All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Governor closes restaurants, bars, casinos as West Virginia reports first confirmed COVID-19 case

The West Virginia State Capitol Building gleams in the sunlight in this aerial shot. / Photo courtesy of Robbie Skinner

Governor Jim Justice said West Virginia has confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The positive test was reported in the eastern panhandle, Justice said in a news briefing Tuesday evening.

West Virginia was the last state in the country to report a confirmed case of COVID-19. Justice did not say how many tests had been performed; a day earlier, the number was just 84.

“Tonight I’m going to give you a pathway to solving this problem,” Justice said before ordering the closure of all dine-in restaurants, bars and casinos.

“I am mandating we close our restaurants, our bars, our casinos,” Justice announced.

Takeout is still permitted, the governor added. The order is effective at 12 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18.

Regarding the first confirmed test, health officials would not say whether the patient was high risk, what county they live in or how long they are believed to have had the virus.

“This is a once-in-all-of-our-lifetimes event that is happening here,” Justice said. “This is real, and it’s really concerning.”

“If we stand back asleep at the switch, then this thing grabs hold, and then we cover up our medical professionals and our hospitals with people that are really sick,” Justice said in urging residents to follow all health recommendations. “We’ve got to be in this boat together… I’ll be with you, thick or thin, to the end, and we’re going to beat this thing.”

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County Sports Calendar

This week’s Upshur County sports calendar lists Buckhannon-Upshur and West Virginia Wesleyan events Sept. 15–21, including football, soccer, volleyball, golf, cross country and tennis at middle, junior varsity and varsity levels.

Soccer ‘Cats get blanked by Concord in 1-0 loss

Wesleyan men’s soccer suffered a 1-0 home-opener loss to undefeated Concord after Issa El Assal scored in the 86th minute, dropping the Bobcats to 0-3 despite Matteo Marciani’s four saves.
WVWC Volleyball

Wesleyan volleyball goes 2-1 in home tournament

West Virginia Wesleyan went 2–1 at a home tournament, finishing second after wins over Virginia Union and Lock Haven and a five-set loss to Belmont Abbey; MacKenna Halfin, Bhrooke Axe and Emily Denison earned All-Tournament honors.

Wesleyan women get doubled up by Concord in 4-2 setback

Wesleyan’s women fell 4-2 to Concord in their first road and MEC match, as Tiana Campbell scored twice—including a late penalty—and Concord outshot the Bobcats despite goals from Sydne Alexander and Carlie Ice.
BUHS Boys Soccer Feature Image

Soccer Bucs drop 3-1 decision to Princeton

Princeton beat Buckhannon-Upshur 3-1, taking an early lead with goals from Jake Stull and Jaxson Richards and sealing the win on Ashton Jones’ 62nd-minute penalty as Ayden Cottrill scored for the Bucs.
BUHS Girls Soccer Feature Image

Soccer Lady Bucs fall to unbeaten Wheeling Park, 5-0

Unbeaten Wheeling Park defeated Buckhannon-Upshur 5-0, powered by Julie Dunaway’s hat trick, improving to 10-0 while the Lady Bucs fell to 4-4.

First Community Bank holds lead in men’s golf league standings

First Community Bank held the Buckhannon Country Club Bob Cupp Memorial Golf League lead with 69½ points after a 23-17 win over Hank Ellis Insurance, while Custom Cabinets rose to second with 68½.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital to hold drive-through flu clinic on Oct. 17

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital will hold a drive-through flu clinic Oct. 17, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., offering standard trivalent vaccine for ages 7+ ($30) and high-dose FLUAD for 65+ ($90); Medicare beneficiaries pay nothing.

Parish House introduces revamped Hunger Walk in memory of Mark Petrosky

The Upshur Parish House will hold the 4th Annual Mark Petrosky Hunger Walk on Saturday, Sept. 27, to raise awareness and resources for neighbors facing food insecurity. Participants are encouraged to bring a $5 donation or nonperishable food items.