COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice continues to urge boosters; celebrates extension of federal support for National Guard pandemic response

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.
CASE NUMBERS & VACCINE/BOOSTER INFO
On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that there are now just 544 active cases of COVID-19 statewide.

Over the past three months, total active cases have decreased by 97.5%.

COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov

Since nearing peak capacity in early February, COVID-related hospitalizations in West Virginia are down 92.2%, ICU patients are down 91.2%, and patients on ventilators are down 92.8%.

An updated breakdown of the West Virginia County Alert Map is as follows:
Red (0) | Orange (0) | Gold (0) | Yellow (2) | Green (53)

Still, after reading the ages and locations of another 19 individuals who have passed away from COVID-19 since Tuesday, Gov. Justice continued to urge West Virginians to get vaccinated and boosted.

"Walking around unprotected is not wise," Gov. Justice said. "If you are over the age of 50 are you are more than four months out from your first booster shot, you need to go get your second booster shot. We don't want to lose any more of our people."

All West Virginians ages 5 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. After the primary series, first booster shots are recommended for those ages 12 and older.

Second booster shots have now been authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC for those ages 50 and over who are also at least four months removed from their first booster dose, as well as certain younger immunocompromised individuals ages 12 and older.

All West Virginians who qualify can immediately get this dose anywhere vaccines are available.

The state's new COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator has been updated to determine whether people are eligible for a second booster dose.

Read more about vaccines at Vaccinate.wv.gov and at CDC.gov.
FIND A VACCINE NEAR YOU
GOV. JUSTICE CELEBRATES EXTENSION OF FEDERAL SUPPORT OF NATIONAL GUARD PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Also on Friday, Gov. Justice celebrated the recent news that President Joe Biden has extended 502(f) federal support for the National Guard, which will allow the West Virginia National Guard to continue assisting in the state's response to COVID-19 through the end of September.

"We're thankful for this because our great National Guardsmen and women need to be paid for all they do for us every day, especially when it comes to their heroic response to the COVID pandemic and how they continue to run to the fire whenever we need them," Gov. Justice said.
GOVERNOR APPROVES OVER $5.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR PROJECTS TO COMBAT COVID-19
Gov. Justice also announced that earlier this week he approved over $5.7 million in Community Development Block Grant-CARES funding (CDBG-CV) for four projects to combat COVID-19 in Hampshire and Mineral counties.

"I congratulate all the recipients of this important grant funding," Gov. Justice said. "We need to remain on our toes to continue our response to this dreaded killer. Even though our numbers are significantly down, this thing has shown it can whiplash back around on us very quickly. So we always need to be working to prepare."

Funded activities include public health service projects and expanding the ability of community health facilities to address the coronavirus pandemic.

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