As warm weather is settling in and the state is seeing proms, graduations, festivals, concerts, and other larger gathering events take place, officials were asked their thoughts on what that means as COVID numbers continue to rise nationally in the state and across the country.

 

“Go and have fun. Go and have tremendous fun,” said Gov. Jim Justice during today’s COVID-19 press briefing.

 

Justice said that as the state went over the 2,000 cases of active COVID in West Virginia. However, he also offered a bit of caution before having the “fun” he mentioned.

 

“Get yourself vaccinated, then go have fun,” said Justice, who prior to that said, “this doesn’t mean you can run off to prom and feel great beyond belief because you could get sick and bring it home to a parent … or someone else to have a tough time.”

 

Justice’s comments came after Dr. Clay Marsh, the state’s COVID Czar, addressed a question relating to the events common to this time of the year from a member of the media. He said it was not necessarily a time to be afraid but said caution should still be exercised.

 

“Consider being careful around large crowds of people or avoid being in those crowded events,” said Marsh, pointing out in comments his statement is aimed primarily at the older population and those with compromised immune systems. “Outside is a much safer than inside environment, (but) this virus is going to spread irrespective of what we’re going to do.”

 

The comments came near the end of a COVID press conference that featured multiple other topics. However, the start and finish of the press event was almost exclusively on COVID, which saw a substantial number today that Justice suggested is not representative of the real numbers.

 

“We have new positive cases of 860 … Think with me just for a second. We have all the home tests kits do we not? How many new positive cases do we have in West Virginia that we’re not able to report to you right now? This stuff is not going away,” said Justice.

 

Justice and Marsh, as is usually the case, asked West Virginians to get vaccinated and get booster shots. They also talked about those aged 5 through 11 to consider getting a soon-to-be-available booster.

 

Marsh said although the FDA has approved a booster shot for Americans ages 5 to 11 as long as those youth are five months out from their second shot, that it still needs to be approved by the Centers for Disease Control. Marsh said he anticipates CDC approval today or tomorrow.

 

Marsh also said he is asking parents to consider getting their children vaccinated and, if vaccinated, to get their booster. He said the state, which lumps 5 to 17-year-olds in their statistics, said less than 30 percent of individuals in that demographic are vaccinated.

 

The governor provided statistical updates in several categories as he does at every session. He said there are 45 COVID outbreaks in the state’s long-term care facilities, while the church outbreak number remains at zero. Justice said there are currently 17 inmates and 25 staff members COVID positive in the state’s prison system.

 

Justice started the press briefing in standard form by reading the age, gender, and counties of those who have passed from COVID since his last press briefing. There have been 11 deaths since Monday’s briefing, along with six reconciliation deaths, bringing the state total to 6,912.

 

“It’s unbelievable – 6,912 deaths,” said Justice. “It’s really unbelievable.”