Dave Mistich, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. Officials Say ‘Breakthrough’ COVID Cases On The Rise

“Breakthrough” cases of the coronavirus — meaning those who have been fully vaccinated — are becoming more common in West Virginia. State data show an increase in these cases, as well as breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths, in recent weeks.

Gov. Jim Justice announced Monday that, over the past eight weeks, there has been a 26% increase in new breakthrough cases, a 21% increase in breakthrough cases requiring hospitalization and a 25% increase in breakthrough deaths.

According to DHHR, 0.44% percent of West Virginians who have been fully vaccinated have experienced a breakthrough case of the virus, while 0.007% of those fully vaccinated have died from the coronavirus.

DHHR Sec. Bill Crouch said last week that 53% of breakthrough cases are among those in nursing homes.

To date, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has reported 3,962 breakthrough cases and 62 breakthrough deaths.

But these numbers still point to the protection vaccines offer. Total active cases have increased tenfold in that same time period, according to state data.

Justice said the spike in breakthrough cases and other new cases is cause to remain vigilant as the virus continues to spread.

“We really do need to continue to stay on our toes in every way,” he said.

State health officials said Monday they have not yet sorted through vaccine data on these breakthrough cases, including which vaccine — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson — each of these breakthrough patients had received.

“We don’t have that kind of detail right now,” said State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad, “But, hopefully, we’ll have that in the next coming months.”

Concerns over breakthrough cases come as the federal government aims to roll out on Sept. 20 booster shots for those who have been fully vaccinated more than eight months prior. Justice said last week he’d like to get booster shots as soon as possible to those who were vaccinated six months ago or earlier.

The governor said Monday that despite his intent to push booster shots as soon as possible, some entanglements over agreements between the federal government, states and providers remain at play. Justice said he understands that supplies of vaccines belong to the federal government.

“We’ve still got to wait, because there’s some measures that we thought we could get past and start giving those booster shots right now,” Justice said Monday. “Our people are working upon my direction to try to find a way that we in West Virginia can move right now.”

But the final decision on booster shots comes down to authorization from federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

W.Va. Prepared To Juggle Booster Shots Along With Initial Vaccinations

While the federal government plans a rollout of coronavirus vaccine booster shots, West Virginia officials are prepared to balance efforts between getting the shot to those unvaccinated, all the while offering boosters to those who have already gotten their initial doses.

Federal public health officials announced plans Wednesday to offer booster shots as early as the week of Sept. 20 to those who already got the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Although some booster shots have already been given in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice said he hopes to launch a more concerted effort before the federal rollout.

“We appreciate that they’re going to get started on September the 20th. But for God’s sakes alive — we absolutely don’t need to continue to wait until September the 20th,” Justice said.

The plan for coronavirus vaccine boosters is subject to the Food and Drug Administration “conducting an independent evaluation and determination of the safety and effectiveness of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issuing booster dose recommendations based on a thorough review of the evidence,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

Federal officials are recommending booster shots for those who have been vaccinated more than eight months ago. But Justice said he’s pushing residents — especially those more vulnerable to severe illness — to get booster shots six months after their initial vaccination.

As of Wednesday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports 57.5 percent of the state’s population aged 12-and-over is fully vaccinated. State officials report 70.1 percent of those eligible have received a first dose.

James Hoyer, who leads West Virginia’s interagency task force on the pandemic, said there would be no issues in trying to juggle efforts between new vaccinations and the booster shots.

“We’re prepared to execute doses to more unvaccinated folks, because we know we need to do that,” Hoyer said. “And we know we need to get the third dose into our most vulnerable population — and we’re prepared to do that.”

Hoyer said doses of the vaccine are so plentiful that the state will not need to implement a tiered system based on age and vulnerability for booster shots. As West Virginia executed its initial vaccine rollout, health care workers, older residents and those with pre-existing conditions were put in the front of the line.

Justice expressed frustration Wednesday over those who have yet to get their initial shots.

