Phil Kabler
Charleston-Gazette Mail
For the West Virginia Press Association
Gov. Jim Justice announced Tuesday evening that he has ordered restaurants, bars and casinos in West Virginia to close, effective at midnight, in an attempt to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Just 10 minutes before the 6 p.m. televised address to Mountain State residents, Justice was notified of the first confirmed positive case of the coronavirus in West Virginia — an unidentified Eastern Panhandle resident whom state Public Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp later said is being treated on an outpatient basis with a less serious case of the illness.
“We knew it was coming. We’ve prepared for that, and we shouldn’t panic,” Justice said of the first confirmed case.
In the address, the governor announced his ordering of the closure of restaurants, bars and casinos to reduce the potential for spread of the coronavirus in those venues. Restaurants and bars may continue to provide carry-out, curbside and drive-through food services, as well as home delivery.
Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch, speaking at a news conference that followed Justice’s announcement, said the governor plans to keep those business closed or on take-out only operations for two weeks, and then evaluate where things stand at that point.
“The idea is to stop the transmission of this disease by not getting too close to people,” Crouch said of eliminating gatherings of people at restaurants, bars and casinos.
In his address, Justice said, “We will try every way we can to make our businesses whole, and try to make the employees whole.”
He did not elaborate, but afterward, gubernatorial chief counsel Brian Abraham said the Governor’s Office will be working to coordinate federal relief programs that are in the process of being enacted in Congress, with existing federal programs for small businesses and employees.
He said the Governor’s Office also will work with legislative leaders regarding the possibility of calling a special session of the West Virginia Legislature to provide additional relief for closed businesses and laid-off workers.
“The federal funding may be adequate,” he said. “There may be no reason to tap into state resources.”
The governor’s order does not affect other retailers, entertainment venues or fitness centers, but Abraham indicated that the situation is fluid and additional closures could be ordered, if warranted.
Crouch said there are no plans to suspend essential services, including senior services, day care centers and shelters that provide free meals to the needy.
“We have to take this day by day, and make sure essential services continue in the state,” he said.
Justice closed his address by stating, “We’ll get through this. We’ll win, and we’ll protect our people.”
Justice, who gave the address from the Governor’s Reception Room in the Capitol, did not attend a follow-up news conference in the Building 3 conference center of the Capitol Complex.
Couch said Justice’s absence was to give the health care professionals more time to “get down in the weeds” on issues involving the state coronavirus response.