2020 coronavirus pandemic in West Virginia
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| 2020 coronavirus pandemic in West Virginia | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Members of the West Virginia National Guard provide personal protective equipment training on March 16, 2020 | |
 Confirmed COVID-19 cases in West Virginia as of March 26th, 2020
Confirmed Cases | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | West Virginia, U.S. |
| Index case | Shepherdstown |
| Arrival date | March 17, 2020 |
| Confirmed cases | 237[1] |
Deaths | 2 |
| Official website | |
| dhhr | |
The U.S. state of West Virginia reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 17, 2020, becoming the last state in the United States to do so.[2] On April 1, 2020 the state reported its first COVID-19 death.[1]
Timeline
As of March 16, the state had tested 84 suspected cases.[3] West Virginia announced its first case, in Shepherdstown, on March 17, 2020.[4][5][6]
As of March 18, the second case was announced. Also on that date, 148 West Virginians had been tested for the virus.[7]
As of March 20, West Virginia had confirmed 8 cases of COVID-19.[8] On March 22, there were 16 confirmed cases.[1]
A March 22 Washington Post article described efforts to implement social distancing in Grant County.[9]
Government responses
On March 13, Governor Jim Justice announced all schools across the state would close beginning on March 16, 2020 for an indefinite period of time as a proactive measure.[10]
On March 15, the mayor of Charleston, West Virginia, declared a state of emergency.[11]
On March 16, Governor Justice declared a state of emergency.[12]
On March 17, Justice ordered restaurant dining rooms, bars, and casinos to close until March 31.[5]
By March 21, several Mid-Ohio Valley counties had closed their courthouses to the public or limited access.[13]
By March 22, Justice urged West Virginians to stay home as much as possible.[14] Justice was joined by Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president of West Virginia University and executive dean for Health Sciences. Marsh said that New York is being hit by a tsunami wave of coronavirus cases and if West Virginia can stay home as much as possible the next few weeks, the tsunami wave can become more like a stream for West Virginia.[14]
“We are faced with a pandemic by a virus that we have no immune system that responds to, so we can’t fight it ... If we do these things, we’ll continue to be the leaders. We have demonstrated how we too, as a state pulling together, can protect each other and protect our health care workers. Once this window of opportunity is gone, it won’t matter what we do then.”[14]
On March 23, Governor Justice ordered non-essential businesses to be closed immediately, and issued a stay-at-home order effective March 24 at 8 p.m.[15][16]
On March 25, WV Statewide Day of Prayer, a 45-minute service dedicated to the people affected with Coronavirus disease.[17] It was held by Governor Jim Justice and moderator Dr. Dan Anderson.[18]
Federal response
West Virginia will receive $5.6 million of federal money to fight COVID-19.[19]
Impact on sports
On March 12, the National Collegiate Athletic Association cancelled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[20] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.[21]
Statistics
| 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in West Virginia[1]
Updated April 2, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| County | Confirmed Cases |
Deaths |
| Barbour County | 1 | 0 |
| Berkeley County | 37 | 0 |
| Cabell County | 5 | 0 |
| Greenbrier County | 3 | 0 |
| Hancock County | 5 | 0 |
| Hardy County | 2 | 0 |
| Harrison County | 17 | 0 |
| Jackson County | 11 | 0 |
| Jefferson County | 12 | 0 |
| Kanawha County | 40 | 0 |
| Logan County | 4 | 0 |
| Marion County | 11 | 0 |
| Marshall County | 4 | 0 |
| Mason County | 3 | 0 |
| Mercer County | 3 | 0 |
| Mineral County | 2 | 0 |
| Monongalia County | 35 | 0 |
| Morgan County | 1 | 0 |
| Ohio County | 11 | 0 |
| Pendleton County | 1 | 0 |
| Pleasants County | 1 | 0 |
| Preston County | 4 | 0 |
| Putnam County | 5 | 0 |
| Raleigh County | 3 | 0 |
| Randolph County | 2 | 0 |
| Roane County | 2 | 0 |
| Tucker County | 3 | 0 |
| Upshur County | 1 | 0 |
| Wetzel County | 2 | 0 |
| Wirt County | 1 | 0 |
| Wood County | 5 | 0 |
| Total (statewide) | 237 | 2 |
References
- ^ a b c d "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus In West Virginia: State Reports First Positive COVID-19 Case". CBS Pittsburgh. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Wines, Michael; Robertson, Campbell (2020-03-14). "'We've Got a Monster That's Looming': West Virginia Is the Last State Without a Coronavirus Case". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
- ^ "COVID-19 confirmed in West Virginia". WOWK 13 News. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Gov. Jim Justice confirms case of COVID-19 in West Virginia". WSAZ. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ McGuire, Colin (March 18, 2020). "First confirmed WV Coronavirus case in Shepherdstown, wife to get tested". The Journal. Martinsburg, West Virginia. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ WVMetroNews (2020-03-19). "2nd coronavirus case in West Virginia confirmed". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
- ^ WVMetroNews (2020-03-20). "Eighth coronavirus case confirmed; first case recognized in Kanawha County". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- ^ Frankel, Todd (March 22, 2020). "In pro-Trump West Virginia, a fight to convince residents a pandemic is coming". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ Tierney, Brendan (March 13, 2020). "W.Va. Gov. Justice closing state schools indefinitely". WSAZ-TV. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ Mistich, Dave (2020-03-15). "Charleston, W.Va. Declares State Of Emergency As Part Of Coronavirus Response". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
- ^ Falconer, Rebecca. "West Virginia, the only U.S. state with no reported coronavirus cases, declares emergency". Axios. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
- ^ Black, Candice (2020-03-21). "Mid-Ohio Valley counties limiting access to courthouses". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
- ^ a b c Adams, Steven Allen (March 22, 2020). "Justice not ready to close West Virginia as coronavirus cases grow to 12". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
- ^ "WATCH LIVE: WV Gov. Justice announces stay at home order during virtual news briefing on COVID-19". WBOY-TV. March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Gov. Justice orders shutdown of non-essential businesses in West Virginia; first community-transmitted case has been confirmed". West Virginia's News. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "WV Statewide Day of Prayer Service". WVNS. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "Gov. Justice, religious leaders to hold virtual statewide Day of Prayer service tomorrow at noon".
- ^ Senators: West Virginia to receive nearly $5.6 million for COVID-19 response WV News, March 17, 2020
- ^ "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships". NCAA. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "NJCAA cancels spring sports, basketball nationals amid coronavirus outbreak". MLive.com. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
External links
- Information from the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources
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