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COVID-19 Response Weekly Update
May
9 – May 15
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GYMNASTICS,
DANCE, CHEERLEADING & MARTIAL ARTS ALLOWED TO RESUME MONDAY
On Friday, Gov. Justice announced that low-contact sports training
facilities, such as those for gymnastics, cheerleading, dance,
martial arts, and similar recreational activities, will be
among those allowed to resume operations on Monday, May 18, provided
that these entities follow additional
guidelines put in place to keep their
patrons and all West Virginians as safe as possible.
Gov. Justice has also issued an executive
order, formalizing all of the May 18
reopenings.
Businesses included in each phase of the Governor's reopening plan, West
Virginia Strong – The Comeback, are not
required to resume operations on any specific date. The plan
provides the option for reopening for specific businesses, but only
if they are able to do so safely.
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OUTDOOR
GUIDED FISHING AND ROCK CLIMBING NOW OPEN
Also on Friday, outdoor guided fishing and rock climbing businesses
were allowed to reopen, once again provided that these entities
follow all
necessary safety guidelines.
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TESTING
MINORITIES AND THE VULNERABLE
Also this week, Gov. Justice got the ball rolling on a plan to
increase COVID-19 testing opportunities for
minorities and other vulnerable populations across West Virginia.
The plan, which was developed with input from the Herbert Henderson
Office of Minority Affairs, West Virginia Department of Health and
Human Resources, and the West Virginia National Guard, is providing
free optional testing to all residents in several counties that are
experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 transmission.
Testing efforts began on Friday and continued through Saturday, May
16, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., at each of the following
locations:
- BERKELEY COUNTY
- Martinsburg High
School (701 S Queen St., Martinsburg, WV)
- JEFFERSON COUNTY
- Asbury United
Methodist Church (110 W North St., Charles Town, WV)
- MERCER COUNTY
- Bluefield State
College: Harris-Jefferson Student Center Lower Parking Lot
(219 Rock St., Bluefield, WV)
- RALEIGH COUNTY
- Commission on
Aging (1614 S Kanawha St., Beckley, WV)
Cabell,
Fayette, Kanawha, Marion, Mineral, and Monongalia counties have
also been identified as areas with vulnerable populations. Testing
efforts will take place in these areas in the near future.
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GOVERNOR
OFFERS CONDOLENCES FOLLOWING AIRMAN DEATH
Additionally, Gov. Justice announced the unexpected passing of West
Virginia Air National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Chris Nasser,
offering his condolences for the loss.
“I ask that you’ll join Cathy and I in keeping this National
Guardsman in your thoughts and prayers,” Gov. Justice said.
“There’s just been a lot of tough news right now. But we’ve got to
find a way, as tough, strong, and faithful West Virginians to be
able to withstand these tough times.”
Lt. Col. Nasser served as Mission Support Group commander at the
167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg.
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PEACE
OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY
Gov. Justice issued a
proclamation, in accordance with President
Trump’s proclamation, ordering that all United States and West
Virginia State Flags at the Capitol Complex and all state-owned
facilities across West Virginia be displayed at half-staff, from
dawn to dusk on Friday, in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day.
“Our police officers give so much and, for some crazy reason, we
have gotten in a situation where a lot of people are disrespectful
to the first people we call when we have a problem,” Gov. Justice
said. “I would encourage all of us to think about how important
they are to us.
“Please, in remembrance of those that we've lost and in respect of
all of those who are giving us so much all the time, please
remember to be thankful.”
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DIPG DAY
PROCLAMATION
Also Friday, Gov. Justice announced that he has signed a
proclamation, officially declaring this
upcoming Sunday, May 17, 2020, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
Awareness Day in West Virginia.
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG, is a rare brain tumor
that affects between 150 and 300 children in the United States each
year. At this time there is no known cure. DIPG is the leading
cause in childhood death due to brain tumors, with a median
survival rate of eight to 11 months.
“This is so rare that it’s so important to make people aware all
across this state in any way we can,” Gov. Justice said. “And just
we hope and pray, someday soon, we’ll have a cure.”
