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COVID-19 Response Weekly Update
May 2 –
May 8
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This week, Gov. Jim Justice and State
health leaders continued the fight to slow the spread of novel
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Justice Administration is
working to keep the public informed of the many measures being taken in
the interest of protecting them from the spread of the disease.
Additional information about COVID-19 and what West Virginia is doing
to combat the virus can be found on Coronavirus.wv.gov
or by calling the state's 24/7 hotline at 1-800-887-4304.
A list of all
of Gov. Justice's actions and executive orders related to COVID-19
are also available online.
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HATFIELD-MCCOY
TRAILS REOPENING
On Friday, Gov. Justice announced that as part of his statewide
reopening plan, West Virginia
Strong – The Comeback, the Hatfield-McCoy Trail
System will be permitted to open, with limitations, on Thursday, May
21, 2020.
“I’ve gotten an awful lot of feedback from a lot of different people,
from our tourism people, to medical experts, to people from other
states,” Gov. Justice said. “We’ve weighed a lot of different factors.
“We know how important the Hatfield-McCoy Trails to us, economically,
in the southern part of the state,” Gov. Justice continued. “I am happy
about reopening the trails but I am also concerned. There’s going to be
limitations and we’re going to enforce the limitations as best as we
possibly can.”
All public buildings and public restrooms along the trail system will
remain closed until further notice.
The trails themselves will be open for riding, provided that riders
follow the following safety guidelines:
- PPE: Riders are encouraged
to wear face masks or face shields while stopped. All riders, by
law, must wear a helmet while riding.
- Self screening: Riders are encouraged
to self screen for COVID-19 symptoms by CDC guidelines.
- Temperature checks: Riders are encouraged
to take their temperature prior to arriving at the trails. If
their temperature measures over 100 degrees, the riders are not
permitted to enter the trails.
- Sick rider: Any rider or visitor
who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms must leave the trails immediately
and seek medical care and/or COVID-19 testing, per CDC guidelines.
- Limit groups: Riders are prohibited
from congregating on the trails.
- Physical distancing: Practice proper social
distancing, including a minimum of six feet of distance where
practical and safe to do so.
- Shared vehicles: Riders are discouraged
from sharing a UTV, ATV, or off-road dirt bike with anyone outside
their immediate group or party.
- Shared equipment: Riders are discouraged
from sharing safety equipment or masks.
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EXECUTIVE
ORDER FILED FOR UPCOMING WEEK 3 REOPENINGS
On Friday, Gov. Justice officially signed and filed the Executive
Order that will allow businesses in the “Week 3”
phase of the Governor’s reopening plan
to resume operations if they so choose.
Businesses that are part of the Week 3 reopenings include drive-in
movie theaters and wellness centers operated by or with West Virginia
Licensed Health Care providers.
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“THE COMEBACK”
SCHEDULE REMINDER
Also on Friday, the Governor offered a reminder about the current
reopening schedule for The Comeback
plan:
- Week 1 – Thursday,
April 30 (underway)
- Week 2 – Monday, May 4
(underway)
- Week 3 – Monday, May 11
- Week 4 – Monday, May 18
- Week 5 – Monday, May 25
- Week 6 – Monday, June 1
This schedule may be altered if
changes to the timeline are deemed necessary for the safety of West
Virginians.
The Governor also provided a reminder that on this coming Monday, May
11, businesses included in the Week 4 phase of reopenings will be
announced so they have adequate time to prepare to resume operations
while following all additional guidelines.
Gov. Justice’s Safer At Home
order also remains in effect at this time.
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GOV. JUSTICE
DISCUSSES REOPENING PLAN IN NATIONAL TV INTERVIEW
Gov. Justice took part in another national interview on the Fox
Business program Cavuto:
Coast to Coast on Friday to discuss West Virginia's
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the segment,
the Governor praised his fellow West Virginians for doing what has
needed to be done to protect their neighbors and keep transmission
numbers as low as possible.
"We've done a lot of the right things," Gov. Justice said.
"We've had a lot of great experts that have weighed in and the
people of West Virginia have done the right stuff."
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GOV. JUSTICE
TAKES TO NATIONAL AIRWAVES TO TELL WEST VIRGINIA'S STORY
Also Friday, Gov. Justice participated in a national radio
interview on Fox News Radio's The Brian Kilmeade Show
to continue discussing West Virginia's progress in handling
COVID-19.
"We're going to continue looking at our numbers," Gov.
Justice said. "We have witnessed a miracle in West Virginia.
