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Governor presents Certificates of Recognition to Glenville State University Lady Pioneers basketball team after historic National Championship win
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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 and vaccine distribution efforts.
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CASE NUMBERS & VACCINE/BOOSTER INFO
On Thursday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now just 324 active cases of COVID-19 statewide.
Over the past two months, total active cases have decreased by more than 98.5%.
COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov
Since nearing peak capacity in early February, COVID-related hospitalizations in West Virginia are down 88.6%, ICU patients are down 85.3%, and patients on ventilators are down 85.5%.
West Virginia’s County Alert Map once again features all 55 of the state’s counties in the Green category.
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However, with the BA.2 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 recently sparking a new wave of infections across the world and the United States, Gov. Justice continued to urge all West Virginians to be sure to be properly vaccinated and boosted.
“We’ve done a great job recently combating this thing, but we can’t let off the gas now,” Gov. Justice said. “I strongly encourage all West Virginians to make sure you’re vaccinated and fully boosted – especially now that another booster shot is available for everyone 50 and older.”
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All West Virginians ages 5 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. After the primary series, first booster shots are recommended for those ages 12 and older.
Second booster shots have now been authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC for those ages 50 and over who are also at least four months removed from their first booster dose, as well as certain younger immunocompromised individuals ages 12 and older.
All West Virginians who qualify can immediately get this dose anywhere vaccines are available.
The state’s new COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator has been updated to determine whether people are eligible for a second booster dose.
Read more about vaccines at Vaccinate.wv.gov and at CDC.gov.
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GOVERNOR HONORS NATIONAL CHAMPION GLENVILLE STATE LADY PIONEERS
Also on Thursday, the Governor took time to announce that, just before the start of his briefing, he hosted a ceremony to present certificates of recognition to members of the Glenville State University Lady Pioneers basketball team, who recently won the NCAA Division-II National Championship.
Not only did the win mark GSU’s first national championship in any sport, but it also marked the first time that any college or university from West Virginia has won a NCAA national championship in basketball.
“I was thrilled to be able to host these ladies and talk to them about their national championship victory,” Gov. Justice said. “I know they have worked incredibly hard to achieve what they have achieved, and I congratulate them in every way. They made all of West Virginia incredibly proud.”
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The Lady Pioneers finished the season with the best record in program history at 35-1. Along the way, GSU boasted the best offense in the nation by a wide margin, scoring an average of 95.5 points per game; 13 points more than any other team in Division-II.
Their run of dominance continued in the National Championship Tournament. The Lady Pioneers broke the all-time NCAA D-II Tournament scoring record, putting up 524 points in six games. Their average margin of victory in the tournament was over 25 points per game.
Glenville State’s head coach, Kim Stephens, a graduate of Parkersburg South High School and an alumna of GSU herself, was named NCAA D-II Women’s Basketball National Coach of the Year. Her overall career record as coach at GSU is now 158-21 (88.3%).
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GOV. JUSTICE SIGNS BILL CRACKING DOWN ON DRUG TRAFFICKERS, AMONG OTHERS
Gov. Justice also took time out of his remarks on COVID-19 to announce that, before his briefing, he hosted a ceremony to sign into law several bills, including two that will crack down on drug traffickers and other criminals.
Senate Bill 536, also known as the Fentanyl Bill, delivers on the Governor’s promise of being tough on drug dealers and traffickers by increasing penalties for distributing fentanyl in West Virginia and for transporting fentanyl into West Virginia from another state. This bill also makes it a crime to involve a person under the age of 18 in distributing any controlled substance.
“As I’ve said many times, the less that these dangerous drugs make it into West Virginia, the less of our people will die,” Gov. Justice said. “I truly believe that this bill is going to make drug traffickers think twice before they even set foot into our state because they know, if they get caught, we won’t be letting them off the hook easily.”
Full story will be available on DHS news page
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GOVERNOR APPOINTS HALEY BUNN TO WV SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Gov. Justice also reiterated his recent announcement that he has appointed C. Haley Bunn, a native of Oceana, Wyoming County, to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
Bunn is a descendant of generations of West Virginia coal miners and a former federal prosecutor with deep trial and appellate experience that she will bring to the state’s highest court.
“Haley did incredible work as an assistant federal prosecutor and she has also done all kinds of great work combating the opioid crisis in southern West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said during his briefing Thursday. “She is a strong conservative voice for our business community and she has so much trial experience, it’s unbelievable. She will bring all kinds of goodness to our state like we can’t imagine and I’m proud to make this appointment.”
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GOV. JUSTICE, WVDOT ANNOUNCE 2022 STATEWIDE PAVING PROGRAM
Additionally, Gov. Justice provided a recap of his event in Morgantown on Wednesday, where he joined leaders with the West Virginia Department of Transportation for an event to celebrate the start of spring paving season and to announce plans for one of the most ambitious years of roadwork in state history.
The Governor and WVDOT Secretary Jimmy Wriston P.E. announced that over 800 miles-worth of roadways will be resurfaced this year, with a total of 266 paving projects taking place in all 55 counties across the state. These projects alone will add up to $208 million-worth of improvements to West Virginia’s roads.
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Gov. Justice also unveiled the WVDOT’s 2022 Statewide Interactive Roadwork Map, marking the fourth year that West Virginians will be able to access this online tool and see what roads near them are scheduled to be improved this year.
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Despite asphalt plants only recently opening for the spring, the WVDOT’s Division of Highways (DOH) has already been hard at work, getting a jump on road maintenance work, even through the winter months. Through just the first three months of 2022, a total of 6,429 road projects – spanning 6,698 miles – have already been completed.
The DOH has over 51,000-miles worth of maintenance projects scheduled to take place in 2022, which would break the all-time state maintenance record for the fourth consecutive year.
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GOVERNOR, FIRST LADY ANNOUNCE EASTER CELEBRATION SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY AT STATE CAPITOL
Gov. Justice once again encouraged all West Virginians to join him and First Lady Cathy Justice at the West Virginia State Culture Center on the State Capitol Complex this Saturday, April 9, for the 2022 Bunny Brunch and Easter Celebration.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
The Culture Center will be transformed into an Easter Celebration, complete with a petting zoo, bicycle giveaways, games, prizes, crafts, food, and an appearance by the Easter Bunny. There will also be a Golden Easter Egg Hunt with prizes awarded on the grounds of the Capitol.
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