MORGANTOWN– Gov. Jim Justice made no new coronavirus-related announcements during his Tuesday press conference.
Instead, he and his response leadership team answered questions and commented on a range of topics, adding details and repeating the message to stay home, keep social distance and practice good hygiene to curb the spread.
Justice opened by commenting on the outbreak at Sundale nursing home in Morgantown. He said four Sundale residents and at least two, possibly three staffers tested positive for COVID-19, and they are doing what they can to help there.
He celebrated the recent news that Mylan’s Morgantown plant is restarting production of an anti-malaria medication that is under study as a potential treatment for the COVID-19 virus. The drug is hydroxychloroquine sulfate; the tablets are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of malaria, lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
The plant, he said, is “pumping out” the drug. “We should really be proud of Mylan.”
Justice previously declared Wednesday as a day of prayer and he said Tuesday that the state service will begin at noon, all people of all beliefs are welcome to join in, and God will hear.
While positive cases are climbing daily, Justice offered optimism in the state’s proactive measures to minimize the spread. “The sun is shining. We’re better off today than we were yesterday.”
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Bill Crouch commented, “These are not normal times. …. There’s no point of reference for this. … There’s a lot of worry” about paying bills, buying medicine and food as residents find themselves not working. “Its an emotional time. We need to help each other.”
Some may need to consult professionals for counsel, he said, and he encouraged those residents to get in touch with their closest behavioral health center.
The economy continues to take a hit. Governor’s General Counsel Brian Abraham said that WorkForce West Virginia received 16,000 unemployment benefits applications on Monday and processed 7,000. The total number received since last week is 28,000. It was previously said that 5,300 total were filed in February.
WVU Vice President and Executive Dean for Health Sciences Clay Marsh said the World Health Organization has identified the U.S. as the next potential epicenter of the infection. New York City, which failed to take adequate precautions, has half the number of total cases in the U.S. But so far, the U.S. death rate is 1% compared to 4% globally. And West Virginia has been proactive. “We hope that we can be a beacon for others in this country.”
The virus spreads via droplet, he said, and can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours, perhaps longer on plastic or steel. So hygiene is crucial. “We have great power. We need to use it.”
It’s unclear yet, he and Bureau of Public Health Commissioner Cathy Slemp said, when the viral spread will peak in West Virginia.
Health officials often describe the spread as a curve. Some places see a steep curve up like a roller coaster; others see something more gradual and spread out, like a speed hump. The lower curve is better.
Slemp said with just 20 positive cases so far out of 630 tested, we’re still early in the process and don’t know how the curve will look.
Marsh said that at this point, the spread is relatively stable. In other areas, after seven days, the curve starts to rise and we’re just at the cusp. The more days it doesn’t shoot up, the more time we have to contain the spread. If people keep doing the right things, “We may be able to flatten the curve significantly.”
President Trump has expressed a desire to put aside some of the social distancing measures and get the country’s economy rolling again by Easter, although that’s not the desire of public health officials.
Justice answered a question about what that might mean for West Virginia. He tried to be diplomatic.
“We need to give the president a lot of credit,” he said, for the measures he’s taken across the country. He would celebrate if that were possible. “I believe that there is a real possibility of optimism here that this could someway somehow pass if we keep our foot on the pedal.”
But, he said, “I think it may be a little too optimistic.” But he hopes the president knows something we don’t.
Justice concluded by saying he and his team will keep working to contain the spread and keep people safe. “We don’t rest until this is over. … I’m pushing everybody beyond belief.”
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