COVID-19 UPDATE: With solid-red map and hospitalizations surging, Gov. Justice urges more vaccinations to stop the terrible carnage – Governor Jim…

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 onthe States latest pandemic response efforts. GOV. JUSTICE CONTINUES PLEADING FOR MORE WEST VIRGINIANS TO GET VACCINATEDWith the number of COVID-related hospitalizations and ICU patients in West Virginia at their highest points since the pandemics biggest wave in January and still climbing Gov. Justice continued pleading for more West Virginians to get vaccinated.

Weve got to someway realize that weve got to get vaccinated for all not just for you, but for everybody weve got to do this, Gov. Justice said. We can stop a lot of this terrible, terrible carnage.

Of the patients currently hospitalized, 112 are on ventilators; a new record high for the entire pandemic. A total of 216 patients are in the ICU; the highest such mark in eight months and just three away from the all-time record high in this category as well.

COVID-19 Dashboard | Coronavirus.wv.gov

The total number of active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia has now surpassed 20,000 for the first time since Feb. 1. The active case count of 21,500 is an increase of more than 2,000 new cases since Friday last week.Meanwhile, the County Alert System map now shows that 53 of the states 55 counties are either in the Red or Orange categories. A total of 41 counties are currently Red and 12 are Orange.

The only way were going to get through this with an outcome that is halfway good is weve got to get more and more people vaccinated, Gov. Justice continued. Thats the only ticket weve got. I wish to goodness I could tell you something else. But the bottom line is were going to have a bunch more people die if we don't kick it in gear like nobodys business.

All West Virginians interested in being vaccinated are encouraged to visitVaccinate.wv.govor call theWest Virginia Vaccine Info Line: 1-833-734-0965. The info line is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The programwill provide a $150 voucher for back-to-school supplies to all vaccinated grandfamilies in West Virginia; families where grandparents are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren.

To qualify, all vaccine-eligible members of the grandfamily including grandparents and grandchildren ages 12 and older must have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The family must also be enrolled in West Virginia State Universitys Healthy Grandfamilies program.

Healthy Grandfamilies which provides information and resources to grandparents who are raising one or more grandchildren will assist in the administration of the school voucher incentive. According to the organization, about 19,000 West Virginia children live in households with a grandparent or grandparents as their primary caregiver.

For more information, visithealthygrandfamilies.com.

All West Virginians who have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can register atDoitforBabydog.wv.govfor an opportunity to join the list of winners.Over 173,000 West Virginians have already registered for Round 2 of the sweepstakes.

*Those who previously registered for Round 1 of the vaccination sweepstakes are required to register again to be eligible for Round 2*

Additional weekly prizes for vaccinated West Virginians ages 18+ include:

While the registration deadline to be eligible for this week's giveaway has passed, vaccinated West Virginiansare still able to register for future drawings.

Prize drawings will be held weekly, with winners being announced each Thursday through Oct. 7.

Click to view:COVID-19 Outbreaks in State Public Schools (WVDE)

There are fouractive outbreaks associated with churches throughout West Virginia. The churches are located inBarbour, Doddridge, Monroe, and Wayne counties.

Additionally, there are now 58active outbreaks in long-term care facilities across the state.

Meanwhile, there are now 88active inmate cases and 57 active staff cases across the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation system. To view the latest DCR case update, click here.

On this wonderful holiday, we recognize the labor and the strength that has built this nation. But this year, we especially need to recognize the labor of all those who have run to the fire to protect us all through this terrible pandemic, Gov. Justice said. Whether they were our first responders, our health departments and our hospitals, or even our grocery workers and others who stayed open through the pandemic, knowing that every day, when they climbed out of bed and strapped on their boots, they were running right to the fire for all of us.

I was able to do the coin toss, Gov. Justice said. Bluefield State is on the move. It was a good day. Im really proud of that school and their contributions to southern West Virginia. Keep up the great work.

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COVID-19 UPDATE: With solid-red map and hospitalizations surging, Gov. Justice urges more vaccinations to stop the terrible carnage - Governor Jim...