An investigation into unreported deaths, a redoubling of efforts to vaccinate the state’s seniors, and tax relief aimed at unemployment benefits highlighted Gov. Jim Justice’s Friday COVID briefing.
In addition to 15 COVID-related deaths in the state since Wednesday, Justice said there are at least 20, but probably closer to 50, additional COVID deaths that were previously unreported.
The 20 confirmed cases bring the state’s death toll to an even 2,600 and come on the heels of 165 previously unreported deaths confirmed by Justice earlier this month.
“I am asking now for a complete investigation, all the way down. Flip every rock. Turn everything until we can absolutely, without question pinpoint exactly where the shortcomings are,” he said.
He pointed to more than 600 previously unreported deaths announced Thursday in Kentucky as evidence of the issues being faced across the country.
“We are being disrespectful to great West Virginians,” Justice said. “If it’s in my house, the DHHR, it will not be a good day. If it’s with our nursing homes and our hospitals or wherever it may be, we got to do better. We are disrespecting great West Virginians and there’s no excuse for that.”
In other news from Friday’s briefing, the state is doubling down on efforts to ensure every West Virginian 65 or older who wants to be vaccinated is able to receive the shots.
Justice announced the creation of three new fixed clinic sites across the state that will cater to those individuals.
The locations of those sites and a timeline for their opening is not yet known, according to Justice’s office.
“So what that basically means is just this, we’re going to have three areas, and if you can get there, even if someway, somehow you’re on a waitlist and we can’t get you called or whatever, we want you to come,” he said.
So far, about 64%, or some 221,000 members of the state’s 65-plus population have received at least one shot. Justice said the science says 75% is a critical benchmark, but he would like the number closer to 85%.
He said staffing at call centers will be increased as the state goes back through the pre-registration lists to ensure no seniors are being missed.
“If that doesn’t work, we’re going to go up every hollow – anywhere and everywhere we can and we’re going to get you,” he said. “We’re going to get this done.”
Additionally, Justice said he’s sent a bill to the West Virginia Legislature that would exempt the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020 from the state’s income tax.
He said 197,351 West Virginians received unemployment benefits at some point last year.
“Should we not do that? We can do this. We can afford to do this,” Justice said. “Those are the people who, really and truly, are really hurting and by, for all practical purposes, for no real fault of their own. They lost their jobs. That’s all there is to it.”
He said the state is also extending its tax filing deadline to May 17 to correspond with the federal extension recently announced by the Internal Revenue Service.
The state extension does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due April 15.
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