MORGANTOWN — Former Bureau of Public Health Commissioner Cathy Slemp’s resignation letter makes no mention of the positive case-reporting errors by her bureau that led to her ouster Wednesday. Instead it focuses on the bureau’s accomplishments and on working together through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 is a crisis unlike any most of us have ever seen,” she wrote on Wednesday. “I encourage all to stay true to the science, to further work to engage and empower communities to address such an unprecedented situation collectively, to meet people where they are and to move forward together.”
The bureau was the focus of Gov. Jim Justice’s ire during his Wednesday COVID-19 press briefing. It had failed to adjust the positive case numbers on the Department of Health and Human Resources’ COVID-19 dashboard to account for recovered cases at Huttonsville Correctional Center, he said.
He referred to those who made the error as “asleep at the switch.” He said, “We got to get our act together and clean up our numbers and get our numbers right. If you don’t want me on your hind end you best better get your numbers right to me.”
He broadcast those incorrect numbers, he said, which reflected badly. “If I overstate the number of actives, I’m scaring you when I don’t need to scare you,” he said. A few hours later, he expressed no confidence in Slemp’s leadership to Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch, who asked for Slemp’s resignation.
In her letter, Slemp said it was an honor to serve. “Together we have worked to advance childhood immunizations, build relationships with local health departments and other partners, address the needs of those struggling with substance use disorder, expand access to contraceptive services and tobacco cessation programs, ensure a safer environment, introduce new breastfeeding supports to our mothers on WIC, respond to outbreaks of Hepatitis A, HIV, and most recently COVD-19.”
Slemp expressed her respect for the bureau staff. “They understand the needs to apply technical knowledge in conjunction with understanding, compassion and principles of equity to advocate for those that are our most vulnerable.”
Three members of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – where Slemp earend her master’s degree in public health — issued a critical statement on her outster: professor Ellen MacKenzie, Vice Dean Johua Sharftein, who also tweeted the statement, and professor Thomas Inglesby.
They said, “We are stunned and troubled that Cathy Slemp … was asked to resign. Her steady leadership has helped protect the health and lives of people in West Virginia amid the pandemic.” They point out the state’s strong numbers and response compared to the rest of the country.
They also note that “many talented and effective public health leaders are leaving their positions” across the nation while health officials are “experiencing personal attacks and harassment. These trends must stop for the U.S. To gain ground in the battle against COVID-19.”
Sen. Joe Manchin issued a statement on Slemp’s resignation on Thursday.
“I want to thank Dr. Slemp for her longtime commitment to our state,” he said. “In my work with Dr. Slemp I have always found her to be knowledgeable, helpful and professional. When I served as Governor she was a trusted advisor as we navigated the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and prepared relocation sites at Camp Dawson.
“She also played an important role in revamping the Center for Threat Preparedness so West Virginia was ready when a crisis like this pandemic hit,” he said. “I wish Dr. Slemp well and all the best in her next chapter.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito also provided a comment. “I’ve had the chance to work closely with Dr. Slemp, especially throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and I thank her for her tireless work and service to the state of West Virginia. I wish her the very best in the future.”
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