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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 Friday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now just 1,432 active cases of COVID-19 statewide. Over just the past seven weeks, total active cases have decreased by more than 93%.
COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov
Since nearing peak capacity in early February, COVID-related hospitalizations in West Virginia are down 71%, ICU patients are down 67%, and patients on ventilators are down 63%.
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An updated breakdown of the West Virginia County Alert Map is as follows:
Red (0) | Orange (0) | Gold (1) | Yellow (1) | Green (53)
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Still, after reading the ages and locations of another 98 individuals who have passed away from COVID-19 since Monday, Gov. Justice continued to urge West Virginians to get vaccinated and boosted.
Initial series vaccinations are available for free for all West Virginians ages 5 and older and booster shots are authorized and encouraged for all West Virginians ages 12 and older. Read more about vaccines and boosters at Vaccinate.wv.gov and at CDC.gov.
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GOV. JUSTICE: WEST VIRGINIA SENDING SURPLUS BODY ARMOR TO UKRAINE
Additionally Friday, Gov. Justice announced that he has directed the West Virginia National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security to help Ukraine by enlisting West Virginia law enforcement to donate surplus body armor.
The WVNG and DHS will immediately begin collecting unused or recently expired ballistic vests. They are coordinating with the West Virginia Law Enforcement Coalition, which consists of the state associations for chiefs of police, county sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, troopers, narcotics officers, and the Fraternal Order of Police.
“A lot of people are stepping up to make this happen with our surplus armor,” Gov. Justice said. “In West Virginia, we stand up for what’s right. And that’s exactly what we’re doing here.”
County sheriffs are accepting vests at their offices for pickup by the West Virginia State Police and the state Division of Emergency Management, both of which are part of DHS. After collection in West Virginia, donated body armor will be transferred to a single collection point in the U.S. with many other states. From there, the armor will be sent to Ukraine.
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GOV. JUSTICE: PEPSICO BUSINESSES TO BUILD TWO NEW FACILITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA
Gov. Justice also reiterated his announcement yesterday that PepsiCo businesses are investing a combined $32.5 million to build a pair of new, state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution facilities in West Virginia by the end of 2022.
One will be a $16.5 million, 100,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility for PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) in Ona, WV. The other will be a $16 million, 70,000-square-foot state-of-the-art distribution center for Frito-Lay North America in Scott Depot, WV.
Combined, the two facilities will employ 185 individuals in Cabell and Putnam counties, including 25 new, full-time warehouse, sales, and driver positions available to West Virginians.
“Everyday, more and more major companies are expanding operations or moving into West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s just bringing more credibility and more goodness to our state and our people.”
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GOVERNOR URGES SAFETY WITH ANOTHER WINTER STORM FORECAST FOR SATURDAY MORNING
Finally, Gov. Justice took time to remind all West Virginians to be extremely careful with another winter storm forecast to hit the state Saturday morning.
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a Winter Storm Warning or Winter Weather Advisory for all 55 counties across the state.
The system will start with rain late Friday, which will turn to a heavy snowfall overnight. As many as 3-8 inches of snow are expected across the entire state, with some of the higher elevations forecast to get 6-10 inches.
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