"You look at West Virginia...it is the highest-risk state and we
are sitting right in the middle of the hottest spot in the
country," Gov. Justice continued. "But we have pitched
unbelievable numbers.
"We have been on top of it. We were the first in the nation to
test all our nursing homes, now we're the first in the nation to test
all of our assisted living facilities."
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COVID-19 DATA
UPDATE
Once again, Gov. Justice provided an overview of statewide data on
COVID-19, highlighting that West Virginia’s growth rate of positive tests
dropped to 1.8 percent.
The Governor also pointed out that the state cumulative rate of
positive tests decreased, yet again, to 2.20 percent – the state’s
lowest figure in that category since before the pandemic arrived in
West Virginia.
View the latest COVID-19 data at Coronavirus.wv.gov.
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CITY AND COUNTY
GUIDANCE
Additionally, the Governor announced that he hopes to be able to
provide guidance for cities and counties to use to apply for funding
from the CARES Act by next Friday.
“We have been in constant communication with all of our cities and
counties and the associations that represent them, “I know they need
our help.” Gov. Justice said, pointing out that more clarity may become
available once the United States House of Representatives returns to
session.
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WEST
VIRGINIANS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS
Once again, Gov. Justice asked all West Virginians to participate in
the 2020 United States Census.
“Every day, I encourage you more and more and more about the Census, to
make sure everybody’s counted” Gov. Justice said. “That's a pretty
simple thing to get more dollars to the state of West Virginia.”
Every West Virginian who does not respond to the Census represents a
loss of $20,000 in federal funds over the next ten years for the state
and its local communities. The funds can go toward things like
healthcare, education, infrastructure, school lunch programs, and more.
Complete your survey online in minutes at 2020census.gov.
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GOV. JUSTICE
RECOGNIZES NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Also on Thursday, Gov. Justice observed the 2020 National Day of
Prayer, asking all West Virginians to join him and First Lady Cathy
Justice in praying for the safety of frontline workers and for the
health and well-being of all West Virginians during this time.
“If there is any day on the planet that we all need to gather and say
prayers and try to ask the good Lord above to intervene, it’s today,”
Gov. Justice said. “He’s in control, He’s watching after us, and He has
especially watched after West Virginia. So we’ve just got to continue
to ask and send up our prayers. So please join Cathy and I in prayer on
this incredible day.
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WEST VIRGINIA
NATIONAL GUARD PROVIDES PPE TRAINING TO DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
During Thursday's press conference, Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, Adjutant
General of the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG), highlighted a
training session between the WVNG and the West Virginia Division of
Highways that took place on Wednesday to provide personal protective
equipment (PPE) training at their facility.
"This partnership is exceptionally important so that all West
Virginia state agencies workers can return feeling confident that their
workplace has implemented safeguards and best practices to ensure a
safe workplace," Hoyer said. "At the Governor's direction, we
will work with all agencies in state government to prepare them for
reopening in the safest manner possible."
Hoyer also added that during the month of May, West Virginia Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disasters (WVVOAD), Catholic Charities West
Virginia, and West Virginia Council of Churches are sponsoring a food
drive to support COVID-19 relief efforts. These organizations are
urging all West Virginians that can, to donate canned and dry goods
during this month. Anyone who is interested in donating can visit wvvoad.org or call 211 for a list of
local food pantries.
Click here to read more about all the WVNG’s response
efforts
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UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS UPDATE
WorkForce West Virginia Acting Commissioner Scott Adkins provided an
update on efforts to support West Virginians during the COVID-19
pandemic.
As of Wednesday, West Virginians who have exhausted their regular
unemployment benefits are able to apply for Pandemic Emergency
Unemployment Compensation – a 13-week extension on unemployment
benefits provided by the federal CARES Act.
The additional weeks of benefits are available to individuals who have
previously collected state and federal unemployment compensation but
have exhausted those benefits.
Applicants may apply for the extension at WorkForceWV.org.
Adkins also provided a reminder that WorkForce West Virginia would be
beginning to pay Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits on Friday,
May 8.
These benefits are for individuals who normally aren't eligible for
regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or
federal law like self-employed workers.
Additional unemployment claims continue to be processed as rapidly as
possible.
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DAYCARE,
ASSISTED LIVING, RESIDENTIAL CARE TESTING
On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that he has issued an
Executive Order, directing the West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia National
Guard to test all daycare employees, as well as all residents and staff
members at assisted living facilities and residential care communities
throughout the state for COVID-19.
