COVID-19 replace: Gov. Justice launches Booster Battlefield assessment: first statewide program in US to measure antibody ranges among vaccinated – Governor Jim Justice

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Voluntary software amongst proactive efforts as Delta variant spreads; State also to consider PPE elements, medical institution staffing and bed degrees, and more

CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response management group held another news briefing nowadays to replace the public on the State's latest pandemic response efforts. BOOSTER BATTLEFIELD evaluation: FIRST STATEWIDE ANTIBODY trying out software in the country amongst NEW EFFORTS UNDERWAY AS DELTA VARIANT CONTINUES TO SPREADDuring Thursday's briefing, Gov. Justice introduced that the State of West Virginia is launching the first statewide software in the country to check and measure antibody levels amongst vaccinated people.

This new "Booster Battlefield evaluation" software is amongst a couple of further proactive efforts that are actually underway because the number of Delta variant instances across the state continues to climb sharply.

"In West Virginia, we now have 100 Delta variant instances," Gov. Justice mentioned. "This variant is distinct. it is plenty, a great deal extra contagious."

The latest statewide case count number of a hundred is a 132.6% enhance in Delta variant instances given that the Governor's outdated COVID-19 briefing two days in the past.

To view COVID-19 variant facts:

Go to the WV COVID-19 Dashboard at Coronavirus.wv.gov

make certain the "Overview" tab is selected

click yellow field analyzing: "click here to view variant statistics"

"In my belly, I trust and that i believe that the enemy is coming. And that enemy is this Delta variant," Gov. Justice mentioned. "We've got to do whatever thing, and we've got to do some thing actually quickly."

The Governor went on to announce a couple of action steps that could be taken automatically. 

Booster Battlefield assessment:

The Booster Battlefield evaluation program can be a chance for West Virginia's long-time period care facility residents and different West Virginians ages 60 and above who were vaccinated more than six months in the past to volunteer to have their blood drawn and have their antibody stages measured.

"with a purpose to allow us to profit statistics on antibodies and the way included you really are," Gov. Justice referred to. 

State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh, who attended Thursday's briefing in-adult, mentioned that early reviews have indicated that there may well be a "significant discount" in the volume of antibodies latest in individuals six months after being vaccinated.

"we are involved that americans who are older, who're extra prone – together with our nursing domestic population, our lengthy-time period care facilities, and all americans who're over 60 years historic – who have been vaccinated back in December and January after we first noticed the vaccines, that they can be seeing their immune protection start to move down," Dr. Marsh spoke of. "With this Booster Battlefield evaluation application, we think that we will acquire very positive counsel that we can share with the CDC and the FDA – optimistically working hand in glove with the vaccine manufacturers – to be in a position to show real-world data within the U.S. that we may be able to use to improvement our inhabitants; to protect them from getting ailing and demise."

If a participant's antibody stages are found to be low, these people can also then qualify to receive one more booster of the vaccine, should still such booster photographs turn into accessible.

The Booster Battlefield assessment program is the primary statewide antibody testing application within the country.

"West Virginia has always been on the forefront with our response to COVID," Gov. Justice talked about. "i'm very hopeful that, with this software, West Virginia will paved the way for the nation yet again."

Fortifying materials and substances:The Governor additionally announced that he has directed West Virginia's Joint Interagency task force (JIATF) on COVID-19 to evaluate PPE provide stages across the state.

The JIATF has additionally been directed to consider health center staffing and mattress availability, lengthy-term care facility staffing and preventative measures, and monoclonal antibody treatment ranges statewide.

"We're relocating proactive and should be doing a foundational emergency planning application," Gov. Justice talked about. "We should be capable as a result of this Delta variant is here. we've 100 instances now and we comprehend greater can be coming within the days forward. I've been recommended by using true medical specialists that, over the next few weeks, this component goes to get drastically worse."

"The Governor's basic objectives are to cut back the loss of life among West Virginians and to keep the integrity of our clinic device," JIATF Director Jim Hoyer observed all through his remarks Thursday. "What the Governor has directed us to do is to provide him, because the commander of our response, a higher center of attention on what's out in front of us and what we should do to retain the level of effort to achieve these two ambitions that we need to get to."

increasing Briefing time table:The Governor also introduced that, as a way to continue conserving the public correctly recommended about traits in regard to the State's response to the Delta variant, that he can be expanding the frequency of his COVID-19 news briefings to 3 per week.

