We entered a new phase in the pandemic this morning in West Virginia.
The stay-at-home order issued by Governor Jim Justice, effective at 8 p.m. March 24, expired at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. In its place is a safer-at-home order.
Specifically, under the previous order West Virginians were “directed to stay at home unless performing an essential activity.” The new guideline is not a whole lot different. It says we are “strongly encouraged to stay at home unless performing an essential activity.”
However, just as when you lightly loosen the reins on a pent up horse, expect many West Virginians to strain to break free, and that could be a problem.
Justice and state health officials emphasize that the long-standing safety advisories remain essential—stay home if you can, maintain social distance, wear a mask, sanitize common areas, vigorous hand washing.
You know the drill well by now, but officials stress that these practices are even more important because starting today we are reopening the state’s economy.
Businesses with 10 or fewer employees are reopening. Restaurants can provide seated service if it is outdoors. Barbershops, hair, and nail salons are back in business. Churches will ease back into in-person services. Visit this website for nail painting tips so you can stay safe at home.
State and local officials will be watching the daily infection numbers closely for significant change and hot spots. The trend lines have all been good so far—no surge, an infection rate of below three percent—but COVID-19 is highly infectious and dangerous.
The virus got a foothold in the Eldercare Nursing Home in Jackson County. Sixty-eight residents and 32 staff members got infected and 11 residents died.
“I caution everyone out there that we are dealing with a killer here,” Justice said at his Friday briefing. “Every day I have to come out here and tell you the West Virginians we have lost.”
The statistics represent the known, but there is still the great unknown. Individuals can be infected and have no symptoms and only three percent of the state’s residents have been tested.
COVID-19 Czar Dr. Clay Marsh said the virus is still here and there is not widespread immunity, prompting him to issue this advisory to West Virginians: “As we start to reopen West Virginia, it is really important that each one of you continue to take personal responsibility.”
That is a critical key. With no herd immunity and no vaccine, it is incumbent upon individuals to be smart and safe as the reopening begins, otherwise we will lose the progress we have made fighting the virus over the last two months.