| West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s virtual COVID-19 briefing Monday morning, was delayed by roughly 30 minutes due to an anti-mask protest outside the State Capitol.
Protests continue against mask wearing, sports interference and the closure of schools and other facilities.
“This situation is really critical,” Justice said.
More record highs have been set with COVID-19 hospitalizations(597), with 162 of those in ICUs, Justice reported. “How many of those are going to die?,” the governor asked.
There are currently 91 outbreaks at nursing homes across West Virginia, including nine new outbreaks since Thanksgiving, state health officials said.
WVU Medicine Medicine President and CEO Albert Wright let Justice know that he is “genuinely concerned” that hospitals in the state could be overrun by COVID-19 patients.
Gov. Justice also detailed increases in positive cases at state correctional facilities, including 22 at the Pruntytown Correctional Center in Taylor County.
Justice and state officials are looking “really, really hard” at finding more stringent pinpointed efforts to slow the coronavirus spread.
“For crying out loud, if you can’t heed these warnings then you’re not listening to even those who are crying from the grave. 735 West Virginians(WV’s COVID-19 death total) are crying out to please try to protect yourself and please stop this thing as fast as we possibly can,” Justice continued.
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