Gov. Justice says about 1,000 W.Va. students have COVID, urges vaccinations for kids

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — UPDATED, 11:17 a.m. 9/27/21

Gov. Jim Justice said there are about 1,000 West Virginia school kids who have tested positive for coronavirus, and he urged parents to get their kids vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease and children from having long-term effects.

“I’m telling you without question whatsoever - get your kids vaccinated. It’s really safe. Don’t take the chance,” Justice said Monday during his coronavirus news conference. “I’m not talking about kids getting sick; I’m talking about kids having COVID, don’t know about it and they’re spreading it.”

Video of the news conference can be viewed below:

The governor said the current eligibility for the vaccine is 12 and over, and he said there are a lot of arguments that kids who get COVID could possibility carry side effects for the rest of their lives. Many could have symptoms and not show it but spread the disease in the community, he said.

Justice also expressed concern that cold weather is coming, meaning people will be spending more time inside and increase the potential for the virus to spread even more.

Grandfamilies were urged to take advantage of a program that will provide them with $150 voucher for school supplies if their grandkids are vaccinated. With an estimated 19,000 kids in the state being raised by grandfamilies, he said, this could really raise the percentage of young people who are vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Justice said there are some signs that West Virginia could be at or near its peak with the virus. Active cases have dipped below 15,000 and hospitalizations have dropped slightly and the number of patients in intensive care and on ventilators is holding steady.

Still, he said it’s important to help hospitals as much as possible, and he urged those who are eligible to get their Pfizer booster shots to do so to get more protection. The number of people hospitalized and being treated with the virus is approaching 20%, he said.

The governor said West Virginia, after an earlier error in the vaccination numbers was announced following double counting by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has once again crossed the threshold of having more than one million residents who have received at least one dose.

West Virginia’s percentage of those 12 and over who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine is now at 64.3%.

The governor expressed concern about the number of younger residents who are now dying from coronavirus. For a good chunk of the pandemic, a large percentage of the deaths were among elderly people. Now Justice said much younger residents, even as young as people in their 20s, have died.

As far as outbreaks, he said, there are 85 outbreaks at long-term care facilities and three at churches in Monroe, Raleigh and Wayne counties.

Corrections has active cases among 286 inmates at 18 facilities and 75 among staff at 19 facilities.

“That’s a lot. We are watching it and everything,” Justice said of the virus cases at correctional facilities.

The governor encouraged people to get their flu shots and said that flu shots and coronavirus vaccinations can be given at the same time.

ORIGINAL STORY

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice will join other state leaders Monday to provide an update on the coronavirus pandemic.

The news conference, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., will be livestreamed below once it begins.

The governor encouraged eligible residents on Friday to get their booster shots.

“For the most part, if you want a booster shot and you are 18 and older in any situation that you feel compromised, you can now go get your booster shot,” Justice said.

The governor said the CDC is recommending Pfizer booster shots under certain guidelines that he said should open the floodgates, and the state has plenty of supply and is ready to give the boosters.