The Governor has directed that this effort begin immediately to provide
more aggressive support to these communities.
“It is our hope, in every way, we can have all of our daycares up and
open,” Gov. Justice said. “We need them to take care of our children as
our workers go back to work. But we absolutely cannot risk anything to
our children or anything our children maybe could take back to their
families.
“We knew, as soon as we finished testing our nursing homes, we would go
to mandatory testing of our assisted living facilities and our
residential care communities,” Gov. Justice continued. “We
absolutely need to do everything in our power to keep our most
vulnerable populations as safe as possible.”
Last month, at the direction of Gov. Justice, West Virginia
became the first state in the nation to require COVID-19 testing for
all nursing home residents and staff statewide. In the time since, other states
have begun to follow suit.
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GOV. JUSTICE,
DHHR ANNOUNCE TARGETED TESTING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
Also Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that he has directed targeted
testing to begin in several African American communities in West
Virginia.
This enhanced testing will be a main focus of the newly-established
COVID-19 Advisory Commission on African American Disparities – a task
force administered by the WV DHHR with the mission of investigating the
effect of COVID-19 on African American communities across the state.
“We are looking at these communities and doing the prudent work that
will enable us to ensure that we won’t have critical problems in those
communities as well,” Gov. Justice said.
According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
while the effects of COVID-19 on the health of racial and ethnic
minority groups is still emerging, current data suggest a
disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial and ethnic
minority groups.
DHHR officials have been compiling and analyzing data on the effect of
COVID-19 in African American communities for the past several weeks and
have established specific areas in the state to increase testing,
including Berkeley, Jefferson, Marion, Monongalia, and Raleigh counties.
Additional counties or areas may be added in the future.
The DHHR plans to utilize the West Virginia National Guard’s mobile
testing and drive-thru testing capabilities to enhance testing in these
areas.
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GOV. JUSTICE HONORS
NURSES
On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that he signed a
proclamation, officially declaring May 6, 2020 as
Nurses Day in West Virginia in honor of the hard work, bravery,
commitment, and caring hearts of all nurses displayed across the state
and the nation during this pandemic.
“Do you have any idea what these great people have brought to us and
the lives that they’ve saved and the dangers they’ve put themselves
in?” Gov. Justice said. “Do you know how tough it is to come to work
and know that you’re dealing with this killing virus every day? Can you
imagine the bravery that it takes to be one of these nurses every day?
“So, as you see them, please appreciate them and please thank them.
We’re signing this proclamation today and all it’s just one more level
of gratitude for all the great work these heroes have done.”
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GOVERNOR
CELEBRATES SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
Also on Wednesday, the Governor signed a
proclamation, officially declaring May 6, 2020 as
Interpreter Appreciation Day in West Virginia and taking time to
thank the two sign language interpreters who have been a part of the
Governor's daily media briefings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There’s just so many things that we’re very thankful for,” Gov.
Justice said “We thank all of those who are helping us in every way.”
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WEST VIRGINIA
NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORTS DELIVERY OF MEALS TO 198 FAMILIES
During his remarks Wednesday, Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, adjutant general
of the West Virginia National Guard, reported that WVNG personnel
supported a Huntington food bank’s operation of a “mobile food bank” –
delivering meals to 198 families across the region.
The WVNG announced
that they, along with West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disasters (VOAD), Mountaineer Food Bank, Facing Hunger Food Bank, and
the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management (WVDHSEM), have joined forces to establish a regional food
distribution center in the Greater Kanawha Valley as the need for
supplemental and emergency food services continues to grow across the
Mountain State during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The new distribution center, located at the WVNG Rock Branch facility
in Poca, West Virginia, allows the multiple organizations to work
together in a whole-of-government approach to provide additional food
distribution capacity supporting the shared mission to assist West
Virginia families and individuals that face food insecurity.
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NEW
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AVAILABLE
Gov. Justice announced that West Virginians who have exhausted their
regular unemployment benefits are eligible and now able to apply for
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation – a 13-week extension on
unemployment benefits provided by the federal CARES Act.
The additional weeks of benefits are available to individuals who have
previously collected state and federal unemployment compensation but
have exhausted those benefits.
Applicants may apply for the extension at WorkForceWV.org.
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GOV. JUSTICE
PROVIDES UPDATE ON COVID-19 TESTING DATA
On Tuesday, Gov. Justice announced that the number of people who have
recovered from COVID-19 in West Virginia now significantly exceeds the
number of active cases in the state.
