|
Governor also announces biggest single-month revenue surplus in state history
|
|
|
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.
|
|
CASE NUMBERS & VACCINE/BOOSTER INFO
On Tuesday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now 812 active cases of COVID-19 statewide; up by 13 cases since his previous briefing on Thursday last week. However, since reaching their most recent peak in late January, total active cases are down 96.3% overall.
COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov
Since nearing peak capacity in early February, COVID-related hospitalizations in West Virginia are down 90.9%, ICU patients are down 90.4%, and patients on ventilators are down 89.9%.
An updated breakdown of the West Virginia County Alert Map is as follows:
Red (0) | Orange (0) | Gold (0) | Yellow (1) | Green (54)
|
|
Still, after reading the ages and locations of another 15 individuals who have passed away from COVID-19 since Thursday last week, Gov. Justice continued to urge West Virginians to get vaccinated and boosted.
“If it’s been four or more months since you’ve gotten your first booster shot, your resistance is probably way down,” Gov. Justice said. “So if you’re in this boat, and you’re over 50 or immunocompromised, you absolutely need to dial it in and get your next booster.”
|
|
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.
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE ANNOUNCES BIGGEST SINGLE-MONTH REVENUE SURPLUS OF ALL-TIME
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks about COVID-19 to announce that West Virginia’s General Revenue collections for April 2022 came in at $253 million over estimate.
This figure marks the all-time state record surplus for any single month in West Virginia history.
“We ought to have a thousand parades to celebrate this accomplishment,” Gov. Justice said. “When I came into office, we were really upside down. For all practical purposes, the state was bankrupt. Then, in the first year, I think we ran across the finish line with a $4 million surplus and we were so happy it was off the charts. Now can you imagine what a celebration we would’ve had if that surplus had exceeded $200 million? We would have absolutely gone crazy.
“Well, today, that’s the reality,” Gov. Justice continued. “It truly couldn’t get any better.”
|
|
Ten months through Fiscal Year 2022, year-to-date collections are $993 million above the YTD estimate; breaking the all-time state record for total surplus through the month of April.
Click here to read more
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO GASSAWAY FIREFIGHTER, OTHERS LOST IN ELK RIVER TRAGEDY
Additionally, Gov. Justice took a moment to offer his prayers and condolences for the three people who lost their lives on Sunday after an occupied vehicle went into the Elk River in Braxton County.
One of the people who died in the incident was 24-year-old Gassaway Volunteer Firefighter, John D. Forbush. He was off-duty, but heard the initial dispatch call on his department issued radio and responded himself. Once on scene, Forbush jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue the individuals in the vehicle. However, Forbush was unable to free them and he also lost his life in the rescue effort.
“This brave firefighter should be known as a hero to all West Virginians. We can never thank our firefighters and all of our first responders enough for how they always run to the fire and put their lives on the line for all of us,” Gov. Justice said. “This entire situation is terrible beyond belief. I ask for your prayers for the victims of this horrible tragedy.”
|
|
GOV. JUSTICE HONORS MILITARY SIGNEES AT JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL
Additionally, Gov. Justice recapped his visit to James Monroe High School on Friday last week for a Military Signing Day ceremony honoring five JMHS and Monroe County Technical Center students who committed to serving in the West Virginia Army National Guard and the United States Marine Corps.
“This was an inspiring event to be a part of,” Gov. Justice said. “I told the folks in the crowd that day that we all owe a debt of gratitude to our active Military and our Veterans. They have given us every single thing that we have in this world, and we can never take their sacrifice for granted.”
As part of the Month of the Military Child, the West Virginia Department of Education and the Common Ground Partnership designated last week as the state’s inaugural West Virginia Military Signing Week.
The event at JMHS was one of 10 Military Signing Day ceremonies across the state. Events were held at schools in Cabell, Kanawha, Lewis, Monongalia, Monroe, and Putnam counties.
Click here to read more
|
|
GOVERNOR GIVES COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT FAIRMONT STATE UNIVERSITY
Gov. Justice also took time to recap his trip to Fairmont State University on Saturday, where he gave the keynote address at the commencement ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts.
During the ceremony, Gov. Justice was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Humanities.
“I appreciated the honor and really enjoyed the day as a whole,” Gov. Justice said. “It was wonderful to see a bunch of beautiful young faces that are going to make a difference in our state in fields from criminal justice, to teaching, and so much more. I thank everyone for a wonderful experience at a wonderful West Virginia institution.”
Click here to view event photos
|
|
GOVERNOR SIGNS SPECIAL SESSION BILLS
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Justice announced that he has signed a total of 15 bills that were passed during the recent Special Session of the West Virginia Legislature, which was called by the Governor to give the Legislature the opportunity to address bills from the Regular Session that were vetoed for purely technical reasons, among additional legislation.
Among the bills signed was HB 217, a supplemental appropriation for $250 million to the Economic Enhancement Grant Fund which is managed by the West Virginia Water Development Authority. Working together with the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council and the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, the fund will provide matching grants to municipalities for use in upgrading infrastructure such as water and sewer systems.
Click here to read more
|
|
|
|