Gov. Justice hosts Dr. Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, to discuss West Virginia virus response

CHARLESTON,
WV – Prior to his regularly scheduled COVID-19 press briefing
today, Gov. Jim Justice hosted Dr. Deborah Birx, Coronavirus Response
Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, at the West Virginia
Capitol to discuss efforts being made to combat the spread of COVID-19
and safely reopen the state.

“Dr. Birx, you see her on TV all the time, she is amazing,” Gov. Justice
said. “She has incredible energy and unbelievable knowledge. She’s
traveled all across the country. The great work that she’s doing and her
dedication to West Virginia and this nation is amazing. And I can very
proudly say that she was tickled to death with the things we’re doing in
West Virginia.”

In an interview with members of the
media following a roundtable with state leaders at the Culture Center,
Dr. Birx praised West Virginia for executing an effective virus response.

“We really wanted to hear how West Virginia got it right and continues to
get it right,” Dr. Birx said. “I think what I’ve been convinced is it’s
really a partnership and teamwork, coming together to create
self-sufficiency through innovation, and it’s really been translating to
every West Virginian, putting them first and then communicating how
important every West Virginian is to each other.”

Dr. Birx specifically commended Gov.
Justice and state leaders for developing what she called a “remarkable”
plan to safely reopen schools across the state. The plan uses a
scientific metric to evaluate the safety level in each county and a
color-coded map system to let parents, students, teachers, and faculty
know what precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of their
communities.

“We’re going to put it in our governors report next week and I’m worried
that West Virginia is going to get a call from another 49 governors,” Dr.
Birx said. “To really lay out the metrics of where every county is,
making that visible to every single parent, and linking that to school
choice and then very clear guidances of what to do depending on what your
category is.

“I was very excited to talk about this and take this to other governors,”
Dr. Birx continued. “I think the reason why I like it is it’s practical,
it’s something that every county and every state can do, it’s
understandable, and most importantly, it’s implementable. And that’s
really what I got from this visit, is this attention to detail – but not
detail for the having of detail – but detail that translates into better
service for West Virginians.”

“West Virginia represents exactly what
we want to see across the country – a common sense approach based on the
data, local data, that people use to keep themselves safe and that they
understand,” Dr. Birx said.

Gov. Justice and Dr. Birx were joined by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore
Capito and Congressman Alex Mooney for a discussion at the Governor’s
Mansion and the follow-up roundtable at the Culture Center.

Among those also in attendance for the
discussions with Dr. Birx were West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay
Marsh, DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch, State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad,
State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch, West Virginia National
Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, and several of the state’s
leading experts in medicine, education, business and more.

After the conclusion of the discussions with Dr. Birx, Sen. Capito and
Rep. Mooney joined Gov. Justice for his latest COVID-19 press briefing.

“We’ve had an incredible experience this morning by hearing Dr. Birx, who
is a terrific health leader at the COVID Task Force with the Vice
President,” Sen. Capito said. “We’ve all seen her on TV, but I can tell
you there’s nothing like seeing her in person and seeing how
inspirational she is and the message that she’s led in this country. She
said she’s thrilled to be coming to West Virginia because it’s a ‘green’
state, she hasn’t been able to see too many green states and she wanted
to know what was the key to our relative success, and I think she came
away with a couple things: the Governor’s leadership, constant
communication.”

“Thank you, Governor, and your team for
your leadership in this important time,” Rep. Mooney said. “We should all
be encouraged that West Virginians from across our state are supporting,
protecting, and standing by one another during this unprecedented time.”

Dr. Birx also praised the Governor’s
indoor face covering requirement, the state’s expansive collection of
COVID-19 data, the state’s commitment to full testing residents and staff
at every nursing home in West Virginia, the Governor’s COVID-19 Advisory
Commission on African American Disparities, and the development of
innovative products like reusable masks and sanitization equipment.

WEST VIRGINIA
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS AGAIN; REMAINS BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE

Also during his briefing Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that West
Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 9.9% for the
month of July.

The national unemployment rate for July was 10.2%.

Since April, when state unemployment levels reached 15.9%, more than
47,000 jobs have been recovered across West Virginia.

Before the pandemic, West Virginia had historic economic growth that led
to a 4.7% unemployment rate statewide.

