CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Some state workers, members of the West Virginia National Guard and county health department employees are taking time off during this Christmas holiday weekend.
State Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch said it’s well-deserved.
“We have a lot of folks in DHHR and in the Guard who have small children and who have been instrumental in keeping things going. We want to make sure that they relax some and have some time off with their family during these holidays,” Crouch said.
Many of the workers have been at it since mid-March when the pandemic first arrived in the Mountain State.
Gov. Jim Justice praised the workers during his Christmas Day briefing.
“There are people that are out there right now and they are really battling. They are battling hard for all of us,” Justice said. “These would be first responders, healthcare workers, long-term care workers, the National Guard, utility workers, the DOT workers who are plowing the snow, the convenience store workers, and all the other essential workers…we care and we absolutely appreciate you. You’ve got people out there that are battling the elements, that are trying to get vaccines in people’s arms.”
Justice said the state has not stopped its battle against the virus.
“We can’t have people work 20 hours a day forever, there’s no way,” Justice recently said. “But we can find a way to assist where they can take some time with their family and some way some how we can back that up some way and not miss a beat.”
Justice said the virus doesn’t take a day off and neither can the state with its response.
“I’m never going to ask you West Virginia to say we’re working real hard here but we’re going to lay down for a bit because we have to,” Justice said.
Justice said everyone is tired.
“We all know that they surely deserve and we want them to spend time with their families but at the same time I know, you may think this is hard-nosed, but I know that people are dying,” Justice said.