CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice says West Virginia doesn’t need to issue a broad closure of businesses the way other states have been doing, but he acknowledged state officials have been considering what businesses would need to stay open and which could be ordered shut as a coronavirus precaution.
“We are preparing the list nonstop to the businesses we feel are essential. Let’s just hope and pray that we don’t get to that. Let’s just hope and pray that we’re not going to have to get to that,” Justice said Friday afternoon in response to a MetroNews question.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday ordered the closure of all non-life sustaining businesses. The order was accompanied by a list.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued a stay-at-home order to cover the entire state.
Illinois was poised to join them.
Justice took note of those actions during a Friday afternoon “virtual press conference” at the Capitol but said he doesn’t think such steps are necessary in West Virginia.
Justice has shut down schools, restaurants, bars, casinos, barber shops and salons. And he has urged businesses to let everyone work from home who possibly can. Each day he has also emphasized social distancing precautions such as staying at home and regular hand washing.
“I’m sure you’re watching on your TVs and everything what New York State is doing and California is doing and everything, where they’re shutting down everything, where they’re making everybody stay in their houses and their homes and everything,” he said.
“We have not done that here because — and we hope and pray we’re right about this — because were ahead of the curve. We did come out with precautionary things. We did come out proactively. And you have done very, very well in supporting in us all joining together.”
Justice did take issue with Pennsylvania’s decision to list coal mines as non-life supporting.
“To say that coal is nonessential, you just have to be way out there in my book,” said Justice, whose family owns mines:
Justice did order additional shutdowns on Friday.
He closed lodges at state parks, saying they are filled with a high number of visitors from out of state.
Update for our guests and visitors regarding COVID-19 – @WVGovernor announced the closure of WV state park lodges. Cabins, campgrounds and day-use areas remain open for public use. Read more: https://t.co/ObZwDDREma pic.twitter.com/ciAgQrgdGO
— WV State Parks (@WVStateParks) March 20, 2020
And he closed the Hatfield McCoy trails for all-terrain vehicles.
MORE: Governor Justice adamant trout stocking will go on amid virus outbreak
Justice said the State Tax Department has been working on the possibility of extending income tax deadlines, as was announced by the IRS on Friday. But the agency isn’t ready with a definitive plan yet, Justice indicated.
State officials announced two more coronavirus confirmations on Friday, bringing the total number two seven. Those include 2 in Jefferson County, 2 in Tucker County, one in Monongalia County, one in Mercer County and one in Jackson County.
Charleston Area Medical Center later confirmed another conformation.
CAMC now has its first COVID-19 positive patient. This patient was identified early on as a possible COVID-19 case and has been properly isolated since entry into CAMC. pic.twitter.com/1cgCVBscNu
— CAMC Health System (@CAMCHealth) March 20, 2020
Justice urged West Virginians to continue to be cautious, to wash hands often and to continue staying apart through this weekend and beyond.
“You’ve got to realize we are an elderly state, and we are a high risk state,” he said. “If we don’t stay apart, it’s going to end bad and we are absolutely going to have a lot of people die.”
He also urged West Virginians to give blood, citing cancellations of blood drives during the current virus concerns.
“My last comment: Give blood,” he said at the conclusion of Friday’s press conference. “Give blood and everything. We need it bad.”