Upon the sudden onset of symptoms, Gov. Jim Justice received a positive PCR test for COVID-19 late Tuesday evening. Confirmatory testing was then performed by the West Virginia State Lab with an additional positive result.
Upon recommendation from his physicians, the Governor received a course of monoclonal antibody treatment. The treatment was received well and his overall condition continued to improve throughout the week.
“Without question, the fact that I chose to get vaccinated and boosted saved my life, that’s all there is to it,” Gov. Justice said. “So, now more than ever, I strongly encourage all West Virginians to protect themselves and their families by getting vaccinated.”
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice formally delivered a written State of the State message to the West Virginia Legislature, satisfying his constitutional requirement to give to the Legislature information by message of the condition of the state at the commencement of the legislative session.
After testing positive for COVID-19, the Governor had no choice but to postpone his traditional in-person address to a later date.
Per state archivists, Wednesday’s message marked the first time on record in modern state history that a governor has ever delivered his State of the State by written message.
Read the full State of the State message here.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice declared a State of Preparedness for all 55 counties in West Virginia due to the winter storm event forecast to hit the state Sunday.
Click here to view State of Preparedness declaration.
The declaration directs the State Emergency Operations Center and its partner agencies to prepare to respond to the impending winter storm, posturing personnel and resources to respond quickly should an emergency develop.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that Nucor Corporation has selected Mason County, West Virginia, as the location for a state-of-the-art sheet steel mill. The record investment will exceed $2.7 billion, making it the largest in West Virginia history, as well as the largest single investment Nucor has ever made.
“This is a landmark announcement in the history of our state,” Gov. Justice said. “Nucor’s brand new facility is going to be a key part of West Virginia’s DNA long into the future. It’s going to change lives by bringing hundreds of great-paying jobs to Mason County, and the economic ripple effects will bring even more goodness to our state.”
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that GreenPower Motor Company Inc. has signed an agreement with the state to lease/purchase a 9.5-acre manufacturing facility in South Charleston, including an 80,000-square-foot building, where the company will manufacture zero-emission, all-electric school buses, bringing hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact to West Virginia.
“I’d like to be the first to welcome GreenPower to West Virginia with open arms. We’re thrilled that you’ve chosen to live and work in the paradise that our state offers,” Gov. Justice said. “West Virginia continues to be the best place to do business. I’m excited to help support GreenPower on this important project and for what the future holds for their great company and our great state.”
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced an expansion of the previously announced partnership between the West Virginia University Health System, which operates under the brand name WVU Medicine, and Owens & Minor Inc., a leading global healthcare solutions company.
As part of the updated partnership, Owens & Minor and WVU Medicine will work with the state of West Virginia to launch a healthcare products preparedness center in Morgantown that will create over 125 jobs. The venture represents an approximately $50M investment in healthcare for the state.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that he has directed the Joint Interagency Task Force and his COVID-19 pandemic leadership team to review and approve requests from West Virginia hospitals for additional staffing support.
Staffing support is to be provided by the West Virginia National Guard. Requests will be coordinated by the JIATF to assign available Guard resources.
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The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) and Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission will host the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Ecumenical Service virtually on Monday, Jan. 17. The public can tune in through HHOMA’s Facebook page or YouTube channel at 9:30 a.m., or on WV Public Broadcasting’s West Virginia Channel at 7 p.m.
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The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) will host a virtual award ceremony to celebrate the student winners of the Project on Racism Contest and 38th Annual Poster Competition. The ceremony can be viewed Saturday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. on HHOMA’s Facebook page or YouTube channel or on Monday, Jan. 17 at 8:30 p.m. from WV Public Broadcasting, the West Virginia Channel, directly following the broadcast of the annual Ecumenical Service.
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Replacement of an aging bridge in McDowell County is among three projects included in a bid letting conducted by the West Virginia Division of Highways on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022.
WVDOH is reviewing the bids and hopes to award contracts for these projects soon.
One project will replace the Big Creek Arch Bridge in McDowell County. The bridge carries WV 16 over Big Creek just east of the town of Berwind. The project is paid for through bond sales made possible by Gov. Jim Justice's $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity highways maintenance and construction program.
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