On Friday, Gov. Justice announced that, after consulting with State medical experts regarding vaccination rates, the Statewide Indoor Face Covering Requirement will be lifted on the State’s 158th birthday –also known as West Virginia Day – Sunday, June 20, 2021.
“We believe that all West Virginians 12 years of age and older will be eligible to take the vaccine soon, and by June 20th, we project that 65% of all eligible West Virginians will have the first dose at that point in time, 75% of our population that's 50 and above will have the first dose at that time, and 85% of our population that’s 65 and above will also have the first shot at that time,” Gov. Justice said.
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On Monday, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia will be implementing several new ideas to make COVID-19 vaccines more accessible than ever, as part of comprehensive efforts to increase vaccination rates across the state. The Governor announced that vaccination sites will be set up at several high-traffic locations across the state, including fairs and festivals, church parking lots, sporting events, state, national, and county parks, bars, restaurants, shopping centers, and malls, community and civic groups, and business organizations such as Main Street programs.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that, with the U.S. FDA and CDC expected to authorize use of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12-15 within the next week, officials in charge of West Virginia’s vaccine distribution efforts are ready to hold vaccination clinics at schools in all 55 counties across the state as soon as this approval takes place. The West Virginia Department of Education estimates that there are 78,000 students ages 12-15 who are eligible for the vaccine in the state’s K-12 schools.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice announced that, with vaccine supply outweighing demand, and with the vaccine now available from the federal government at hundreds of locations across West Virginia, the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Registration System will be phased out over the next week.
“It has absolutely been an incredibly successful tool for us,” Gov. Justice said. “It has served us well. But now, we don’t need to continue going through the same registration process.”
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On Monday, Gov. Justice reported that West Virginia’s general revenue collections for the month of April 2021 came in at $1.9 million above estimates and a whopping 38.9% above prior year receipts, despite the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the state’s economy. West Virginia has now banked surpluses in four consecutive months and nine of the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2021.
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On Monday, Gov. Justice announced that he has extended child care subsidy assistance for all essential workers of any income level.
“It is critically important that all our essential workers continue to be supported in every way as they work to combat COVID-19,” Gov. Justice said.
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Gov. Justice commended the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority for partnering with Community Autism and Education Systems, Autism Services Center, and Bible Center Church to provide a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for West Virginians with autism and other developmental disorders.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that the State of West Virginia is supporting the West Virginia Broadcasters Association’s efforts to encourage more residents to get vaccinated. The WVBA is running vaccination messages on all their members’ TV and radio stations and are personalizing these messages by using talent within their communities to spread the message of the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.
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Gov. Justice announced Thursday that the Summit Bechtel Reserve in southern West Virginia will host the 2021 Adventure On! Freedom Fest – a weekend of adventure and celebration of freedom – on Sept. 10-12, 2021. The Governor also announced that West Virginia’s renowned National Hunting and Fishing Days will also be held at the Summit the same weekend; along with several other outdoor adventure-related events that have been scheduled to coincide with the festival.
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Gov. Justice hosted a ceremony in the Town of Coalton Tuesday alongside local officials to announce that he has awarded a $3,325,000 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) grant to fund major improvements to the town’s water system. The improvement project will address water quality issues that the Town of Coalton – also known as Womelsdorf – is experiencing due to their existing raw water source quality and water treatment plant capabilities.
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West Virginia State Police, armed with speed-tracking lasers and chase cars, conducted an aggressive campaign this week to target speeders in the Barboursville construction zone of Interstate 64. With road work continuing on the Barboursville widening project and other interstate projects throughout the state, the West Virginia Department of Transportation is worried that drivers are not paying enough attention to work zone safety signs and speed limits. DOT has recently tracked cars traveling as fast as 108 mph in highway work zones, where speed limits are 55 mph.
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