The United Kingdom, California, and South African variants of COVID-19 have been detected in West Virginia. Today, Gov. Jim Justice announced that there is another variant that has made an appearance in the Mountain State.

 

“I’ve learned in the past few hours that the Brazilian variant is now in the state,” said Justice.

 

Justice said it is called the Brazilian P-1 variant. It has been located in Berkeley County. He said there are 497 known cases in 31 states of this variant.

 

Dr. Clay Marsh, the state’s COVID-19 Czar, said that the vaccines do offer a level of protection against the variant. However, he said it may not be as good for those who have developed antibodies after having COVID naturally, but still provides a better level of protections as opposed for those who have not been vaccinated.

 

Although Justice did not say the variant, he did say the virus had an impact on him directly. Justice said after he learned no members of his high school girls’ basketball team at Greenbrier East opted to take the vaccine, it was learned that one of the players on his team earlier this week – a freshman that he said did not play – tested positive for COVID-19.

 

“I am telling the young people, and the adults, we have got to get our children (vaccinated),” said Justice.

 

Justice said he recently learned several state employees were opting not to take the vaccine. He said the reason for it was based on a falsehood.

 

“(The rumor) is that if you die from COVID PEIA won’t pay out on life insurance benefits,” said Justice, who said those creating the rumor are miserable people. “This is a crazy place. Rumors fly around everywhere … This is crazy stuff. This is completely false.

 

Justice called the vaccine extremely safe. Marsh echoed those comments and then provided numbers to show the impact of the vaccine.

 

Marsh said there have been 77 million Americans vaccinated. From that group, there have been 5,800 cases being investigated for individuals that may have gotten COVID after vaccination. From that total, Marsh said 396 have been hospitalized and 74 deaths.

 

In West Virginia, 129 individuals have been diagnosed with COVID after receiving both does of the vaccine, according to State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad.

 

According to Marsh, the chances of dying after being diagnosed with COVID nationally is at 1.8 percent. For those vaccinated, the chance of death diminishes greatly.

 

“With vaccination, (the death rate) goes to .0001,” said Marsh.

 

While Marsh talked numbers in a new area, Justice discussed numbers that he hits on at every press briefing. The governor said there were 10 outbreaks in the state in long-term care facilities.

 

As for churches, there was good news for Harrison County. Justice said there were four outbreaks in three counties in churches and the counties were Fayette, Grant, and Nicholas Counties. Harrison County is no longer on the list.

 

Harrison County did remain on the list for breakouts in the prisons across West Virginia. He said there are 67 outbreaks in the prisons among inmates as well as seven staffers that are COVID positive. Of the inmate cases, 39 are at the Salem Correctional Center.

 

Justice started the press briefing by reading the list of deaths that have taken place since Wednesday’s conference. There were 21 deaths, which has the state currently with 2,777 deaths that are COVID-related.

 

“If you don’t take the vaccine, I just read (the names of) 21 more (that have died) … The only way I can stop (reading this names) is to take the vaccine,” said Justice.