GOVERNOR ADDS
SELF-EMPLOYED, SOLE PROPRIETORS TO THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SMALL
BUSINESS GRANTS

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that he is opening up his West Virginia CARES
Act Small Business Grant Program to sole
proprietorships and self-employed individuals in West Virginia.

Any sole proprietor or self-employed person, in operation on or before
March 1, 2020, is now able to apply for up to $2,000 in grant funding.

Meanwhile, any West Virginia-based small business with 1-35
employees, in existence on or before March 1, 2020 is still able to apply
for up to $5,000 in grant funding. Over 2,300 of these applications have
been submitted to date, with more than $9.5 million being awarded so
far.

Businesses planning to apply must first be registered as a vendor with
the State to be eligible. Guidelines for the grants and instructions on
how to apply are available at Grants.wv.gov.

The application will remain open until Sept. 30, 2020.

MON COUNTY BARS
TO REOPEN ON AUG. 31

Gov. Justice also announced that, after one final extension to countywide
bar closure in Monongalia County, these facilities will be able to open
at the end of this month, provided that they adhere to a list of
additional safety guidelines.

On Wednesday, Gov. Justice issued an executive order,
extending the closure of all bars in Mon County for an additional 11
days.

The extension was requested by West Virginia University and the
Monongalia County Commission, with WVU students returning to campus in
Morgantown this week.

The new order extends the countywide bar closure until Monday, Aug. 31,
2020, at 12:01 a.m. Gov. Justice pledged that this will stand as the
reopening date, barring a major uptick in case numbers or another
unforeseen circumstance and provided that all safety guidelines are properly
followed.

“We’re not going to have dance floors, we’re not going to have live
entertainment, and we’re going to have to expand the ability to go
outdoors,” Gov. Justice said.

Click here to view
the safety guidelines that will be required for the
reopening of bars in Monongalia County.

The countywide bar closure was originally established under Executive Order 52-20, first extended
under Executive Order 55-20, further extended
under Executive Order 58-20, and extended
again under Executive Order 60-20.

The order keeps all Monongalia County bars closed for the on-premises consumption
of food or drinks or occupancy by the general public. However, customers
are still permitted to pick up food or drinks to be taken away.

The order maintains that patrons are allowed to be seated, for dining, at
tables and bar tops within “bar areas” of restaurants, hotels,
and other similar facilities, subject to the same limitations that are in
place for restaurants.

FUNDING BEING
SENT TO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that the $4.19 million that he
pledged to support West Virginia’s volunteer fire departments is now
ready for distribution.

Each of the state’s 419 VFDs will receive $10,000.

“Our firefighters have all meant so much to us during this pandemic, but
especially the ones who do so on a voluntary basis,” Gov. Justice said.
“I love being able to get this money out because, at the end of the day,
this is going to help us save more lives.”

GOV. JUSTICE
DIRECTS WORKFORCE WEST VIRGINIA TO APPLY FOR “LOST WAGE ASSISTANCE”
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUNDS

Additionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice directed WorkForce West
Virginia to apply for the Lost Wages Assistance Payments grant through
the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).

“As I have said, we cannot let our people that are sitting out there with
no job – not knowing how in the world they’re going to pay rent, or keep
from being evicted, or making their car payment, or putting food on the
table – just sit out there and wilt on the vine,” Gov. Justice said.
“We’ve got to get some money flowing to help West Virginians in
need.” 

Upon approval by FEMA, this grant will allow WorkForce West Virginia to
provide an additional $400 per week in assistance payment to those receiving
Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits due to COVID-related impacts. FEMA
disaster relief funds will cover $300 of the new weekly payment and the
other $100 will come from West Virginia’s allocation of the federal CARES
Act Coronavirus Relief Fund. Lost Wage Assistance was established after
Congress did not reauthorize the Federal Pandemic Unemployment
Compensation program, which provided an extra $600 payment to eligible UI
claimants.

Click here to read
more

COVID-19 CASE
NUMBERS UPDATE

Additionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice reported modest improvement once
again in some of West Virginia’s COVID-19 case numbers, announcing that
the number of active cases and COVID-19-related hospitalizations continue
to trend down.

Meanwhile, West Virginia’s statewide rate of COVID-19 transmission – also
known as Rt – is currently tied for the 8th-best such rate in the country, dropping
to 0.90 today. If a given state’s Rt value is above 1.0, it means the virus
will spread quickly, while values under 1.0 mean infections are slowing.
West Virginia’s Rt has remained under 1.0 every day since July 6, 2020; the
same day that the Governor instituted his Statewide Indoor
Face Covering Requirement.