“It’s too late for you to decide, ‘You know, we should have gotten vaccinated.’ You can’t stop this now — what’s happened in West Virginia,” Justice said of the continued rise of the delta variant and the virus at-large. “But you can still save your own life, or lives that are around you, by getting vaccinated.”

As of Wednesday, public health officials report 7,579 active cases. Since the beginning of the pandemic 2,997 deaths have been attributed to the virus.

“I don’t have any idea how, on this planet, you could hear these numbers and not run and get vaccinated,” he said.

WVU Considering Takeover Of Viatris Property In Morgantown As New Talks Begin On Former Mylan Facility

Viatris, formerly known as Mylan Pharmaceuticals, has announced it is planning on entering into a memorandum of understanding with West Virginia University regarding the potential transfer of ownership of the Chestnut Ridge facility in Morgantown.

The company, which laid off roughly 1,500 employees upon the plant’s July 31 closure, made the announcement in a Wednesday news release. Viatris says it “has commenced discussions to align on a memorandum of understanding with WVU and its affiliates to pursue the potential transfer and ownership of the site to WVU or one of its associated entities.”

Details of the pending MOU — including specifics on what purposes West Virginia University might use the facility for — were not immediately available.

In a statement, Vitaris said it did attempt to find another potential buyer in the pharmaceutical industry as the July 31 shutdown date loomed. However, the company said that “no such viable proposals” have been received to date.

“Given the present landscape, when thinking about responsible new stewards for the site, as well as its strategic location, future potential uses, and the possibility for job creation opportunities in the short, medium and long term for Morgantown and its surrounding areas, we determined that pursuing formal discussions at this time with WVU and its affiliates is the absolute right next step to consider,” Executive Chairman Robert J. Coury said.

WVU President E. Gordon Gee said he is pleased that Viatris has engaged with the university and its affiliates relating to the Chestnut Ridge plant.

“While we are at the start of this potential new beginning, I can say with certainty that we are excited to reach an agreement, and if so, we are committed to working with our local, state and federal partners to create public and private sector jobs,” Gee said. “We also will prioritize retraining and educational opportunities for recently impacted employees. This endeavor goes to the core of the University’s land-grant mission. We are eager to possibly be a part of this new opportunity to make our community the best it can be.”

Gov. Jim Justice also commented on the news of the potential transfer of the property during an already scheduled briefing on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We congratulate WVU and Viatris for getting together. But we still got a long way to go to turn that into real employment for these great employees that were doing such good work,” Justice said. “And we want him to have high-paying, great jobs and we’re going to try and keep trying every way we possibly can to pull that off.”

Other top West Virginia officials applauded the potential transfer of property to WVU.

“I believe in my heart nobody would more proud and delighted than Mike Puskar to see his beloved Mylan family and property join forces with the WVU family he cherished so deeply,” U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, said. “West Virginia University has a proven track record of success when it comes to identifying economic development partnerships that reap benefits for the entire Mountain State. I am confident this partnership will be no different and am hopeful WVU will take this opportunity of a lifetime to create meaningful jobs for this skilled workforce.”

Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., called Wednesday’s announcement a “positive step forward” for the future of the facility.

“West Virginia University is a world class institution, our state’s largest employer, and can have a profound influence on our state’s economy,” said McKinley. “We will continue to work with all parties to ensure a positive outcome. I look forward to the next phase of discussions and opportunities.”

While many in the area have expressed concerns over the economic impact related to the job losses at the plant, the transfer of ownership of the plant could affect revenues for Monongalia County.

According to tax records at the Monongalia County Assessor’s office, Mylan Pharmaceuticals paid more than $650,000 in property taxes on the Chestnut Ridge facility and associated property in tax year 2020.

A spokesperson for WVU said it is “too early to speculate” whether the university would be subject to taxes on the property should it take it over.

