News Staff Walmart is limiting the number of customers that can be in their stores at one time. Starting today, no more than five people per one-thousand square feet will be allowed in the store, and workers will start a queue at a single entrance. Target has implemented a similar policy.
President Trump approved West Virginia’s request for a major disaster declaration as a result of the pandemic. The declaration will allow the state to access funding the the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid response efforts.
More than 90-thousand West Virginians filed for unemployment in March. Governor Justice says the system for processing those claims is severely backlogged, and the state is hiring additional workers. Beginning Monday the Workforce West Virginia call line will be available 24/7.
Governor Justice is issuing an executive order specifically for Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties to help combat the spread of coronavirus in the Eastern Panhandle. The order requires all employees to work at home, and limits groups to no more than five people. Justice calls the area a hotspot that needs to be shut down … Read more
Law enforcement officers are seeing an uptick in serious traffic accidents since the Governor issued a stay-at-home order. Charleston Police Chief Tyke Hunter says the same number of officers is on the street as before the pandemic, and they will not tolerate speeding or drunk driving.
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is extending a Judicial Emergency order in all counties through May 1st. The revised order limits hearings to specific “emergency proceedings,” which will be held over the phone of video conference.
Health officials are recommending that the Kanawha County Judicial Annex remain closed until April 27th in effort to promote social distancing. There are eight positive cases of COVID-19 linked to the Annex, and more tests are pending.
Thomas Health is furloughing 500 employees across it’s network in response to services being put on hold because of the coronavirus. Thomas Health filed for Chapter-11 bankruptcy protection in January.
Mountain Health Network is furloughing hundreds of staff members at St. Mary’s Medical Center and Cabell-Huntington Hospital. About one-thousand employees are affected, and 450 have seen a reduction in hours. Officials say the cancelation of elective surgeries has had a major impact on the hospital’s financial health. Two urgent care facilities have been temporarily closed. … Read more
Kanawha County has nearly 60 positive cases of COVID-19, and an infant has tested positive for the virus, and in a separate case, a pregnant woman has tested positive for the coronavirus.