COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice again urges West Virginia renters to take advantage of tax-free financial support

Press Release

Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response leadership team held another news briefing today to update the public on the state's latest pandemic response and vaccine distribution efforts.

MOUNTAINEER RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UPDATE
During Friday's briefing, Gov. Justice was joined by Erica Boggess, Director of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, to provide an update on the Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program.

The program provides financial assistance to renters who have lost their job, had their income reduced or suffered a significant cost or financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Landlords with tenants who are struggling with rent or utility payments due to COVID-19 may be eligible for rental assistance as well.

"We know that there are people that are out there that are still hurting, and that's why we want to make sure that we're getting these dollars out to West Virginians in need," Gov. Justice said. "We all need to pull the rope together and get everyone on board so this program can be a success."

"To date, we've distributed $53.7 million, helping almost 13,000 households for an average of $4,100 per household, tax-free to the renters. Once the applications are here, we're seeing that 96% of applicants are receiving funding, but we need more people to apply," Boggess said. "West Virginia has among the highest homeownership rates in the country. The U.S. Treasury has begun to recapture funds that aren't being used. So for us to preserve as much of this funding as possible and use it in West Virginia, we really need to spread the word and get more and more people to apply."

UPDATE ON VACCINE MANDATE WAIVER REQUEST FOR RURAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Gov. Justice once again provided an update on his announcement last week that he and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin sent a joint letter to the U.S. Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, calling on CMS to grant a limited waiver of its vaccination requirement at rural or state-run facilities due to severe staffing shortages.

Yesterday, United States Senator Joe Manchin announced in a statement that he spoke with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, saying of their conversation: "Administrator Brooks-LaSure told me that the goal of CMS is to help hospitals get their staff vaccinated, not kick them out of the Medicare program."

Sen. Manchin went on to say: "She assured me that facilities will not be kicked out of the Medicare program if their entire staff isn't fully vaccinated, as long as facilities are making a good faith effort to vaccinate staff and implement best safety practices."

"We'll take it," Gov. Justice said during his briefing Friday. "We've got to do everything we can to make sure that our rural hospitals can stay up and running without us -- God forbid -- having to end up shutting something down."
GOV. JUSTICE OFFERS WELL-WISHES TO SENATOR CAPITO AFTER POSITIVE COVID TEST
Gov. Justice also took time to offer his best wishes to United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito, following her announcement yesterday that she tested positive for COVID-19. In her announcement, Senator Capito noted that she is asymptomatic.

"I want to send out my super-well-wishes to Shelley," Gov. Justice said. "She's a great friend and an incredible Senator and servant of this state. Cathy and I are saying our prayers that everything will go well and that she'll be fine and dandy before long."

BOOSTER SHOTS NOW AUTHORIZED FOR ALL WEST VIRGINIANS AGES 12 AND OLDER
COVID-19 booster shots are now authorized and encouraged for all West Virginians ages 12 and older.

Booster shots are available for free to all eligible West Virginians. The waiting period for those who received initial series Pfizer shots has been shortened to five months. Read more about booster eligibility at CDC.gov.

West Virginians can go to any location offering COVID-19 vaccines with their vaccination card to receive their booster. If your card has been lost, you can request a new one from the DHHR.

Initial series vaccinations remain available for free for all West Virginians ages 5 and older.

West Virginians interested in being vaccinated or having their children vaccinated are encouraged to visit Vaccinate.wv.gov or call the West Virginia Vaccine Info Line: 1-833-734-0965.

CASE NUMBERS & HOSPITALIZATIONS UPDATE
On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now 8,076 active cases of COVID-19 and 884 COVID-related hospitalizations statewide.

To date, 326 West Virginia National Guard members have been authorized to deploy to 36 medical facilities across the state as part of the WVNG's mission to provide staffing support to West Virginia hospitals.

An updated breakdown of the West Virginia County Alert Map is as follows:
Red (2) | Orange (14) | Gold (24) | Yellow (11) | Green (4)

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