During a briefing today, Gov. Jim Justice acknowledged the covid-related deaths of 15 West Virginians in the past two days.
That’s one of the largest numbers of deaths Justice has read since starting these briefings, and 451 state residents have are now listed as dead from covid-related causes.
“This is bad all across our country. It is absolutely time for more and more concern to be more cautious,” Justice said.
His remarks came as the United States hit a new, single-day record of 88,000 positive cases.
West Virginia registered 524 new cases over the past 24 hours. Justice acknowledged that number is large, but attributed it to increased testing.
West Virginia’s percent positive was 3.77.
Justice again urged more and more people to be tested, saying that’s the way to identify people with the virus. Once they’re identified, he said, they can be encouraged to isolate and avoid spreading covid.
“If we do not find these people, what kind of mess will we be in then? We will have Groundhog Day forever more,” he said.
Of the 500 new positive tests, Justice estimated 400 could be people who were unaware they were actually sick.
He said if “we’re able to ensure that we stopped their spread, what’s that mean? What it means really is we’re going to save somebody’s life.”
Over the course of the pandemic, West Virginia says 767,500 laboratory tests have been confirmed.
The state is reporting 240 hospitalizations because of covid, setting a record almost every day as numbers climb. The state is reporting 75 cases that require treatment in intensive care units, and 27 cases that require ventilators.
State officials have acknowledged those numbers are rising but say West Virginia is not reaching hospital bed capacity yet.
West Virginia coronavirus response coordinator Clay Marsh also advised more participation in testing.
“We need to answer the call together. Because if we don’t, I am very concerned that dark days are coming,” he said.
Justice concluded the briefing by exhorting, “Go get tested, go get tested, go get tested.”