Gov. Jim Justice says West Virginia is moving from a “stay-at-home” order to a “safer-at-home” order.
“The order strongly encourages all West Virginia to remain at home but no longer orders them to stay at home,” Justice said during a Thursday afternoon news conference.
Justice said the order will go into effect Monday, although it became available today.
“It is safer at home or your residence especially for elderly or vulnerable populations,” the order states.
The governor issued a stay-at-home order more than a month ago, March 24. That order did not have an expiration date but, instead, said it would remain in effect until terminated by another order.
Aside from the general guidance to stay home if possible, the governor’s social media accounts tweeted out some aspects of the new safer at home guidance.
Much of it replicates aspects of the “West Virginia Strong” phased reopening that Justice announced at the start of this week.
I am issuing a Safer at Home executive order to continue to protect West Virginians from #COVID19. It goes into effect at 12 a.m. on Monday, May 4. More information on this Order will be released later today. #SaferAtHomeWV
Read more below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XnWKClIaI3
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) April 30, 2020
Although Justice wants to see more economic activity, he cautioned West Virginians to be careful.
“This disease is here today, and we’ve got to learn to live with it until we get a medicine that will take it out of our lives,” he said. “As we move forward, know that it’s still here.”
Several other states have also moved recently from “stay-at-home” orders to “safer-at-home” guidance.
One issued this week in Colorado, for example, says “Coloradans are no longer ordered to stay home, but are strongly advised to stay at home. ”
Another issued in Alabama says “all individuals — and especially vulnerable persons — are encouraged to exercise personal
responsibility in slowing the spread of covid-19.”
West Virginia had told all residents who could stay home to stay home. A large number of businesses were still considered essential and allowed to operate with restrictions.
Starting now, the Justice administration is loosening that up, starting with the resumption of elective surgeries. Hospitals and other medical providers have been preparing.
Day cares are also part of the first week of reopenings, although the first step is ramping up testing of staff. West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources has put out initial guidance for child care providers.
The second week, starting Monday, includes outdoor dining for restaurants, reopening opportunities for small businesses of 10 employees or fewer and the resumption of worship services with guidance to practice social distancing.
Justice said more reopenings will be announced every Monday.
Democrats in West Virginia’s House of Delegates today sent the governor asking a series of questions about the reopening plan.
“While we agree that the state needs to be re-opened at some point, many of us have received concerns from our (and your) constituents about how this will be safely accomplished,” wrote the 30 delegates, including House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Harrison.
Questions included:
- Will the state plan be adjusted for regional hotspots (such as the Eastern Panhandle, North Central West Virginia, the Kanawha Valley, etc.)? The rate of infection is higher (and thus more dangerous) in certain areas than others. Are you planning on taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach for each of the 55 counties?
- What discretion, if any, are you giving to local Health Departments and County Commissions to address ‘hot spot’ areas so that the citizens in those areas can remain safe?
Letter From Legislators in Response to Plan to Re Open (Text)
Justice said more guidance will be available for areas considered hotspots this Friday, and he acknowledged people have questions about how different areas of the state could be affected by the reopening process.
“I can promise you just this, that our people are watching your individual counties every single day,” he said.
Kanawha-Charleston Health Director Sherri Young, speaking today on 580 Live on WCHS Radio, said tracking of positive cases in the county versus total testing has been coming in below 3 percent.
That’s the standard Justice set for the entire state to meet as a cumulative average for reopening to begin.
“We’re well below that 3 percent,” Young said.
But she said more communication needs to occur so people know what to expect of reopening.
“I think there’s a lot of confusion about what opening up the state would look like and what we expect people to do,” she said.
“While I think people expect to get back to normal, this normal will be a new normal We have a lot at stake her and if we get back and try to do too much normal too soon, it’s going to be back with a vengeance.”
West Virginia’s coronavirus response coordinator, Clay Marsh, agreed that life won’t go back to normal any time soon.
Speaking today on MetroNews’ “Talkline,” Marsh continued to advise caution.
“I think the virus, the pandemic, has not really appreciably changed,” Marsh said. “The virus is still there and we’re still the most susceptible state in the country.”
“We should still look at this as a real issue that we have the ability to control. If you can stay home, stay home. If you can work from home, work from home.”
Marsh advised continued behaviors such as washing hands, wearing masks or continuing to stay home if possible.
“The success or the failure is 100 percent related to our citizens,” he said.
COVID-19 Czar Dr. .@claymarsh talks with @HoppyKercheval about updates on the pandemic and looking at the Governor’s potential new angle to staying at home. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/sAyqOXfAWU
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) April 30, 2020