CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice joined West Virginia health leaders and other officials today for his latest daily press briefing regarding the State’s COVID-19 response.
VACCINATION CLINICS TO BE HELD IN ALL 55 COUNTIES THIS WEEK
During Monday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that free COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held this week in all 55 counties across West Virginia through operation “Save Our Wisdom.”
The clinics are available for West Virginians who are 65 years of age and older. Residents from any county in West Virginia may access an appointment at any of the vaccination clinics listed, regardless of their county of residence.
The earliest of this week’s clinics will begin Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. However, different locations will be open on different days through Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Each location has its own, unique schedule. Visit vaccinate.wv.gov to view all clinic locations and schedules.
Many clinics are listed as full as they are utilizing existing waitlists. However, West Virginians can now pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccine through the West Virginia COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration system at vaccinate.wv.gov. All clinics require appointments and walk-ins will not be accepted.
Due to possible inclement weather this week, all residents with appointments are encouraged to check local news media, social media, or vaccinate.wv.gov for any changes or delays.
The Governor added that 92,482 West Virginians age 65 and older have chosen to be vaccinated to-date, including 22,485 who are fully vaccinated.
“I ask you over and over: how many lives have we saved by just moving; just by not being like the other states?” Gov. Justice said. “We just moved, didn’t we? We reacted. We did the right stuff. We’ve got 92,482 shots in arms of our people 65 and older, and the odds are we’ve saved thousands of lives.
“Everybody needs to realize that we do not have enough vaccines to do everybody right now,” Gov. Justice continued. “But we’re pushing. We’re going to continue to push and we’re going to continue to get out every single vaccine we have.”
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION UPDATE
Once again Monday, Gov. Justice reported that West Virginia remains among the national leaders in the rate of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration.
National COVID-19 vaccination trackers: CDC | Bloomberg
According to the latest vaccine numbers posted to the COVID-19 Dashboard (Click “Vaccine Summary” tab) Monday morning, West Virginia now boasts a first dose administration rate of 108.1 percent. This number exceeds 100 percent due to extra doses being extracted from vials of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, West Virginia now has a second dose administration rate of 69.4 percent; the best such rate of any state in the nation.
To-date, West Virginia has administered 194,488 first doses and 68,392 second doses, totaling 262,880 doses administered overall statewide.
The Governor went on to encourage all West Virginians age 16 and older to pre-register for the vaccine through the state’s new online COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration system available to the public through vaccinate.wv.gov.
Last week, West Virginia became the first state in the nation to put this kind of system in place statewide. The new digital tool allows West Virginians to add themselves to a list of people who are interested in being vaccinated, and will notify those who sign up about the availability of vaccine doses to help streamline vaccination efforts.
As of Monday morning, more than 156,000 West Virginians have signed up to be added to the pre-registration list.
West Virginians can pre-register online or call the COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line (1-833-734-0965) to get help pre-registering.
Users will get a message after registering to confirm they are in the system, and will be sent updates regularly. The system sends texts, email, and phone calls.
The Governor went on to report that 16,770 residents and 18,379 staff members at the state’s long-term care facilities have now received at least the first dose of the vaccine. Additionally, 19,694 school employees have also chosen to get vaccinated.
WEST VIRGINIA ACHIEVES ANOTHER MONTHLY REVENUE SURPLUS IN SPITE OF PANDEMIC
Additionally Monday, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia’s general revenue collections for the month of January 2021 came in at $46.6 million above estimates and 1.6 percent above prior year receipts, despite the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the state’s economy.
“We are saving people’s lives right now. That’s the number one responsibility of me being your Governor. But the second responsibility that I have is absolutely to maintain and to watch after the store,” Gov. Justice said. “I’ve got to make sure that the economics of the state continue to work because if the economics fail, for all practical purposes, the services and everything we do in government – everything we’re doing throughout our land – really becomes almost impossible to do.
“So, considering all of that, today I report to you terrific, terrific news; off-the-charts news,” Gov. Justice continued. “We are absolutely, without question, the envy of the nation.”
Year-to-date general revenue collections are now $173.8 million above estimates and 4.7 percent above prior year receipts.
West Virginia has now banked surpluses in six of the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2021.
“West Virginia is poised for growth and diversification and lots and lots of good stuff,” Gov. Justice said. “We’re just going to keep it coming, West Virginia – keep this ball moving – and we’re going to hope and pray, as we ride off into the sunset, that everybody in West Virginia will be feeling better and prouder about who they are.”
COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS UPDATE
Also on Monday, Gov. Justice reported that the current number of active cases in the state is now 20,615, down from 22,570 cases as of the Governor’s previous COVID-19 briefing on Friday last week.
The number of daily active cases in West Virginia has now decreased for 16 straight days.
The number of active hospitalizations is now 438 patients, down from 519 on Friday, with 118 of those patients currently in the ICU. The number of hospitalizations has dropped by 46.5 percent since peaking at 818 on Jan. 5, 2021. Gov. Justice also reported today that hospitalizations are now at their lowest mark since before Thanksgiving.
The cumulative percent of positive cases is now 5.62 percent.
MONDAY MAP UPDATE
Additionally Monday, Gov. Justice provided a look at West Virginia’s latest mid-week County Alert System map update.
The map is updated live on the DHHR’s COVID-19 Dashboard (Click “County Alert System” tab) throughout the week.
Red counties: 12
Orange counties: 32
Gold counties: 5
Yellow counties: 5
Green counties: 1
DHHR’s COVID-19 Dashboard (Click “County Alert System” tab)
OUTBREAK REPORT
Also on Monday, Gov. Justice reported that there remain six active church-related outbreaks across five counties: Clay, Hampshire, Nicholas, Summers, and Wetzel counties. These outbreaks account for a total of 63 cases.
There are now 68 outbreaks in long-term care facilities across the state, down from 73 outbreaks on Friday last week.
The Governor also reported that there are now just 23 inmate cases across the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) system, down significantly from 132 on Friday last week. No DCR facility has more than eight active inmate cases. Meanwhile, there are now 37 active staff cases across the DCR system, down from 38 on Friday last week. To view the latest DCR case update, click here.
AGGRESSIVE TESTING CONTINUES ACROSS STATE
Additionally Monday, Gov. Justice provided an overview of the 53 counties across the state that have free testing events scheduled through the Governor’s Aggressive Testing initiative.
This testing is available to all residents, including asymptomatic individuals. Proof of insurance is not required. Attendees should bring identification, such as a driver’s license or proof of address, to help in returning test results. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Click here to view all locations, dates, times, and more details
An interactive online map of all free testing locations across West Virginia is available on the state’s COVID-19 website. Users can filter the map by type of testing site, including daily testing events, recurring testing events, as well as Walgreens and Fruth Pharmacy testing locations. Users can also filter by county. Each location is marked on the map with a pin. After finding a testing location nearby, users are able to click on the pin for more information about that particular testing site, including the specific location and timeframe during which testing will be held.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Click here to view all Executive Orders and other actions taken by Gov. Justice to combat the spread of COVID-19 in West Virginia.
For more information about COVID-19 prevention and more, call the State’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-887-4304 or visit Coronavirus.wv.gov.
