
Aron Sattler of Mount Nebo was named as the winner of a new 2021 Roush Stage 3 Mustang.
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Lewis Wood of Hico was named as the winner of free gas for 10 years.
Wood urged all West Virginians to get vaccinated. He told Gov. Justice that he survived a severe case of COVID-19, spending 18 days in the hospital, including seven days on a ventilator.
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A total of 25 West Virginians were announced as “Do it for Babydog” winners Thursday, taking home a variety of exciting prizes, including those mentioned above as well as a dream wedding valued at $150,000, a custom fishing/pontoon boat, premium ATVs, top-of-the-line zero turn lawn mowers, WVU and Marshall University football or basketball season ticket packages, and season passes to West Virginia ski resorts.
Vaccinated West Virginians have three more chances to win in Round 2 of the “Do it for Babydog: Save a life, Change your life” Vaccination Sweepstakes.
All West Virginians who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can register at DoitforBabydog.wv.gov for an opportunity to join the list of winners. Over 211,000 West Virginians have registered for Round 2 of the sweepstakes to date.
*Those who previously registered for Round 1 of the vaccination sweepstakes are required to register again to be eligible for Round 2*
Online registration to be eligible to win in the next prize drawing will remain open until Sunday, Sept. 19, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Winners will be announced next Thursday, Sept. 23.
Additional prize drawings will be held weekly, with winners being announced each Thursday through Oct. 7.
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SCHOOL OUTBREAK REPORT
On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that, per the West Virginia Department of Education, there are currently 88 school outbreaks in 35 counties with 786 confirmed cases.
Seven schools and one entire county school system – Preston County – are currently closed due to COVID-19.
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. The other two counties – Pocahontas and Putnam counties – do not have face covering requirements at this time.
WV Department of Education COVID-19 Updates
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ADDITIONAL OUTBREAKS
There are now four active outbreaks associated with churches throughout West Virginia. The churches are located in Braxton, Monroe, Raleigh, and Wayne counties.
Additionally, there are now 79 active outbreaks in long-term care facilities across the state.
Meanwhile, there are now 227 active inmate cases and 61 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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REGISTRATION UNDERWAY FOR HEALTHY GRANDFAMILIES VACCINATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice reminded West Virginia Granfamilies that registration is now underway for the Healthy Grandfamilies vaccination incentive program.
The program offers a $150 voucher for back-to-school supplies to all vaccinated grandfamilies in West Virginia – families where grandparents are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren.
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To qualify, all vaccine-eligible members of the grandfamily, including grandparents and grandchildren ages 12 and older, must have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The family must also be enrolled in West Virginia State University’s Healthy Grandfamilies program. Enroll at healthygrandfamilies.com.
Healthy Grandfamilies, which provides information and resources to grandparents who are raising one or more grandchildren, is assisting in the administration of the school voucher incentive. According to the organization, about 19,000 West Virginia children live in households with a grandparent or grandparents as their primary caregiver.
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GOV. JUSTICE ANNOUNCES TURKISH MINING COMPANY TO OPEN FIRST U.S. PLANT IN MOUNDSVILLE; CREATE 47 JOBS
Additionally Friday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks about COVID-19 to offer a reminder of his announcement yesterday that CS Global Group, a Turkish Mining company that specializes in barite manufacturing and sales, has chosen Moundsville, West Virginia, as the location for its first manufacturing plant in the United States.
The company will create 47 new full-time jobs and plans to invest $10 million in the facility, which will be operational by the first quarter of 2022.
The company is taking over a site in Moundsville with easy access to rail and barge transport systems. Existing buildings, such as silos, will be utilized by the company, which plans to build a new 25,000-square-foot warehouse. Large empty areas at the property will also enable further growth of plant production capacity.
Click here to read more
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GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF WEST VIRGINIA BUSINESSLINK WEBSITE
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice took time to offer a reminder of his recent announcement that West Virginia’s small business owners and entrepreneurs can now find the right resources to support their success in one convenient online space: West Virginia BusinessLink.
West Virginia BusinessLink is founded by the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Small Business Development Center, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem.
Click here to read more
To utilize BusinessLink, business owners and entrepreneurs can visit wvbusinesslink.com, use the “Connect to Resources” box to find resources in a specific area, explore upcoming training and networking events in the calendar, and find supportive information in the “STARTUP, “GROWTH,” and “FUNDING” tabs.
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In the “Connect to Resources” box, website visitors can answer questions about their company and needs. BusinessLink analyzes the replies, scours the database of Resource Partners, calculates the best matches, and responds to the business owner with referrals.
BusinessLink is free to use and available 24/7. One-on-one appointments to discuss business needs can also be requested by calling 888-982-7232.
Services available from BusinessLink Resource Partners include the following:
- Business planning
- Loans & financing
- Co-working/co-making
- Accelerators and Incubators
- Marketing & sales
- Human Resources
- Mentoring
- Licenses & permits
- Startup assistance
- Product development
- Technical Assistance
- Training classes
- Government contract assistance
- Operations assistance
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