“We’ve got to move and we’ve got to move stronger than we already are right now,” Gov. Jim Justice said during a Saturday evening COVID-19 address in which he announced no real new measures to combat the viral pandemic.
Justice said there are now 12 confirmed cases in West Virginia out of 397 tests conducted.
According to Justice, the measures already undertaken in West Virginia “are working,” and he’s not yet ready to order additional closures.
“Tonight I’m telling you. We are not going to shut down the entire state now,” Justice said.
The address, which included comments from Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president and executive dean for health sciences at West Virginia University, was primarily Justice and Marsh imploring West Virginians to heed medical advice and stay at home, if at all possible.
The goal, both explained, is to try to fend off the dramatic spike in cases being seen in places like New York, which has seen a jump from 800 to more than 10,000 confirmed cases in about a week, according to media reports.
“This is an unprecedented time in our lifetime, in our history,” Marsh said. “This is a time when, by doing the right things today, we can change the future for the people of our state, for the future of our state and for our country and our world.”
Marsh shared Centers for Disease Control projections indicating more than 1.7 million could die from COVID-19. He said the directions are simple and have been frequently repeated, but are critical to flattening the infection rate curve.
“Stay in our homes. Don’t congregate. Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, between your fingers and around your wrists … Don’t put your hands around your face,” Marsh said, explaining that all West Virginians have a responsibility to get on board now.
“Once this window is gone, it won’t matter what we do then,” he said.
Justice said the state is looking for ways to aid its health care workers and their families.
“We’re initiating, just starting tonight, a way that we can possibly do things like house them, test them, let them stay, basically, somewhat on campus, if it’s staying at some of our hotels or whatever it may be and not go to their families for three or four days,” Justice said. “Then if they need to go to their families, test them again.”
He also recognized those manning grocery stores, calling them “heroes in every way.”
“They’re in need of masks and gloves and everything that we’re trying. And we’re making great inroads as far as getting supplies,” he said, explaining “we’re all over it,” in describing the state’s efforts to procure supplies like masks, suits and ventilators.
While Justice acknowledged the crushing blow the virus shutdowns have and will have on business statewide, he said it’s insignificant when weighed against lives.
“I would just tell you just this, the government in every way is stepping up — stepping up as a nation and stepping up as a state,” Justice said to business owners. “You will be made as whole as you can possibly be made. Tonight, we’ve got to move that to the side … If we don’t act, and we don’t act as strongly as possible right now, we’re going to lose lives, and lots of lives.”
Twitter @BenConley_DP
