As the economic crisis deepens as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the nation, Governor Jim Justice said he had good news relating to a landslide of unemployment claims West Virginia is dealing with as a result.

 

“We’re processing the unemployment claims after being overrun by them,” said Justice.

 

In March, Justice said the state saw 90,000 unemployment claims. He said a typical figure handled by WorkForce West Virginia is 3,400. Because of that, many individuals were voicing frustration of not being able to get unemployment claims or waiting for hours at times.

 

“My instruction to Brian Abraham, my general counsel … was whatever WorkForce wants triple it,” said Justice.

 

Justice said in the early days of the month numbers of claims continued to raise. On April 1 the number of claims was 6,736; April 2 was 5,794; April 3 was 6,044; April 4 was 2048; April 5 saw 4010; while April 6 was at 3,379.

 

Justice said on April 6, headway was finally made on those numbers.

 

“In one day, yesterday (April 6), we processed 28,500 of those claims,” said Justice. “We’re catching up we’re catching up really, really fast.”

 

Justice said WorkForce West Virginia will also begin distributing the additional $600 in federal money that was approved related to the pandemic. He also said the WorkForce call centers are taking calls around the clock.

 

Justice also was pleased with the numbers in the state. Most notable, he said, was that there were no additional deaths listed in the state Department of Health and Human Resources update today.

 

“Thank the Good Lord for that,” said Justice.

 

Justice said positive results of those tested was just 1.6 percent on Tuesday. He said that was well ahead of the 3.42 average for the state.

 

“It’s a result of the great work of the health department … and especially you, the West Virginians,” said Justice.

 

The 3.42 average, he said, was the lowest of all the surrounding states. He said the national average was 18.51 percent.

 

“We’re staying ahead of the curve,” said Justice.

 

Justice said West Virginia is testing as much as its neighboring states. He said the Mountain State is testing at .559 percent of the population and only Pennsylvania has tested at a higher percentage. Nationally, he said the number is .592 percent.

 

The governor also said more individuals have tested positive is at the Eastbrook Center, a nursing home in Kanawha County. He said four patients and one employee has tested positive. He said 124 patients and 39 staff members have been tested with 52 tests pending. He said some staff still need to be tested.

 

“We don’t want this in a place where our elderly are,” said Justice.

 

You can watch the press conference below. 

 

Click HERE to read the press release from the governor's office from today's press conference.