View the
latest COVID-19 data at Coronavirus.wv.gov
“We want the number of recovered cases to keep getting significantly
higher and it is trending higher every day,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s
really good stuff.”
Gov. Justice also highlighted that while West Virginia has tested a
higher rate of its population than all of its surrounding states as
well as the national average, West Virginia has experienced a lower
rate of positive tests than all of its surrounding states as well as
the national average.
“We should be unbelievably proud of these numbers,” Gov. Justice said.
“You – our great West Virginians – have done incredible work. But we
need to keep it up.”
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GOV. JUSTICE
EXTENDS FREE FISHING DAYS
Gov. Justice has announced
that West Virginia residents can enjoy another month of free
fishing.
The requirement to possess a fishing license to fish in state-regulated
waters has been waived for state residents through May 31st.
Anglers are asked to continue practicing safe social distancing
measures.
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NATIONAL
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK CELEBRATED
Gov. Justice also acknowledged this week as National Teacher
Appreciation Week.
“From my office and myself, and on behalf of all of those wonderful
kids out there, we want to wish out our love and thanks to all of our
great teachers that have done great work for us over the years,” Gov.
Justice said. “We hate that you’re not in the classroom, but we know
that you’re still trying to help our kids in every way with all the
work that you’re still doing online.
“Thank you for the love that you’ve given our kids and the great work
that you’ve done over and over.”
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CORONAVIRUS
CZAR PROVIDES UPDATE
West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh also made remarks
Tuesday, explaining West Virginia’s cautious approach toward reopening
the state and its economy.
“This week we have reduced the aggressiveness of some of the openings,”
Dr. Marsh said. “We’re going to let things play out for a week or so.
Certainly opening up health and rehab facilities supervised by health
professionals is important...but we know it takes about 10 days to two
weeks to see the initial impacts of some of the reopenings, the coming
back together, and then it takes about two cycles of that to see the
full extent.
“So we want to make sure we are giving enough time to see what is the
real effect from a health and well-being standpoint for the first part
of what we’re doing – still continuing to open up and to allow
businesses to start to reopen the economy – but we want to make sure,
with some of the bigger businesses, we give them the right guidance and
support.”
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DEPT. OF EDUCATION
CONTINUES TO ACCEPT ORGANIZATION PARTNERS TO FEED KIDS THROUGH THE
SUMMER
The West Virginia Department of Education is continuing to
seek partnerships with organizations across the
state to help feed children during the summer months. Just as during
the COVID-19 pandemic, when school is out during the summer months,
community programs and organizations are vital to ensuring children in
West Virginia are still receiving the nutrition they need, especially
in low-income areas.
County boards of education, local government agencies, and other
nonprofit organizations are encouraged to participate in the Summer
Food Service Program, which ensures children (ages 18 and under) facing
food insecurity continue to receive free, nutritious meals during the
summer when they do not have access the School Breakfast or National
School Lunch programs. Sponsors typically represent schools, churches,
community centers, libraries, housing complexes, and summer camps.
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WELLNESS
FACILITIES, DRIVE-IN THEATERS PERMITTED TO REOPEN NEXT WEEK
On Monday, Gov. Justice announced wellness facilities supervised
by licensed professionals and drive-in movie theaters will be among the
next wave of businesses permitted to reopen as part of the upcoming
Week 3 phase of the Governor’s reopening plan.
Week 3 is scheduled to commence Monday, May 11, 2020.
Additional guidance documents have been released for these businesses
to ensure they are reopening in the safest manner possible for all West
Virginians:
Several additional types of businesses
will be permitted to reopen in the weeks ahead. The opening schedule
for these businesses will be based upon the recommendations of state
medical experts and upon testing data available at that time.
The Governor’s Office will announce when businesses in Weeks 4-6 will
be able to reopen as soon as possible. Additional guidance on reopening
will be made available for each of these businesses at that time.
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WEEK 2 PHASE
OF GOVERNOR’S REOPENING PLAN UNDERWAY
During Monday’s briefing, Gov. Justice offered a reminder that the Week
2 phase of his reopening plan was officially underway.
This phase allows for the reopening of small businesses with 10 or
fewer employees, restaurants with takeaway service or outdoor dining
options, religious entities and funeral homes, as well as professional
service operations such as hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, and
pet grooming shops. Reopening businesses must follow all additional
guidelines that have been put in place to help
keep West Virginians safe.
Businesses included in each phase of this reopening plan are not
required to resume operations on any specific date. This plan provides
the option for reopening, not a requirement.