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DATA
UPDATE
On Friday, Gov. Justice provided the latest overview of statewide
data on COVID-19, highlighting that West Virginia’s cumulative
percentage of positive test results has dropped, once again, to
2.03 percent.
West Virginia continues to excel in several metrics compared to its
surrounding states and the national average. View the latest
COVID-19 data at Coronavirus.wv.gov.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS UPDATE
Gov. Justice reported Friday that more than $551 million in
unemployment benefits have been paid out from Workforce West
Virginia since mid-March.
“Can you just image the work that’s gone in to send out
half-a-billion dollars in a month-and-a-half,” Gov. Justice said.
“It’s amazing. I know we’ve still got people that are waiting and,
to me, until every rock has been turned, we’re not done. But kudos
to Workforce West Virginia, the National Guard, and all their
teams. You’ve done a lot of good work.”
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WEST
VIRGINIANS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS
Gov. Justice is again reminding all West Virginians to participate
in the 2020 United States Census.
Every West Virginian who does not respond to the Census represents
a loss of $20,000 in federal funds over the next 10 years for the
state and its local communities. The funds can go toward things
like healthcare, education, infrastructure, school lunch programs,
and more.
Be counted in minutes: 2020census.gov.
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FITNESS
CENTERS, GYMS, AND REC CENTERS
On Thursday, Gov. Justice announced that fitness centers,
gymnasiums, and recreation centers have been added to the list of
entities that will be allowed to resume operations, with
limitations, in the next phase of the Governor’s reopening plan.
These facilities will be permitted to reopen on Monday, May 18,
provided that all additional
guidelines are being followed. Gov.
Justice has also issued an executive
order, formalizing all of the May 18
reopenings.
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WHITEWATER
RAFTING & ZIPLINING
Gov. Justice also announced that whitewater rafting and ziplining
businesses will be allowed to reopen, with limitations, on
Thursday, May 21.
These businesses will also be required to follow additional
guidelines, including limiting group sizes, the cleansing of
equipment, and more, to help keep their patrons and all West
Virginians as safe as possible:
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NEW DHHR
METHODOLOGY TO PROTECT AGAINST SURGES
State Health Officer and Bureau for Public Health Commissioner Dr.
Cathy Slemp unveiled a
new methodology that will be used by the
DHHR moving forward to more quickly identify areas in West Virginia
that may be experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
“To prevent disease transmission, to reduce illness, and to save
lives, Governor Justice has directed DHHR’s Bureau of Public Health
to implement and to develop a county alert system,” Dr. Slemp said.
“This approach will provide a consistent way to allow West
Virginians to return to work, while ensuring that we’re monitoring
change and, when necessary, taking aggressive steps to prevent
resurgence.
Any potential future rise in cases will trigger rapid assessment
and guide action based on a seven-day rolling sum of new,
non-outbreak associated cases based on population size. DHHR’s
Bureau for Public Health will examine additional data and undertake
a rapid joint assessment with the county.
Following the rapid assessment and examination of data that suggest
an increase in community transmission, the county may be designated
by Gov. Justice with the status of “High Alert.” Depending on the
individual county circumstances, action plans will include
providing or assigning needed resource supports and/or strongly
reinforcing or potentially increasing community mitigation
measures.
Once on the heightened alert list, a county will stay on it for a
minimum of 14 days and until a consistent decrease in community
spread of COVID-19 is seen. Removal from the alert list will be
based on data and in collaboration with the local health
department.
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FLAG
ORDER: STATE FORESTRY DIRECTOR BARRY COOK
On Thursday, Gov. Justice issued a
proclamation ordering that all United
States and West Virginia State Flags at the Capitol Complex and all
state-owned facilities throughout Raleigh County be displayed at
half-staff, from dawn to dusk on Saturday, May 16, in commemoration
of the distinguished life and service of West Virginia Forestry
Director Barry Cook.
On Monday, Gov. Justice announced that Cook had tragically passed
away following a recent accident at his home.
