COVID-19 UPDATE: Over 6,400 West Virginians have received their first vaccine dose within the past month – Governor Jim Justice

CHARLESTON, WV 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 states latest pandemic response and vaccine distribution efforts. OVER 6,400 WEST VIRGINIANS GET FIRST DOSE WITHIN PAST MONTHDuring Fridays briefing, Gov. Justice and West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force on Director Jim Hoyer announced that 6,481 West Virginians opted to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine just within the past month.

These people took time to get educated on the value of the vaccine and they went out and got it, Hoyer said. Its a big reason why the Governor continues to press his efforts to educate people.

Its never too late to make a decision that could save your life, Gov. Justice said. Out of these thousands of people, who knows how many lives we might save. It could be one. It could be 60. But what we do know is that every life is worth saving.

Second booster shots have now been authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDCfor 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 states newCOVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculatorhas been updated to determine whether people are eligible for a second booster dose.

Read more about vaccines at Vaccinate.wv.govand atCDC.gov.

COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov

An updatedbreakdown of the West Virginia County Alert Map is as follows:Red (0)|Orange (0)|Gold (0)|Yellow (7)|Green (48)

The main threat will be possible isolated flash flooding due to heavy downpours or steady rain, with storms forecast for much of the state today and throughout the weekend.

The Governors declaration directs the State Emergency Operations Center and its partner agencies to prepare to respond ahead of this significant rainfall event, posturing personnel and resources to mobilize a response to any emergency that may develop.

We expect there to be the possibility of flooding in some areas, so I urge everyone to be really, really careful, Gov. Justice said.

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In January, Gov. Justice announced that Nucor would be investing $2.7 billion into this state-of-the-art sheet steel mill making it the largest in West Virginia history, as well as the largest single investment Nucor has ever made.

This incredible facility is going to bring an unbelievable amount of jobs and goodness to our state, so Im excited that we were able to get this process done quickly, Gov. Justice said. We dont have to be like every other state in the country where it takes forever and a day to get anything done. We get stuff done in West Virginia and we do it right.

I thank all those at Nucor for working with our DEP, and I thank our DEP for working diligently and thoroughly to get this done.

The interchange would serve the new Morgantown Industrial Park and other businesses and homes in the Harmony Grove area of Monongalia County, just south of Westover.

I really believe we can get this done. It will only make things better, Gov. Justice said. We know that Morgantown is growing like crazy and it is the perfect area for us to build more and more opportunities, so Im fully supportive of this project.

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Veloxint expects to create 200-300 new jobs over the next four years at its new location. Positions will include research engineers, laboratory technicians, metallurgists, and machinists.

This company is doing so many high-tech things, its off the chart, and its all happening in West Virginia, Gov. Justice said. It sounds like a Silicon Valley project, but its happening in West Virginia, because companies like Veloxint are seeing how business friendly we are and how we are the diamond in the rough that everybody missed.

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West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WVUP) and Chemours developed the new incumbent worker training program to provide associate degrees for hourly employees at the Wood County site of Chemours. The initiative will provide the opportunity for workers to earn a degree in four industry-driven areas: Production Technician, Area Maintenance Technician, Electrical and Instrumentation Maintenance Technician, and Lab Technician.

The program curriculum is inclusive of and responsive to employer-identified needs and real-life workplace scenarios. Program participants will complete courses each semester while working full-time. Participants will receive a pay increase upon successfully completing the program.

I thank companies like Chemours who are willing to step up and do more goodness for the communities where they operate, Gov. Justice said. This program is going to make their workers better-trained. Its a great partnership for all involved.

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Upgrades at Pipestem include nearly $4.4 million in renovations to the parks two lodges, cabin upgrades, and more than $3.6 million in infrastructure improvements to the parks tram, wastewater treatment plant, and campground waterline.

The updates are truly spectacular, Gov. Justice said. Some of the views from the rooms in the renovated lodge are beyond all comparison.

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These upgrades represent a small portion of $151 million in improvement projects that have been completed or started at every state park and forest in West Virginia since Gov. Justice took office.

Weve invested in our parks and weve already gotten a return on our investment multiple times over because our parks are slammed with people that want to see what West Virginia has to offer,, Gov. Justice said. And not only that, but many of those people are spending their dollars here or even deciding to move here. The ripple effects are off the charts because we are changing our image.

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COVID-19 UPDATE: Over 6,400 West Virginians have received their first vaccine dose within the past month - Governor Jim Justice