"I need to goodness we could be saying that we could be altering our briefings to someday per week or doing away with the briefings altogether. however we need to be right here," Gov. Justice pointed out. "We deserve to be forward of the curve. West Virginia has at all times been ahead of the curve."

COVID-19 records attainable AT CORONAVIRUS.WV.GOVAlso on Thursday, Gov. Justice stated that West Virginia's COVID-19 numbers continue to raise throughout the board.

the overall number of energetic COVID-19 circumstances in West Virginia has now reached 1,910; a 116.6% increase from the number of lively instances lower than three weeks ago.

The Governor went on to observe that Webster County has become the state's first red county on the County Alert Map equipment in several weeks.

The map additionally now facets seven Gold counties and 21 Yellow counties, which means that more than half of the counties across the state are now above the eco-friendly category.

There are at present 10 active outbreaks associated with church buildings right through West Virginia. These church buildings can be found in Braxton, Cabell, Fayette, Jackson, Jefferson, Marion, McDowell, Nicholas, and Putnam counties. moreover, there are currently five active outbreaks in lengthy-time period care facilities throughout the state. each of these numbers are up from the Governor's previous briefing on Tuesday.

in the meantime, there is at the moment one active inmate case and one lively personnel case across the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation equipment. To view the latest DCR case update, click here.

For greater advice about West Virginia's newest COVID-19-linked information, talk over with the West Virginia COVID-19 Dashboard at Coronavirus.wv.gov.

The dashboard provides an in depth breakdown of case numbers, vaccination facts, and greater; together with the colour-coded County Alert Map system, hospitalization facts, and a number of further aspects.

The dashboard is up-to-date Monday-Friday at 10 a.m.

VACCINE tips AND RESOURCESFree COVID-19 vaccinations are available to all West Virginians ages 12 and older.

All West Virginians interested in being vaccinated are urged to seek advice from Vaccinate.wv.gov or call the West Virginia Vaccine data Line: 1-833-734-0965. The data line is open Monday-Friday from eight a.m. to six p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All West Virginians who've bought one dose of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should remember to get their 2d dose as smartly to be certain highest insurance policy towards COVID-19.

apart from hospital locations, vaccinations proceed to be made attainable at Walgreens locations, the Med Shoppe/chief community of pharmacies, Walmart locations, and extra unbiased pharmacies during the state as part of the federal pharmacy partnership in West Virginia.

West Virginians can visit Vaccines.gov for information in finding and securing an appointment at one of those federal pharmacy companions.

DO IT FOR BABYDOG: GOVERNOR INTRODUCES latest PRIZE WINNERS FROM sixth circular OF GIVEAWAYSAlso, Gov. Justice recapped his experience throughout the state on Wednesday to surprise the winners of the three largest prizes given away within the sixth circular of the "Do it or Babydog: shop a existence, alternate your life" Vaccination Sweepstakes.

Ronceverte resident and former healthcare worker Wanda Coleman's life became changed always when she got a surprise discuss with from the Governor, First girl, and Babydog, who introduced that her identify had been drawn as the newest million-dollar prize winner of the sweepstakes.

The Governor and Babydog additionally surprised Ellen Taylor – a surgical crew member at CAMC Memorial medical institution in Charleston (under left) – and surprised Michael Quinn from the group of Hacker Valley in Webster County (under right), presenting every of them with a company-new custom-built truck. a complete of 50 West Virginians had been introduced as prize winners Wednesday. extra prizes blanketed two full 4-year scholarships to any public institution in the state, five lifetime hunting licenses, 5 lifetime fishing licenses, 5 customized looking rifles, 5 customized hunting shotguns, and 25 weekend getaways to West Virginia State Parks. throughout Thursday's briefing, the Governor was joined by way of John Fox from Martinsburg; one of this week's two school scholarship prize winners through the sweepstakes. "thank you for getting vaccinated, John. I'm in fact pleased with you. inform all your peers they should get vaccinated too," Gov. Justice mentioned. "You simply go on and do greatness together with your life. You've got a true opportunity – a full, four-year scholarship – so take potential of it."

The Governor additionally provided his congratulations to this week's different faculty scholarship prize winner; Keelin Howes of Buckhannon.

Vaccinated West Virginians only have another possibility to win in the "Do it for Babydog: retailer a existence, exchange your lifestyles" Vaccination Sweepstakes.

All West Virginians who've had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can register at DoitforBabydog.wv.gov for a chance to join the listing of winners. Over 370,000 West Virginians have registered for the sweepstakes thus far. as a result of the Governor including an additional briefing to subsequent week's schedule, online registration to be eligible to win within the final prize drawing should be extended one additional day.

