User:Arual Mackey/sandbox

Published to "Covid-19 pandemic in West Virginia" page:

ADDED TO EXISTING SECTION "TIMELINE" OF WV COVID PAGE:

West Virginia's first death due to COVID-19 was an 88 year old woman. At the end of March 2020, there were 4,143 persons in WV tested, of which 162 were positive and 3,981 were negative, alongside this one death. Counties with the highest number of positive cases were in Kanawha and Monongalia counties.

At the end of April 2020, there were 44,700 COVID-19 lab results received in WV, of which 1,125 were positive. The death tally stood at 44.

At the end of May 2020, there were a total of 97,622 COVID-19 laboratory results received, of which 2,010 were positive. The death tally stood at 75.

At the end of June 2020, there were a total of 171,663 COVID-19 laboratory results received, of which 2,905 were positive. The death tally stood at 93.

On July 1, 2020, the cumulative COVID-19 positive test rate was 1.69 percent.

ADDED TO EXISTING SECTION "GOVERNMENT RESPONSES" OF WV COVID PAGE:

On April 17, 2020, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources announced it would work with the National Guard to test individuals for COVID-19 who reside or work in the state's nursing homes.

On May 14, 2020, the WV Governor and Dept. of Health and Human Resources announced plans to increase testing among minorities and otherwise vulnerable populations in counties with large minority populations and evidence of transmission. The next day, they announced free testing in WV counties that are medically underserved.

Religious entities have been excluded from the virus closures in the state. The WV Dept. of Health and Human Resources reported on June 13, 2020, a fifth outbreak at churches in the state had occurred. This time it was in Greenbrier County, which followed prior outbreaks at churches in Boone, Hampshire, Jefferson and Marshall counties. The Graystone Baptist Church in Greenbrier County had some 33 COVID-19 cases.

As of July 1, 2020, some 115 COVID-19 cases across West Virginia, the governor stated, were traced to residents traveling to Myrtle Beach, SC. "I strongly urge anybody that's been to Myrtle Beach to please get tested" Justice said.

In a July 1 press release, the Justice reported testing over 10,000 inmates and 4,000 employees in the state's correctional system showed one active COVID-19 case in an inmate at the Huttonsville Correctional Center and Jail and two employees.

ADDED TO EXISTING SECTION "FEDERAL RESPONSE" OF WV COVID PAGE:

On July 1, 2020, in his press release, Justice reported that West Virginia had been awarded over $24 million through the federal CARES Act.

ADDED TO SECTION "IMPACT ON SPORTS AND THE ECONOMY IN WV"

The governor's reopening plan requires the state's cumulative positive test rate for COVID-19 to stay below three percent for three days, in contrast to the prior benchmark of having cases decline for two weeks.

The Associated Press reports over 250,000 unemployment claims were processed in West Virginia since the pandemic shutdown in March. Workforce West Virginia surpassed $1 billion in unemployment benefits to West Virginia residents. The unemployment rate in the state fell two points to 12.9 percent in May as the state started its reopening. West Virginia received over 35,000 fraudulent pandemic claims in June.

Justice, in his July 1st press release, announced "historic revenue surplus" in West Virginia for fiscal year 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stated that overall consumer spending in the state returned to prepandemic levels in June, according to a state-by-state analysis he said was conduced by the Harvard-based research group Opportunity Insights.

The West Virginia Strong -- The Comeback plan to restart the state's economy saw July 1, 2020 reopenings include fairs, festivals, amusement parks and rides, along with outdoor open air concerts.