“I encourage all businesses that are allowed to open to do so only if
they can follow the guidelines to keep West Virginians safe,” Gov.
Justice said.
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“SAFER AT
HOME” ORDER NOW IN EFFECT
Gov. Justice’s “Safer At
Home” order also officially took effect Monday
– replacing the original “Stay At Home” order issued last month.
“Safer At Home” still strongly encourages all West Virginians to stay
at home when not performing essential tasks, but no longer mandates
them to stay at home. It also provides new guidelines for individuals,
businesses, public gatherings, and more.
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CABELL, WAYNE,
WOOD COUNTIES REMOVED FROM HOTSPOT LIST
Gov. Justice announced that he issued an Executive
Order, removing Cabell, Wayne, and Wood counties
from the list of COVID-19 community clusters or “hotspots” in West
Virginia.
Five counties remain on the hotspot list at this time, including
Marion, Berkeley, Harrison, Jefferson, and Monongalia counties.
At one point, West Virginia had 12 counties designated as “COVID-19
hotspots” – areas subject to stricter measures to slow the spread of
the disease as deemed necessary by local health officials.
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EDUCATION,
HEALTH OFFICIALS SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP PROVIDE FOOD FOR
FAMILIES IN NEED
Also Monday, Gov. Justice announced
that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved West
Virginia’s application for Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer
(P-EBT) cards to support child nutrition needs during the COVID-19
pandemic.
The program is part of the CARES Act and delivers nutrition assistance
on an EBT card that can be used to purchase groceries for families with
school children who qualify for free or reduced price school meals. The
EBT card holds the value of the free school breakfast and lunch
reimbursement rates for the days that schools are closed.
More than 231,000 children in the Mountain State are eligible. It is
estimated that more than $72 million in federal dollars will be coming
to West Virginia households to be used in local grocery stores.
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WEST VIRGINIA REACHES
LOWEST TRANSMISSION RATE IN NATION
Gov. Justice also mentioned that, over the weekend, West Virginia’s
statewide rate of COVID-19 transmission – also known as R0 – was
the lowest such figure of any state in the country.
The Governor added that West Virginia’s statewide cumulative rate of
positive COVID-19 tests dropped once again to 2.27 percent.
“The national average is 16 percent,” Gov. Justice said. “Virginia is
at 17 percent, Pennsylvania is at 20 percent, Ohio is at 13 percent,
Maryland is at 19 percent, and Kentucky is at 8.5 percent.
“You really have done an amazing, amazing job.”
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GOV. JUSTICE
TOUTS WEST VIRGINIA SUCCESS IN NATIONAL INTERVIEW
Also on Monday, Gov. Justice made an
appearance on the Fox News program Your World with Neil Cavuto,
giving an in-depth interview about West Virginia's progress in the
fight against COVID-19.
"If you look at West Virginia's numbers, it's truly a miracle as
to what we've been able to accomplish here," Gov. Justice said.
"We were preemptive in everything we did. We really got after it.
"We know we've got to still really watch and we've got to be safe
and we've got to move forward in the right way."
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NURSING HOME
REIMBURSEMENT TO INCREASE $13.6 MILLION
Gov. Justice and DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch announced a $20-per-day
increase for all nursing homes across the state.
West Virginia Medicaid, under the DHHR, will submit an Emergency State
Plan Amendment to increase the daily rates by $20, retroactive to
February 1, 2020.
This will increase nursing home reimbursement by $13.6 million.
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GOVERNOR, DHHR
RECOGNIZE CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY
Also Monday, Gov. Justice issued a
proclamation, formally designating May 4, 2020 as
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in West Virginia.
“This is to increase public awareness about the needs of children with
serious mental illness and severe emotional disturbance, and their
families, and encourage those who need help to seek treatment,” Sec.
Crouch said.
If you need mental health support, please consider calling or
texting HELP4WV
(844-435-7498). Additional mental health resources are
also available on the BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH page on Coronavirus.wv.gov.
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JACKSON,
KANAWHA, OHIO COUNTIES REMOVED FROM HOTSPOT LIST
On Sunday, Gov. Justice issued an Executive
Order removing Jackson, Kanawha, and Ohio counties
from the list of COVID-19 community clusters or “hotspots” in West
Virginia.
Gov. Justice removed several additional counties from the hotspot list
later in the week.
All 55 West Virginia counties are still subject to all statewide
restrictions, including the Governor’s new Safer At Home
order
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