W.Va. to begin reopening state’s economy in phases

[Right_in_Virginia]

W.Va. to begin reopening state’s economy in phases
OAN, Apr 28, 2020

The governor of West Virginia unveiled his proposal to begin reopening some sectors of the state’s economy. In a news release Monday, Gov. Jim Justice (R) announced he would be implementing a six-week timeline to reopen the state in phases.

Phase one calls for health centers and hospitals to resume elective procedures as early as April 30. In order to qualify, hospitals must have an adequate stockpile of personal protective equipment.

Phase two will allow small businesses that either have 10 employees or less, or provide professional services such as hair salons, to open one week later.

Gov. Justice said after two weeks, other sectors of the state will be available to reopen based on a schedule approved by health experts amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“I think its a great plan…we’re going to monitor, we’re gonna watch and we’re gonna take small steps,” he stated. “As we take small steps, we’ll see where we are and if we’ve got to stop, or slow, or back up — that’s what we’ll do.”

https://www.oann.com/w-va-to-begin-reopening-states-economy-in-phases/

[mountaineer]

I never thought Jim "Gov. Cowpie" Justice would turn out to be the best governor in the US ( ) but his handling of the dempanic has been pretty good. Compare and contrast our neighbor, Pennsylvania:

Editorial: Wolf needs consistent message
Tribune-Review | Saturday, May 2, 2020 5:56 p.m.

...  But yet again, a move that is rational is complicated by the state’s garbled messaging.

On April 22, Wolf first announced the color-coded statuses would be used to reopen the state as testing and caseloads warranted. There would have to be 50 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents.

A day later, the state hedged that message. The numbers would be only part of the determination, Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine clarified after a number of people looked at the numbers released daily and did the math to find their counties should come in below that threshold.   ...

Tribune Review

My home is in WV, less than 1/2 mile - as the crow flies; it's 2 miles by car - from the PA border. Our church is in PA. My hair salon is in PA. My orthopedic surgeon is in PA. Although our governor is slowly doing the right thing, we're still suffering the consequences of Wolf's and Levine's idiocy.    @Applewood

[Applewood]

I never thought Jim "Gov. Cowpie" Justice would turn out to be the best governor in the US ( ) but his handling of the dempanic has been pretty good. Compare and contrast our neighbor, Pennsylvania:Tribune Review

My home is in WV, less than 1/2 mile - as the crow flies; it's 2 miles by car - from the PA border. Our church is in PA. My hair salon is in PA. My orthopedic surgeon is in PA. Although our governor is slowly doing the right thing, we're still suffering the consequences of Wolf's and Levine's idiocy.    @Applewood

@mountaineer

Yes, but your governor doesn't have a pretty, color coded chart like my governor has.   

There are more than a few irate citizens here who are ready to string up the Goobernor.  I'm one of them. 

And that idiot PA Department of Health Lady Levine.  She was asked about opening hair and nail salons.  She said no can do.  Not safe, can't practice social distancing, yada, yada, yada.  I call it BS.  So it's impossible for a stylist to do hair from six feet away.  So the stylist and the customer wear masks, the stylist wears gloves.  So if there are multiple styling stations in the salon, you only use two or three at a time and space them out.  This can be done.  What are we supposed to do?  Go without a haircut till maybe December? 

The previous governor, Corbett (Republican) was a disappointment.  The last straw with him was when he signed legislation to raise the state's gas tax.  People were justifiably incensed, so out of revenge, when Corbett was running for re-election, they voted for the Democrat, Wolf.  Did people really expect Wolf would be an improvement?  Yes, I know Democrats and Republicans are alike in this state, but I should think in a situation like this virus, Corbett likely would have handled things a lot better.  At least, if we have to open businesses in phases, there would have been some logic to it. 

[mountaineer]

I quite agree with everything you said, Applewood!

[mountaineer]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state’s positive test rate for the coronavirus continued to inch downward Monday. The state Department of Health and Human Resources reported the rate at 2.26 percent Monday evening.

There have now been 54,075 coronavirus tests given in West Virginia and 52,851 have been negative, 1,224 positive. The number of deaths contributed to COVID-19 remained at 50 Monday.

Most of the deaths in West Virginia have been to people older than 70.  ...

WV Metro News

I believe we're down to about 0.8% positives on a daily basis in the past few days, bringing that overall 2.26% figure down gradually.

[Applewood]

@mountaineer

Well, PA has had from time to time days where no new cases and/or no new deaths are reported.  But Goober and his health secretary Levine dismiss those reports, saying the reporting of new cases and deaths has been delayed.  In the meantime the media keeps throwing out more doom and gloom stories like what  I saw today.  One says this will be a bad summer for the virus -- I suppose because it's anticipated as the weather gets warm, more people are going to give the middle finger to masks and social distancing.  Another report claims a new, mutated version of the virus is going to hit next and it's going to be worse than the first. 

Frankly, I think these reports and the stats are so much bovine excrement.  I don't generally believe in conspiracy theories, but I am thinking someone with a vested interest in defeating Trump in November is spreading a lot of phony baloney stories to scare people and prevent us from getting back to normal. 

I do hope your governor will not listen to the doom and gloom stories and start bringing WV back to life again.

[mountaineer]

Quite agree, @Applewood   Wolf's big announcement today was what, that he was going to make another announcment sometime soon? WV is moving toward reopening.

Opening next week: drive-in movies. I didn't know we had any!

... The first week of the governor’s phased plan is already in motion. Hospitals will resume performing elective procedures as soon as this week and widespread testing of daycare workers is underway to allow the childcare facilities to open as soon as possible.

The second week would involve the reopening of small businesses, outdoor seating at restaurants as well as barber shops, nail salons and church and funeral services. Then in weeks three to six, offices, hotels, casinos, restaurants and other remaining businesses could open. Further instructions on social distancing and rules for the businesses will be set in the coming weeks.  ... source

I think this means the salons and barber shops reopen next week or maybe the end of this week. Not sure.

The Catholic churches throughout the state are making plans for the public celebration of Mass, with all the required precautions, of course. Story here.

[Applewood]

...
Opening next week: drive-in movies. I didn't know we had any!

I think we have maybe a handful left.  There is one about 15 miles from me.  By the way, I read somewhere a prediction that drive-ins might make a comeback while the usual brick and mortar theaters will decline since drive-ins are better for social distancing.
...

I think this means the salons and barber shops reopen next week or maybe the end of this week. Not sure.

...

Then I might have to find my way to West Virginia to get a haircut.  LOL