MORGANTOWN — Gov Jim Justice invariably opens his COVID-19 briefings with comments on COVID deaths – either rejoicing because there were none since his last briefing, or mourning over the latest toll.
On Wednesday he he had to list seven more, including, locally, a 70-year-old Preston County man. That brought the state’s toll to 124 and Justice noted that the seven were all from different counties in different parts of the state.
“It tells us this killer is amongst us all over the place,” he said.
Tuesday’s 103 new active cases reflected a spike up from Monday’s 83 but still trending downward fomr last Thursday’s all-time high of 179. Total active cases have dipped a bit from Sunday’s all-time high of 1,938 down to 1,817 on Tuesday.
Justice has repeatedly expressed concern that the virus is spreading from the south, and that’s seen in Logan, McDowell, Mercer and Grant counties seeing the highest rate of case increases.
Mercer has 131 active cases, according to the Department of Health and Human Resources, with 76 new cases during the period July 27 through Sunday; the numbers for Logan are 123 and 62; for Grant, 63 and 37; for McDowell, 35 and 30.
Justice said that his previous comments about possibly imposing travel restrictions were misinterpreted. They were only speculative.
“At some point in time, if this thing continues to explode to the worse … if it continues to get worse and worse and worse,” and health experts say its coming from the south, he said, he may have to ask people to self quarantine while they get tested and await results.
Justice also touched on eviction protections in federal COVID legislation that are expiring. “We have people that are scared to death because they’re going to get evicted from their apartments or homes. I would plead with those landlords to not proceed down this course.”
He’s talked to D.C., about it, he said, but with the HEALS Act still under negotiations, renters and the unemployed are sitting in limbo. He also wanted to put the message out to the bankers, “Please give these people a pass for right now.” He added later, “I truly expect this food fight in Washington to end.”
Justice and Adjutant General James Hoyer fielded a question about a change in how the federal government pays for National Guard COVID relief efforts. Federal pay and benefits have been at 100% but as of Aug. 21, that will fall to 75% and states will have to cover the rest.
Justice sad he had a call scheduled with the U.S. Defense secretary later Wednesday afternoon and planned to express his opposition. “ I will emphatically express my opinion. … Our nation needs to stand steadfast with our Guard.”
Hoyer said at the height of COVID operations, 720 West Virginia Guardsmen were involved. That now hover steadily around 400. The state’s share of the cost from now through the end of the year would be $7.26 million.
The change from federal to state active duty status would affect medical coverage for those injured during the event, Hoyer said. Under state status they would be covered by state Worker’s Compensation rather than by federal funds. If also affects their G.I. Bill benefits and other matters.
“The governor and I are both adamant that we continue the federal status and we’ll work hard to address the other financial issues,” he said.
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