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EXXON
DONATION
Gov. Justice also announced that Exxon donated 2,400 gallons of
medical-grade hand sanitizer to assist West Virginia in its
statewide COVID-19 response efforts.
The sanitizer was delivered in 480 five-gallon buckets to the West
Virginia National Guard facility in Poca.
The donated hand sanitizer will be used by various emergency
personnel in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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TANNING
BUSINESSES
On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that tanning businesses have
been added to the list of entities that will be allowed to resume
operations, with limitations, in the next phase of the Governor’s
reopening plan.
These facilities will be permitted to reopen on Thursday, May 21,
provided that all additional
guidelines are being followed.
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AIR
NATIONAL GUARD FLYOVER HONORS HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS
On Wednesday, the West Virginia Air National Guard honored front
line COVID-19 health care and first responders with a flyover of
hospitals in the region as part of the
Department of the Air Force’s Operation American Resolve.
WVANG airmen and women flew a C-17 out of the 167th Airlift
Wing in Martinsburg and a C-130 out of the 130th Airlift Wing in
Charleston, flying over nearly 40 hospitals across the state.
The flyovers were a part of a nationwide salute to those supporting
COVID-19 response efforts and served as vital training for both
167th AW and 130th AW pilots and aeromedical evacuation crews.
These flights were conducted at no additional cost to taxpayers.
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SKILLED
NURSING CARE WEEK PROCLAMATION
On Wednesday, the Governor announced that he has signed a
proclamation, officially declaring this week as
National Skilled Nursing Care Week in West Virginia, in honor of
the more than 15,000 West Virginians who work in nursing homes
across the state.
“These people are on the front lines, fighting this terrible
epidemic,” Gov. Justice said. “This week is a time that you should
recognize all of our nursing home residents as well and honor them
and our nursing home workers for all that they’ve done.”
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FOSTER
CARE MONTH PROCLAMATION
Also Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that he has signed a
proclamation, officially declaring the month of
May as Foster Care Month in West Virginia, in honor of the more than
7,000 foster children across the state as well as the adults who
have gone the extra mile to help provide quality lives for these
children.
“Our foster kids, for the most part, had already been dealt a
really tough hand,” Gov. Justice said. “It is imperative that we
are able to continue recruiting people to keep stepping up and
taking care of these kids. This pandemic has highlighted that it is
tremendously difficult on these families and these kids with them
having to stay home, there were lots of safe havens, like schools,
that closed. The hardships that these kids and these families are
going through right this minute is magnified, in multiples, to what
we’re all going through.
“There are many, many out there that are hurting,” Gov. Justice
continued. “They’re not invisible. We see them. I want you to see
them and just note how precious they are to all of us.”
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DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATE
During his remarks Wednesday, DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch offered a
reminder to parents that, if any of their children have recently
become uninsured, health care coverage is available through West
Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
More information is available at chip.wv.gov.
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FOOD
DISTRIBUTION CENTER VISIT
On Tuesday, Gov. Justice visited a State warehouse facility in Rock
Branch near Poca that is currently being
established as a regional food distribution center
as part of West Virginia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facility allows multiple organizations to work together in a
whole-of-government approach to assist West Virginians. The West
Virginia National Guard has helped spearhead the new food
distribution program out of the warehouse, which is managed by the
West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management.
The WVNG and DHSEM recently joined forces with several nonprofit
organizations, including West Virginia Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disaster (WV VOAD), Mountaineer Food Bank, and Facing
Hunger Food Bank to start the effort, which has already
provided meals to hundreds of families across
West Virginia.
The distribution center provides a full range of food supplies to
local agencies, including dry goods as well as refrigerated and
frozen foods.
Once fully operational, the Rock Branch center will support about
eight new jobs and add 1 million pounds of food stocks to the
Greater Kanawha Valley each year.
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SHOPPING
MALLS UPDATE
Gov. Justice also announced in his briefing Tuesday that progress
is being made toward setting guidelines and scheduling a date for
the reopening of indoor shopping malls in West Virginia. However,
the Governor says that these businesses must work with the medical
community to establish a system that’s as safe as possible.
