West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said during Wednesday's COVID-19 response press conference that he he plans to announce on Friday what percent of the state's population that is vaccinated has to be at the remove the indoor mask mandate.

 

"I promise you this, I'm going to to health officials and I will get a number," Justice said. 

 

The governor said though reaching that number won't be a sprint though as the emphaisis for younger people (age 16-35) to get vaccinated was pressed upon once again at the briefing. 

 

"We are focused on providing all the information we can to the younger population about the importance of getting vaccinated," the state's coronavirus czar Dr. Clay Marsh said. "We know that the 10-19 age group is the highest testing positive age group."

 

Marsh also said that the approval of emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for the 12-15 age group is expected to be approved within the next week.

 

"Canada just OK'd it and we believe our country will follow quickly," Marsh said.

 

When it does become available, Justice said there will be vaccination clinics in schools in all 55 counties where the vaccinations will be available not only to the students but anyone else in the community still looking to get vaccinated.

 

"We have got to get our kids vaccinated," Justice said. We're not through this yet. The steepest part of any mountain is always near the top."

 

Wednesday's briefing began by the governor offering his condolences to the families of the most recent COVID-related deaths. There have been 21 additional deaths since Monday's press conference bringing the state's total to 2,707.

 

"Please, please keep these people in your prayers," Justice said. "Please don't let them have died in vain."

 

The Department of Health and Human Resources is reporting 405 new COVID cases over the previous 34 hours. Additionally, there are 7,199 active cases, a cumulative percent positive rate of 5.15, a daily percent positive rat of 3.69, 145,050 recoveries and 236 hospitalizations with 91 of those being in ICUs.

 

On the daily county alert system map there are three red counties — Berkeley, Wirt and Wayne. Harrison is green but three bordering counties, Doddridge, Barbour and Marion, have moved up to yellow.

 

There are 16 outbreaks in long-term care facilities and eight church outbreaks in seven different counties. In correctional facilities, there are 32 cases statewide among inmates and 11 among staff.

 

The state's vaccination summary is showing 1,531,420 total doses received and 1,294,506 admininstered (84.5 percent). There are 718,926 state residents who have received at least one dose and 604,859 residents are fully vaccinated.

 

More information on the vaccine can be found HERE

 

More information on free COVID-19 testing can be found HERE

 

Video of Wednesday's press conference can be found below.