The first person has died at the West Virginia Veteran’s Nursing Facility in Clarksburg that recently was reported as having a COVID outbreak, Gov. Jim Justice said today during his press briefing.

 

“We’ve lost one person there and that person was pretty ill,” said Justice. Justice said the individual that passed was under Hospice care prior to the infection.

 

Justice, who said Monday the outbreak was in the Alzheimer’s unit, said there have been 13 positive cases among the 17 residents. He said five staff members have tested positive.

 

“We’ve contained to the very best of our abilities,” said Justice, who praised the National Guard for their response in going to the facility assist and disinfect the area. “These are heroes and we’re trying to look at them after them in every way.”

 

Justice also updated the situation involving outbreaks in the state’s schools. He said there are currently 50 outbreaks in 21 counties with 541 kids having confirmed cases of COVID. Justice said the outbreaks in counties have dropped.

 

As for the vaccine that Justice has touted since the day it became available, said the vaccine exemption bill being debated by the Legislature will focus on “legitimate” medical and religious exemptions. The bill has drawn criticism from multiple health organizations, including West Virginia University Medicine.

 

“I don’t think we should throw our freedom and rights into the trash can,” said Justice, as he reiterated the exemptions had to be legitimate to avoid things such as termination from their employment.

 

As the state topped 4,000 COVID-19 deaths, Justice started today’s press conference by reading the counties, genders, and ages of 110 newly reported deaths since Wednesday’s briefing. Of that total, several were reconciliation death reports – 31 – from the past that just now have been listed as COVID deaths.

 

The state currently has 4,108 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

 

“We’re getting through this, but it’s really tough and I want you to surely know that is as tough as it is for those out there, especially the health workers … and the end of the day it’s nothing compared to what these families are going through,” said Justice.