Registration will stay open until Monday, August 2, at 11:fifty nine p.m. EDT.

The final prize drawing of the vaccination sweepstakes will also pushed lower back at some point to subsequent Thursday, August 5.

The ultimate drawing will encompass two cash prizes – a grand prize of $1.588 million and a 2d prize of $588,000 – besides the entire regular non-money prizes given away weekly.

COVID-19 testing still accessible throughout STATEAlso on Thursday, Gov. Justice provided an outline of the 50 counties across the state that at the moment have free COVID-19 checking out sites purchasable throughout the Governor's Aggressive checking out initiative. checking out is accessible to all residents, including asymptomatic people. Proof of assurance is not required. Attendees should convey identification, such as a driver's license or proof of tackle, to aid in returning examine effects. these beneath the age of 18 need to be accompanied by using a father or mother or prison guardian.

An interactive on-line map of all free trying out places throughout West Virginia is available on-line. users can filter the map by using type of trying out web site or through county. each location is marked on the map with a pin. After discovering a trying out place regional, users are capable of click on on the pin for extra assistance about that certain checking out site, together with the selected place and timeframe all through which testing can be held.

click on here to view all places, dates, times, and more particulars

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTOnce once more these days, Gov. Justice entreated any at-chance West Virginians who look at various fine for COVID-19 – specifically these a long time sixty five and older – to ask their medical professional if they qualify for monoclonal antibody medication.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system's potential to fight off viruses.

This category of medication for COVID-19 handiest works if sufferers acquire it within a couple of days of checking out advantageous.

DONATE BLOOD AND PLASMAGov. Justice also encouraged all West Virginians to agree with donating blood and plasma throughout the American pink go.

those utterly recovered from a tested COVID-19 analysis may additionally have plasma in their blood containing COVID-19 antibodies that may assault the virus. This plasma can be capable of be used as a medication for currently sick COVID-19 sufferers.

For extra tips, talk over with redcross.org or call the local American red cross places of work at 304-340-3650.

WEST VIRGINIA NAMED NATION'S tenth-most excellent area TO DO BUSINESSAdditionally Thursday, Gov. Justice took trip of his remarks on COVID-19 to announce that business facilities magazine, which is a supply for corporate web page selectors, ranked West Virginia because the 10th-premiere enterprise local weather in the nation; marking the first time ever that West Virginia has earned a good-10 spot in the magazine's enterprise climate rankings.

"They stated the drivers behind this ranking, essentially, have been Hyperloop on the style and all the brilliant stuff we're doing in north vital West Virginia," Gov. Justice said. "Congratulations to all West Virginians and because of this fantastic magazine."

GOVERNOR pronounces NEW VETERANS advice SECRETARYAlso on Thursday, Gov. Justice took time to announce that he has appointed Edward A. "Ted" Diaz as cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia branch of Veterans suggestions (WVDVA).

Born and raised in Huntington, WV, Diaz has spent the previous 10 years working at the u.s. department of Veterans Affairs, most currently serving on the team of workers of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs at the VA relevant workplace in Washington, DC.

Diaz logged 20 years of active-obligation carrier in the united states Navy earlier than his retirement in 2007. He earned a lot of awards and commendations, including the Navy & Marine Corps Medal for Heroism for his movements in guide of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, all through the 1996 Civil conflict.

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Diaz will step in for former WVDVA Secretary Dennis Davis, who passed away unexpectedly in January.

"We omit Dennis Davis so a whole lot," Gov. Justice said. "I can not let you know sufficient what an outstanding man he become and what a pretty good job he did.

"We mourn dropping Dennis Davis," Gov. Justice endured. "but we're going to raise Dennis' torch and continue to run forward."

income TAX holiday starts AT MIDNIGHTAdditionally, Gov. Justice took time to offer a reminder to all West Virginians that the statewide returned-to-college revenue Tax holiday will start in the dead of night.

all through the holiday, certain back-to-faculty objects are exempt from revenue tax, reminiscent of garb, college supplies, school academic materials, laptops and drugs, and activities equipment.

The income Tax break will begin in the dead of night on Friday, July 30, and should proceed through Monday, Aug. 2, at eleven:59 p.m.

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additional informationclick right here to view all govt Orders and different moves taken by Gov. Justice to combat the unfold of COVID-19 in West Virginia.

For greater information about COVID-19 prevention and more, name the State's toll-free hotline at 1-800-887-4304 or seek advice from Coronavirus.wv.gov.