Click here to view
the latest COVID-19 data

UPDATE ON
CHURCHES, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES

Also Wednesday, Gov. Justice announced that church-related outbreaks
remain active in three counties across West Virginia: Cabell, Taylor, and
Wood counties. These outbreaks account for about 44 total cases combined.

The Governor added that there are now 26 outbreaks in long-term care
facilities across the state, with extra attention being paid
to Grant Rehab and Care Center in Grant County, Cedar Ridge
Center in Kanawha County, Trinity Healthcare in Logan
County, Princeton Healthcare Center in Mercer County, Pine
Lodge Nursing Home in Raleigh County, and Rosewood Nursing Home in
Taylor County.

“When it comes to our nursing homes, all of our people have been
unbelievable, from the staff, to the National Guard, to the DHHR running
to the fire and doing testing,” Gov. Justice said. “But I’ll say again,
we’ve just got to be super careful about going out of state and bringing
this stuff back to these vulnerable populations.”

FREE COVID-19
TESTING

Gov. Justice also updated the schedule of upcoming free community
COVID-19 testing events taking place over the
next several weeks at various dates and times in multiple counties across
the state.

The effort is part of a plan to provide free optional testing to all
residents in several counties that are experiencing higher rates of
COVID-19 transmission. It targets residents who have struggled to be seen
by a physician or do not have insurance to pay for testing. However,
other residents, including those who are asymptomatic are welcome to be
tested.

Testing details listed below in chronological order:

Lincoln County (1
of 2)

Wednesday, August
19

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Harts PK-8: 1246 McClellan Highway, Harts, WV

Hancock County

Friday, August 21

1:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Weir High School: 100 Red Rider Road, Weirton, WV

Saturday, August 22

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Weir High School: 100 Red Rider Road, Weirton, WV

Boone County

Tuesday, August 25

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Madison Civic Center: 261 Washington Avenue, Madison, WV

Lincoln County (2
of 2)

Wednesday, August
26

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Alum Creek Church of Christ: 2368 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV

Mason County

Friday, August 28
& Saturday, August 29

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Webster County High School: 1 Highlander Drive, Cowen, WV

Webster County

Saturday, August 29

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Webster County High School: 1 Highlander Drive, Cowen, WV

Nicholas County

Thursday, September
17

12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Nazarene Camp: 6461 Webster Road, Summersville, WV

EXECUTIVE ORDER
63-20

Gov. Justice issued another executive order
on Wednesday, allowing certain individuals employed by WorkForce
West Virginia to be eligible to continue in these positions without
suspension of such individual’s retirement annuity.

CITIES/COUNTIES
GRANT FUNDING: $82.5 MILLION HAS NOW BEEN AWARDED

Also today, Gov. Justice provided an update on cities and counties
throughout West Virginia applying for funds through the federal CARES
Act, reporting that more than $82.5 million has now been awarded all
across the state.

A new web portal is now available for city and county government
officials to apply for this grant funding, at grants.wv.gov. Interested parties can
also call the helpline: 1-833-94-GRANT.

Each of the recipients of CARES Act funding, along with grant amounts,
are now available to view through the COVID-19
transparency web portal provided by West
Virginia State Auditor’s Office.

WEST VIRGINIA
STRONG SUMMER FOOD ASSISTANCE MAP

Also, Gov. Justice reminded West Virginians that an interactive
free-feeding location map, designed to help connect citizens in need to
food resources across the state, is available online.

Click here to view
the map

More than 696 free-feeding locations have now been made available
through a multi-agency effort between the West Virginia National Guard,
the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Bureau of
Senior Services, the West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster (WV VOAD), and the United Way.

If food distribution locations aren’t available in some communities,
individuals are encouraged to call 211 for further assistance.

WEST VIRGINIANS
URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS

Once more today, Gov. Justice asked all West Virginians to participate in
the 2020 United States Census.

Every West Virginian who does not respond to the Census represents a loss
of $20,000 in federal funds over the next 10 years for the state and its
local communities. The funds can go toward things like healthcare,
education, infrastructure, school lunch programs, and more.

Be counted in minutes: 2020census.gov.