CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice led off a daily update today by dropping news that he has been tested for coronavirus and the results came back negative.
That happened, he said, because while awarding grants last month in the Eastern Panhandle, he came into contact with the man who this week wound up being West Virginia’s first confirmed coronavirus patient.
So much time had passed, the governor said, he was unlikely to have been affected by the handshake and hug.
But as a precaution the governor said he was presented today with test kit supplies including a swab. He said some of the state’s medical leaders told him, “You’ve got to be tested and you’ve got to be tested now.”
He said his test was processed within a few hours because he just happened to be at the tail end of a batch that was going out for processing.
So he waited out a brief quarantine at the Governor’s Mansion, he said.
“I went over to the mansion and hung out and just waited,” he said. “Three or four hours they came back with the result and it was negative.”
Justice said the hug and handshake took place at a grant ceremony Feb. 15.
West Virginia’s first coronavirus case was confirmed this Tuesday.
Jefferson County resident Carolyn Vigil has said her husband, patient James Vigil, first started experiencing symptoms March 12, a Thursday. The Vigils believe he contracted the virus during a trip to Washington, D.C., the prior weekend.
So that was significantly after Justice came into contact with the Vigils.
The governor said he became aware of the connection within the past couple of days.
The night the first case was announced, Justice made a formal address to the state and then did not appear at a media availability that followed.
The next day, during a regular press conference, Justice excused himself after his opening remarks and went out a side door, saying he needed to call President Trump right away to push for coronavirus preparation supplies from the federal government.
Today’s press conference was held virtually, with West Virginia reporters calling in to ask questions.
Although Justice led the session with the news about his test, several questions were asked before the topic arose again. The query came from Steven Allen Adams of the Ogden Newspapers chain.
“I ask because we all had contact with you, briefly, yesterday,” Adams said.
Justice responded, jokingly, “I thought surely to goodness someone will ask, but maybe you’d rather see me quarantined for 14 days.”
He said the situation was strange.
“From my standpoint today, I wake into a situation that’s hard for me to believe, to tell you the truth,” he said.
“But it’s testimony that I’m everywhere. We have two positive tests in this state, and I’m with one of them.”
Barbershops and beauty shops shut down
Justice also announced a shutdown at midnight of barbershops and beauty salons.
“We had many, many requests from the standpoint of our barbers, saying we don’t feel comfortable being that close to customers,” he said.
“So today I am asking that all the barbershops, nail salons and hair dressing facilities we have shut down.”
He concluded, “11:59 tonight, we’re done.”