W.Va. moves to start reopening, though key criteria unclear
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Friday rolled out aggressive steps to reopen daycares and restaurants without setting specific benchmarks on testing, equipment and coronavirus tracking.
Speaking in broad strokes, the Republican governor said he wanted daycares and outdoor seating at restaurants to open as soon as possible. The strategy comes days after he announced hospitals will resume elective procedures as early as next week.
Justice, a billionaire coal and agricultural businessman without previous government experience, said the state will take “baby steps” in lifting virus restrictions to avoid a jump in cases. He will mandate testing of all daycare staff and said he is looking into doing temperature checks on kids and parents.
“We absolutely want to come back to work but we want to make sure that we do not have a backlash,” Justice said, adding he will give more reopening details early next week.
Still, Justice and his administration did not outline criteria on testing capacity, virus contact tracing and personal protective equipment availability that they were using to make their decisions. Similar guidelines are included in a three-phase White House plan for states to use to reopen economies
Clay Marsh, the state’s coronavirus czar, has given varying testing capacity numbers in a state of roughly 1.8 million people. State health officials on Friday said there’s been around 32,400 tests done statewide. Thirty-two people have died and about 1,000 have tested positive.
Question where R the testing in Tyler & Wetzel countys ?¿? plus about the Veterans on VA disability only income going to get the Stimulus Check we have a life too or R we forgotten again ?¿? been asking all week now see how far this goes to get a Answer Be safe & careful out here God bless
I am very disappointed in this decision. According to the stastics out of 1.8 million residents in WV only 32,009 have been tested. Out if these over 1,000 have tested positive and we have suffered over thirty deaths. We have no tests that can track further positive cases and those with whom they have had contact! Even the Trump guidelines say that is a requirement before any attempt to open for business. Furthermore, we now know that this virus does affect children!
So……you are opening day care centers…do you really think this to be a wise decision. I cannot imagine any parent ready to send their children to. Childcare center at this time.
As for restaurants, they are still operating by pick up service so they are still bringing in some income though not as much as before. I fear you will regret this decision and it will result in undoing all that we have achieved during these days of quarantine.
The government is doing what it can to help everyone with financial insecurities during this pandemic. We all want it to be over…however all medical experts say it is too soon.
God help us if reopening encourages another wave of the virus while we are in still in phase one of fighting it😢
So very true!
It’s to soon to open WV back up. Every day there is new cases and more deaths,? this will open the country up for the second more deadly round of Covid19. I know the America people need Financial help and it’s a shame this country couldn’t do better for the people 1,200 👎 Now they ask the people to risk themselves for the economy for the stock market as if the people haven’t sacrificed enough but our lives, or the lives of our families…HELL NO !
They are lying about the numbers you foolish people! Get back to work or soon it won’t be the virus your worried about it will be where am I going to get food to feed my family!! If we don’t work we don’t produce anything and food is a resource that must be replenished from a farmer, factory or production facility. It’s not magic and waving a wand won’t make it appear.
I don’t feel the country is ready to open back up at this time and feel it’s a bad idea to do so, this thing is SERIOUS, and I feel if we open back up and not ready there will be more deaths this time then last time, so the governor and all need to make sure this is the right thing to do for the country, I know people are hurting with bills coming in, food, medical and all that, but I pray they are making a right move for our country.
Opening to quickly will destroy progress made. Wait and see the results in other states that are opening up . I believe we will be jumping the gun by opening up so soon
Jim is out of his mind to open daycare . When the first child dies will he be called a murder or will he blame others . Don’t put kids in harms way . Come November people won’t forget . I didn’t know jim was a Doctor !!!
I can’t believe you are opening daycares of all things!! My grandchildren will not be going to one!! That’s all we need to kill our babies!!! Geezzz go ahead and open restaurants but not day cares!!!
I think justice is making a horrible mistake on what he is doing let a sleeping dog lay for awhile longer this will blow up in his face
TRUE!😡
Cool. He gets his Bob Evan’s. NOW OPEN OUR GYMS!!!! If he’s so concerned about the health of his citizens start there!
Well Gov. Justice is not taking into account of all the people that are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. So in a just society. The governor should be held accountable for allowing the virus to spread even more and should pay for putting everyone’s life in more danger. All he is thinking about is how much money he is losing. I have never seen such a inhuman corrupt trump puppet.
I think that opening restaurant and day care is stupid
If outdoor seating at restaurants can open then RV parks and campgrounds should be able to open!!!
I never in my life seen such backwards thinking from people trying to stop the spread of this virus . First they setup a distancing rule 6 feet a part then stores make you enter and exit one door that’s forcing you to come In to close contacted . Now daycares opening babies what a way to start the first steps God help us all .. seems AOC and the Democratic party has paid you well hope it’s worth it your political days are over with this move..
Dont you think by doing that is going to make the virus spread even more
Sir:
I implore you to reconsider reopening of this state. We will see numbers and deaths that will be greatly increased and most preventable! As for me and my family we will continue to isolate. I am a frontline medical personnel and I see no way around a wave of tragedy that will be stunning. Please! For the sake of our people, don’t open this state!! Respectfully, Denise Thomas, RN
Amen
I don’t understand why the first thing to open is DAYCARE CENTERS!!!! The schools are closed for the rest of the year why besides THE ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR!! Would this even be considered safe!!! Then just this past Friday he said that hair salons would be the last place to open? Now week 2? I own a hair salon and yes would love to go back and see my clients but I don’t think it’s safe at all!!! And I haven’t received a dime at this point and still don’t think it’s smart!!!
This virus will run its course. They always have throughout history. We can’t hide out until a vaccine is discovered. Businesses have to open or we will all go broke. Wash your hands and keep your distance. If you are in a high risk group – take extra precautions. Let’s all be careful but let’s get back to work.
I think you should open up hair salons/barber shops and that every other chair is empty. Outdoor seating restaurants- that’s a good start too.
The fear is irrational. We have to keep in mind, the numbers of deaths proportional to the number of residents in the state. Our economy cannot go another couple of weeks being shut down.
Besides we can go to Walmart, big box stores and everybody is handling everything-when you pick it up it’s been handled 20 times. It is the Democrats, socialist, globalists and progressives who want to kill this country‘s economy. Good job governor justice, you’ve got to start somewhere and people need to work and they need daycare to go to their jobs!
What about the unemployment office in Huntington denying people on unemployment their saying they have no document saying they can give the people unemployment when they have exhausted there’s that year due to businesses going out of business at the mall !!!!! ?????? What is he going to do about that ?????? There are tons of people still without unemployment!!!! ARE THEY GOING TO BACK PAY THEM !!!!!!😡