MORGANTOWN — Gov. Jim Justice announced on Friday a coronavirus outbreak in the Eastern Panhandle.
Word of the outbreak came at about 11:30, officials at the daily press briefing said, so they had few details by the time the briefing began at about 12:15. Justice said 60 positive cases have been identified in Jefferson and Berkeley counties.
Justice noted the Panhandle’s proximity to the D.C. Metro area. “We’re not going to be a state that is left out” of the pandemic. “We expect in all honesty that were going to be immune from this terrible, terrible disease that’s going across the land.”
Justice continued, “We will have issues we need to deal with. If we need to send in the National Guard there, we will. We may need stricter guidelines for essential and non-essential.”
COVID-19 Czar Clay Marsh and Bureau of Public Health Commissioner Cathy Slemp said that the outbreak doesn’t appear to be tied to a singe source or time period. It appears to be a case of community spread that occurred over time.
Justice mentioned that there has been talk that cases may be linked to a Martinsburg Hobby Lobby store, but there’s no firm information on that.
Marsh said most folks will get better and have flu or flu-like symptoms. “No matter how good we are … we also know that we’re not going to avoid having people that will get infected, and we’ll handle that. … This is an opportunity to take that next step and protect ourselves and protect each other.”
He and others reiterated the daily encouragement to practice social distancing, wash your hands and avoid touching your face as a major part of the means to control the rate of spread. Marsh said, “Maintain your power and double down right now.”
Slemp said people with symptoms don’t need to go get a test and burden the health-care system. Assume you have it and stay home and manage it.
Justice took some time to address coronavirus-related rumors that have been flying.
“Rumors can poison, we all know that,” he said. State Police are not stopping traffic at borders. The National Guard is not enforcing a lockdown. There’s no curfew and no national lockdown.
Adjutant General James Hoyer addressed an additional rumor. People have been finding fliers on their cars, bearing a National Guard watermark and saying FEMA is mobilizing the Guard nationwide. That’s false, he said. The National Guard is involved in the response effort but is not doing law enforcement.
Justice said hotel and motel owners have expressed some confusion about dealing with out-of-state customers and the Department of Health and Human Resources would be issuing updated guidance sometime Friday.
Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch returned to Thursday’s conversation about reopening the schools on April 30 and the legislative letter urging Justice to close them for the rest of the school year.
He’s had positive feedback all across the board, he said, on the decision to stay with the April 30 date. Teachers, administrators, school boards, the unions all want the kids to have that glimmer of hope that they’ll be able to return, see their friends, take the commencement walk.
His own son, he said, told him, “Dad, I really want to thank you that you’re thinking of us.”
Justice also defended the decision. “The last thing on earth we need is controversy. … For crying out loud, it may very well be that we have to cancel school for the rest of the year. … I listen to my experts, I don’t shoot from the hip.”
Crouch and Marsh discussed the potential for a coronavirus surge in the state. Crouch said DHHR has plans, individual hospitals have plans, and DHHR had backup plans if hospitals exceed their capacity.
Marsh said statewide, there’s a buffer of 771 acute-care beds and 69 ventilators. “Ultimately we are well positioned to care of the folks in our state who might get sick.”
Justice said unemployment claims have overwhelmed the system. “We’re overwhelmed, the system is overwhelmed.”
The most recent numbers weren’t available during the briefing, but Justice urged patience as federal CARES Act unemployment provisions are rolled out.
“We’ll solve the riddle.” For those who have experienced a slow response, their benefits will be paid, he said. “We’ve just go to do better about amping up.”
The Dominion Post mentioned that readers attempting to apply for unemployment have been kicked off the WorkForce West Virginia website or had phone calls gone unanswered and are seeking advice.
Governor’s office General Counsel Brian Abraham said, “They should continue to try to reach out to WorkForce.”
Justice reiterated his frustration. “I don’t care if we’ve got to put 150 more people on it to get it done … we cant quit running until it’s over.” People are worrying about paying their bills. “That’s just plain not good.”
Hoyer offered updates on National Guard assistance to statewide response efforts. The Guard has conducted 21 training sessions for retailers, food establishments and convenience stores on decontamination of stocks, proper cargo handling and personal protection equipment, and had 20 planned for Friday with another 50 set for next week and 200 total planned for the coming weeks.
The state has delivered 1 million meals to school kids who are at home during the pandemic, and Burch offered an anecdote on why that’s important. An 8-year-old girl phoned her school to make sure that she hadn’t missed the food delivery bus because that was going to be the only meal for the day for herself and her sister.
The state has delivered 1 million meals to school kids who are at home during the pandemic, and Burch offered an anecdote on why that’s important. An 8-year-old girl phoned her school to make sure that she hadn’t missed the food delivery bus because that was going to be the only meal for the day for herself and her sister.
“That’s an 8 year old child that knows how important it is that there’s a caring adult looking out for them,” he said. “We’re going to make sure West Virginians take care of West Virginians.”
Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
