MORGANTOWN – Repeated questions about the COVID-19 Delta variant prompted an extended monologue on vaccination by Gov. Jim Justice Tuesday.
“It’s your right to not be vaccinated, I get that totally,” he said. “What’s the downside? … Do you not believe that if all West Virginians were vaccinated today, that it would shut down this terrible killer completely? Do you not believe that less people would die?”
He continued, “Without any question, less people would die. Do you not have a responsibility for that? … Do you not believe that if we had all of our people vaccinated, we would not even be talking about the Delta variant?
He concluded, “If you’re not vaccinated, you’re part of the problem rather than part of the solution.”
West Virginia’s Delta count remained at 12 Tuesday. COVID-19 Czar Clay Marsh said it’s spreading in some states, notably Missouri, which saw a 35% increase in hospitalizations over the July 4 weekend. And African-American communities in Los Angeles with low vaccination rate are seeing increased hospitalizations, too.
West Virginia always run a bit behind, he said, so even though there are no other documented cases, “We know that it’s coming in West Virginia as well.”
As of Tuesday, 1,005,135 residents age 12 and up – 64.5% of the eligible population – had at least one vaccine dose; 836,954 (53.7%) were fully vaccinated. For seniors 65 and older, the figures stood at 87.35 with one dose and 77.4% fully vaccinated.
Justice said if someone told him West Virginia would do so well, he would have said, “Kiss my butt, anybody that would sit and think in any way that West Virginia is having trouble now getting 12- to 35-year-olds there” — but they aren’t in the same kind of danger. “You’ve done a whale of a job West Virginia. … Be that frog that’s proud of your pond.”
Asked if a Delta surge could prompt a renewed mask mandate, Marsh said the CDC is still saying that for now it’s OK for people fully vaccinated to not wear one. People who are immuno-compromised or are have additional risk factors can feel comfortable wearing a mask indoors or in crowds.
Also the CDC is supporting that idea that it’s reasonable for kids under 12, who are not yet vaccine-eligible, to also wear masks, as they are susceptible to the Delta variant.
Justice said if we reach the point that we have to put the hated masks back on, it’s because people didn’t get vaccinated. “If we ever, ever have an absolute panic again, it will be because we didn’t get vaccinated.”
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