“We’re working diligently with our indoor malls to see if we can
get some really good guidance from them as to how they’re going to
protect the people as they enter the malls and they go into a
smaller type of an area,” Gov. Justice said. “As soon as we can get
our health experts on board, I’d like us to bring back our indoor
malls as soon as we can.
“We have got to go back to work. We know that,” Gov. Justice
continued. “But, at the same time, what I’m trying to do is balance
this so, when we go back, we’re protecting you in every way we
possibly can.”
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YOUTH
SPORTS UPDATE
Also Tuesday, Gov. Justice cautioned West Virginians that although
he recently announced a target date of June 8 for the resumption
of low-contact, outdoor youth sports in the state, that the
timeline is subject to change, depending on how West Virginia’s
COVID-19 numbers trend in the weeks ahead.
The Governor highlighted new reports of nearly 100 children in New
York City who have experienced multi-system inflammatory
symptoms that health experts say are likely linked to COVID-19,
with several losing their lives.
“We’re monitoring that and our health experts are on top of that,
watching it like crazy,” Gov. Justice said. “We have plenty of time
between now and June 8th. I’m trying to give everybody a heads up
that if things keep trending the right way, on June 8th I’d love to
be sitting at a Little League baseball game and watching those
little rascals out there playing.
“But if, in fact, we get more and more information that this thing
is taking a twist and a turn that could affect our children, the
last of the last people that we’re going to expose in any way are
our children.”
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WEEK 4
REOPENINGS
On Monday, Gov. Justice announced the next wave of businesses and
activities permitted to reopen as part of the upcoming Week 4 phase
of the Governor’s reopening plan.
The following entities are permitted to reopen, with limitations,
in Week 4:
- Indoor dining at
restaurants at 50% capacity (Guidance)
- Large/specialty
retail stores (Guidance)
- State park
campgrounds for in-state residents only (Guidance
for all campgrounds)
- Outdoor recreation
rentals (kayaks, bicycles, boats, rafts, canoes, ATVs and
similar equipment) (Guidance)
- Outdoor motorsport
and powersport racing with no spectators
- Hatfield McCoy
Trail System (Guidance)
The executive
order requiring out-of-state travelers to
self-quarantine is also currently scheduled to be lifted during
Week 4. In accordance with this scheduled change, new
guidance documents are available for
hotels, motels, condo hotels, rental properties, and cabins.
In addition to the reopening of campgrounds at West Virginia state
parks to in-state residents, some public restrooms will also be
reopened with proper sanitization protocols in place.
Several additional types of businesses and entities will be
permitted to reopen in the weeks ahead. The opening schedule will
be based upon the recommendations of state medical experts and upon
testing data available at that time.
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ADDITIONAL
REOPENINGS SCHEDULED
Gov. Justice announced Monday that state park cabins and
lodges will be permitted to reopen to in-state residents on
Tuesday, May 26.
The Governor also announced that certain outdoor youth sports
activities will be permitted to resume on Monday June 8. This
applies only to low-contact sports like baseball and softball. It
does not include high-contact sports like football and basketball. Additional
guidance for these reopenings will be provided online when
available.
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WEEK 3 OF
“THE COMEBACK” NOW UNDERWAY
During Monday's briefing, Gov. Justice offered a reminder that the
Week 3 phase of his reopening
plan was officially underway.
This phase allows for the reopening of wellness facilities (gyms
and fitness centers supervised by licensed professionals) and
drive-in movie theaters.
These wellness
facilities and drive-in
movie theaters must follow all additional
guidelines that have been put in place to help keep West Virginians
safe.
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GOVERNOR
CELEBRATES CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS
Gov. Justice took time to thank all of the correctional officers
across West Virginia, in honor of the beginning National
Correctional Officers Week.
“Think about the great work these people are doing in every aspect
that they could possibly be doing,” Gov. Justice said. “I
absolutely, sincerely, want to thank all of our correctional
officers for all the great work they do every day.”
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