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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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PEDIATRICIAN DISCUSSES IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATING ELIGIBLE CHILDREN
During his briefing Friday, Gov. Justice was joined by West Virginia pediatrician Dr. Lisa McBride, who owns Cardinal Pediatrics in Morgantown.
In her remarks, Dr. McBride celebrated the recent approval of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for use in children as young as 6 months old and discussed the importance of parents choosing vaccination for their children.
“It is very important to get these children vaccinated,” Dr. McBride said. “They have been waiting the longest to benefit from protection against COVID infection and the severe consequences it can have.”
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“The youngest children, under the age of 5 years old, can have significant illness when they are infected and they have been left out of the vaccine enrollment thus far,” she continued. So we are very happy and excited that we now have two options available to families of infants and toddlers who have been waiting for this.”
The West Virginia COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator has been updated to account for children ages 6 months and older now being eligible to receive the vaccine.
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CASE NUMBERS
On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now 2,135 active cases of COVID-19 statewide, up by 253 cases since the Governor’s previous briefing on Wednesday.
COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov
An updated breakdown of the West Virginia County Alert Map is as follows:
Red (0) | Orange (0) | Gold (0) | Yellow (31) | Green (24)
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GOV. JUSTICE APPLAUDS U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING RETURNING ABORTION LAW TO THE STATES
Additionally Friday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks on COVID-19 to discuss his thoughts on the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision returning abortion law to the states.
“I applaud the Supreme Court’s courageous decision today,” Gov. Justice said. “I’ve said many times that I very proudly stand for life and I am rock-solid against abortion, and I believe that every human life is a miracle worth protecting.
“I will not hesitate to call a special session after consulting with the Legislature and my legal team if clarification in our laws needs to be made.”
Click here to view statement online
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BLUEFIELD AREA TRANSIT REGIONAL TRANSFER STATION RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY
Gov. Justice also took time to recap his trip to Bluefield yesterday, where he took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the new Larlyn Patrick McKinney Bluefield Area Transit Regional Transfer Station.
The $3.2 million, state-of-the-art facility will operate as the hub of the city’s Bluefield Area Transit (BAT) bus system. The local transportation network now serves more than 225,000 annual passengers on routes in Mercer and McDowell counties, including over 120,000 seniors and 15,000 passengers with disabilities.
Click here to read more
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GOVERNOR THANKS COMMERCE SECRETARY ED GAUNCH FOR HIS SERVICE
Additionally Friday, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia Department of Commerce Cabinet Secretary C. Edward “Ed” Gaunch will retire from state government in July 2022 after more than three years of leading the department.
A native of Boone County, Gaunch graduated from West Virginia State University in 1970 with a double major in economics and political science. After more than three decades in the insurance industry, he was elected to the State Senate in 2014. Gov. Justice tapped Gaunch to serve as Commerce Secretary in December 2018.
“Ed has been an absolute superstar for our state. He’s been a public servant for a long, long time and he represents the goodness of West Virginia. We want to congratulate him in every way on an incredible career,” Gov. Justice said. “Ed has done phenomenal work as our Commerce Secretary, and West Virginia could not have been more blessed than to have Ed in that job. The successes we’ve seen under his leadership are unbelievable.
“I am so happy for you, Ed. I wish you the happiest retirement, but I don't want you to just go away. I want you to know you’re welcome to stroll in and give us great advice and great wisdom, as you’ve already done so many times. You are a true West Virginia hero.”
Click here to read more
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GOV. JUSTICE COMMEMORATES SIX-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DEADLY WEST VIRGINIA FLOODING
Gov. Justice also took time to commemorate the six-year anniversary of the devastating West Virginia floods on June 23, 2016, that claimed 23 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses across the state.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been six years. It feels like it was yesterday,” Gov. Justice said. “When you stop and think about it, the memories of the devastation and wading through mud to try to find people all come back. I have never been a part of anything so tragic in my life.
“I ask you to keep everyone who was impacted by this terrible tragedy – especially those who lost their loved ones – in your prayers.”
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