West Virginia’s vaccination numbers continue to lead the nation, but there is still work to be done, Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday during his regular COVID-19 media briefing.
“Amazing, unbelievable,” said Justice of the state 102.3% vaccination rate.
And that percentage is getting worldwide attention, too. A recent report from the United Kingdom said if West Virginia was a country, it would be “fifth or seventh” in the world in vaccination percentage with more than 430,000 vaccinated to date.
“That is pretty dag gum good,” Justice said.
State officials acknowledged they are still working on a plan to get people who are homebound or who live in group homes vaccinated. Bill Crouch, secretary of the Department of and Human Resources, said the issue has been a topic of discussion in recent days and his department is working to register these people.
“We may end up going to their homes,” Crouch said.
Statewide, there were 22 COVID-19-related deaths since Monday, including a 76-year-old male from Marion County. Active cases in West Virginia totaled 8,067, which is the 39th straight day of decline.
Justice said around 119,500 West Virginians have recovered from the virus, but there have also been 2,285 total deaths.
Also, 294 people remain hospitalized because of the virus and 78 of those people are in intensive care units. There are 14 outbreaks at state long-term care facilities and there is one outbreak at a church in Webster County. The overall positivity rate for the state was 5.49%.
“We also have no red counties,” Justice said.
State officials said 287,000 have pre-registered with the state at www.vaccinate.wv.gov . Justice encouraged people living in rural counties and any one 16 and older to register for the vaccination.
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