Justice Says West Virginia Ready to Deliver Vaccine for COVID-19 as Soon as it Becomes Available
By Jeff Toquinto on November 20, 2020 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
West Virginia is ready to deliver a vaccine to those in the state once one becomes available, Gov. Jim Justice said during today’s COVID-19 press conference.
The announcement comes on the heels of major drug companies announcing that they will be looking for emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration, some – such as pharmaceutical giant Pfizer – looking to be granted approval for their vaccine today.
“As soon as this vaccine is available, we will absolutely be distributing it in West Virginia and we will distribute it under the guidelines of the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration,” said Justice. “The most vulnerable will be vaccinated first.”
Justice said the state has been working on a plan to distribute a vaccine since August. He said groups, such as the National Guard, will 
be heavily involved in the distribution whenever it takes place.
be heavily involved in the distribution whenever it takes place.
The governor said there is no data available regarding how long the vaccine will be affective. Priority in the state will be with healthcare workers, first responders, and the vulnerable once it becomes available. To get to “herd immunity,” Dr. Clay Marsh said the vaccine would be needed to penetrate more than 70 percent of the population.
At the start of the press conference, Justice said the virus is raging across the country. He said West Virginia is not an exception and talking about the changing of weather and the holiday season and offered advice.
“This thing is getting worse and I truly believe it’s going to get worse before it gets better. A real cold snap may help in some ways, but it may drive us indoors and it may absolutely not help us in a lot of ways,” said Justice. “Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I hope and pray you’ll be safe with your loved ones and your families. You may be smart to be some of it on a virtual basis.”
Justice also talked about holiday travel. He said it is going to be difficult and concerning. Justice said the best way to protect yourself is to stay home during the holidays, as he read information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The caution came as Justice reiterated all options remained on the table to address the spread of COVID-19 in the state. However, he added that there are no plans on statewide shutdowns.
“We’re not moving toward shutting anything down at this time, but it is trending, and it is trending the wrong way,” said Justice, who emphasized for people to continue to wear a mask.
As for the masks, the issue of wearing a mask and only covering your mouth was discussed. The state’s top COVID-19 official said doing that is useless.
“If you leave your nose uncovered it doesn’t really work,” said Marsh, the state’s COVID-19 Czar, who added that “if masks go off, risk goes up.”
Justice was asked by the media about putting additional resources into certain counties, such as Berkeley County that turned red on the color-coded metric map, for more testing. The question was asked on behalf of an individual, the reporter said, who was involved in athletics.
Martinsburg, Bridgeport’s opponent in the football playoffs originally set for tonight and now postponed until possibly Saturday, is in Berkeley County.
“We want to finish up fall sports and we’re hanging on by a thread and not just canning the whole thing right now,” said Justice. “… Sports have got to take a backseat right now. They have to. First and foremost, we want our kids in school.”
Justice talked about Martinsburg’s “great football teams.” He said that the situation is tough and “really bad” and that he does not make decisions on where to test.
“We try to help everywhere we possibly can,” said Justice. “… As far as me selecting more sites for testing in Kanawha County compared to Berkeley Counties, that’s hogwash.”
Justice said there were more than 6,000 positive results in the last seven days. Part of that is result of testing as he said 16,617 individuals were tested Thursday along with more than 91,000 tested in the last seven days. DHHR Director Bill Crouch said part of the increase in numbers is the result of increased testing in the state’s nursing homes.
“By doing this expansive testing there is no question we discover people that are asymptomatic and help … from the standpoint of spreading this disease without knowing it,” said Justice, who said 11 asymptomatic individuals were found in the nursing home testing.
As for the numbers, Justice said there are currently 24 outbreaks in public schools with 88 confirmed cases. He added that the state’s long-term care facilities have 101 outbreaks, while there are 22 church outbreaks in 17 counties with Marion and Taylor County among them.
The Stephens Correctional Center in McDowell County, which had a massive outbreak, is down to 226 active case with 40 recoveries and 25 positive staff members with 18 recoveries. The rest of the state’s prison system, Justice said, has 10 active inmate cases and 34 active cases among staff members.
Since Wednesday, the state has had 27 deaths that are COVID-19 related deaths. Justice called the number “unbelievable.”
The deaths listed include an 87-year old female from Cabell County, a 70-year old male from Harrison County, a 68-year old male from Berkeley County, a 75-year old male from Ohio County, a 74-year old male from Marshall County, an 82-year old male from Kanawha County, a 63-year old female from Tyler County, a 92-year old female from Marshall County, an 85-year old male from Kanawha County, a 64-year old male from Wood County, an 62-year old male from Kanawha County, an 83-year old male from Marshall County, a 70-year old male from Logan County, a 59-year old female Boone County, a 74-year old female Lincoln County, a 72-year old male Monroe County, a 92-year old female Ohio County, a 79-year old male Marion County, an 85-year old female Mineral County, a 79-year old male Fayette County, a 68-year old female Summers County, a 95-year old female Summers County, a 74-year old male Pleasants County, a 71-year old male Kanawha County, a 77-year old female Kanawha County, a 75-year old male Jackson County, and an 85-year old male Hampshire County.
“This virus surely attacks all of us, but where are the primary targets of this virus? It’s the elderly,” said Justice.
Information on free testing can be be found HERE
Video of Wednesday's press conference can be viewed below.
