COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice orders testing at all daycares, assisted living facilities, and residential care communities statewide

“With our daycares, we’ve had several different staffs, as they’re trying to get back up and running, to voluntarily test themselves,” Gov. Justice said. “We’ve had four positives on staff that have come in from Kanawha County. And the thing is that none of these people had any symptoms.

“It is our hope, in every way, we can have all of our daycares up and open. We need them to take care of our children as our workers go back to work. But we absolutely cannot risk anything to our children or anything our children maybe could take back to their families.”

The Governor also stressed the importance of keeping the vulnerable populations at West Virginia’s assisted living facilities and residential care communities as safe as possible.

“We knew, as soon as we finished testing our nursing homes, we would go to mandatory testing of our assisted living facilities and our residential care communities,” Gov. Justice said. “We absolutely need to do everything in our power to keep our most vulnerable populations as safe as possible.

Last month, at the direction of Gov. Justice, West Virginia became the first state in the nation to require COVID-19 testing for all nursing home residents and staff statewide. In the time since, other states have begun to follow suit.

“We are looking at these communities and doing the prudent work that will enable us to ensure that we won’t have critical problems in those communities as well,” Gov. Justice said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while the effects of COVID-19 on the health of racial and ethnic minority groups is still emerging, current data suggest a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial and ethnic minority groups.

State Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp and her staff at the West Virginia DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health have been compiling and analyzing data on the effect of COVID-19 in African American communities for the past several weeks.

“Based upon that data, we’ve begun the process of establishing specific areas in the state where we will increase testing,” DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch said.

Sec. Crouch said that these increased testing efforts will initially be centered in Berkeley, Jefferson, Marion, Monongalia, and Raleigh counties. Additional counties or areas may be added in the future.

The DHHR plans to utilize the West Virginia National Guard’s mobile testing and drive-thru testing capabilities to enhance testing in these areas. Sec. Crouch added that some of these counties’ local health departments have already begun testing African American populations.

The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs, under Executive Director Jill Upson, will help the DHHR and the task force coordinate public outreach and testing efforts across the state.

“We look forward to working with the task force and the results of our efforts to address the needs of the African American population,” Sec Crouch said.

View the latest COVID-19 data at Coronavirus.wv.gov

“This is good stuff,” Gov. Justice said. “These numbers are only so low because of how good you’ve done and how prudent you’ve been as great West Virginians.

“Now, I want to tell you that the days ahead are not just going to be quiet seas and clear sailing,” Gov. Justice continued. “The days ahead are going to have bumps in them and we are absolutely going to try to stay on top of all the bumps we possibly can. But we’ve got to ask you to continue being smart.”

“So, as you see them, please appreciate them and please thank them. We’re signing this proclamation today and all it’s just one more level of gratitude for all the great work these heroes have done.”

The Governor also reminded the public that today is also National Interpreter Appreciation Day, announcing that he has also signed a proclamation, officially declaring May 6, 2020 as Interpreter Appreciation Day in West Virginia and taking time to thank the two sign language interpreters who have been a part of the Governor’s daily media briefings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s just so many things that we’re very thankful for,” Gov. Justice said “We thank all of those who are helping us in every way.”

The new distribution center, located at the WVNG Rock Branch facility in Poca, West Virginia, allows the multiple organizations to work together in a whole-of-government approach to provide additional food distribution capacity supporting the shared mission to assist West Virginia families and individuals that face food insecurity.

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“The health and welfare of our service members and their families is our number one priority,” Hoyer continued. “In conjunction with Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, we will conduct extensive research and provide information to our Guard families and employees as soon as we have it.”

More information will be posted on the WVNG’s news page as it becomes available

“You’ve entrusted me to get you to here. Now you’re in an area with dollars, and this stimulus, and business aspects and everything else. And this truly is right in my wheelhouse,” Gov. Justice said. “We’re going to consult with the leadership on both sides of the aisle, we’re going to bring everyone under the tent, and we’re going to work toward a solution that is the very smartest and best solution we can.”

Be counted in minutes: 2020census.gov.