West Virginia Sen. William Ihlenfeld, Judge William Thompson Among Biden’s Latest Picks For U.S. Attorney

President Joe Biden has nominated West Virginia State Sen. William Ihlenfeld, D-Ohio, to once again serve as the top federal prosecutor in the northern part of the state. The White House announced the nomination in a Tuesday news release, along with picks for seven other prosecutor positions.

Ihlenfeld — elected to the West Virginia Senate in 2018 — is an attorney with a long history as a prosecutor in the region. Before first serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District from 2010 to 2016, he also held the positions of assistant prosecuting attorney in Brooke County and chief assistant prosecuting attorney in Ohio County.

With state Senate terms lasting four years, Ihlenfeld’s seat is set to expire following the 2022 mid-term election. Ihlenfeld declined an interview with West Virginia Public Broadcasting, citing a desire for the confirmation process to play out in the U.S. Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, congratulated Ihlenfeld on the nomination and said Ihlenfeld would continue to serve in the Legislature throughout the confirmation process, which is expected to take months.

“Bill brings a sharp mind, a tender heart and a tenacious work ethic to bear on every task before him. While we are sad to lose him as a member of the West Virginia Senate, our loss is a gain for the state of West Virginia and the American people,” Baldwin said.

Ihlenfeld currently serves on the West Virginia Senate’s Banking and Insurance, Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Mining, Finance, Government Organization and Interstate Cooperation committees.

Other Democrats in the West Virginia Legislature’s upper chamber congratulated Ihlenfeld on his likely return as a federal prosecutor.

“President Biden’s nominationation of Bill comes as no surprise in light of his exemplary performance as U.S. Attorney,” said Senate Minority Whip Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell. “The state Senate will miss Bill’s wit and intellect. We wish him the best.”

Should Ihlenfeld leave his seat in the West Virginia Senate before the end of his term, Gov. Jim Justice would pick another Democrat to fill the vacancy based on nominations from local party officials.

In addition to Ihlenfeld’s nomination, the president also picked Circuit Judge William S. Thompson to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.

In the 25th Circuit, which covers Boone and Lincoln Counties, Thompson currently presides over several treatment courts, including the first family treatment court in West Virginia, according to the news release from the White House. Prior to his appointment, he was an associate at the law firm of Cook and Cook in Madison from 1995 to 2007. Thompson also made a failed bid for Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in a 2018 special election.

Law enforcement officials in the 25th Circuit, including Boone County Sheriff Chad Barker, applauded Thompson’s nomination.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Judge Thompson for over 25 years. “He is a man of great integrity and of strong moral values,” Barker said. “Thompson has used his time on the bench here in Boone County piloting new programs and being the face of alternative measures, always trying to make a difference. There is no doubt in my mind he will hit the ground running in this new position and begin making a difference immediately”.

IRS Releases $1.4 Million In Tax Liens Tied To Gov. Justice-Owned Greenbrier Resort

The Greenbrier Hotel Corp. has paid off more than $1.4 million in federal tax debts, according to documents filed by the Internal Revenue Service.

The payments indicate one step toward resolving a wide web of debts attached to the Republican governor and his family-owned companies.

IRS documents filed Monday with the Greenbrier County Clerk’s Office show the release of two liens, one in the amount of $395,722 and another $1,076,983.23.

The documents indicate the IRS processed the payments July 28 in Detroit, Mich. The IRS issued the liens in March.

Another $8 million-plus lien issued by the IRS targets Justice’s daughter, Jill Justice Long. According to documents filed with the Greenbrier County Clerk in July, $131,006.23 of the debt has been paid.

Justice’s companies have also drawn attention for $700 million in unpaid loans to Greensill Capital — a lending company that filed for bankruptcy after selling the Justice companies’ obligations to Credit Suisse — and an additional $300 million in unpaid loans from Virginia-based Carter Bank.

Litigation is ongoing regarding the debts, although WVMetroNews reported in late July that Bluestone Resources issued a statement indicating cooperation between the company and Credit Suisse.

Asked about the debts last month during a news conference on West Virginia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Justice assured residents he and his family were making good on settling the debts.

“From the standpoint of legality and everything else, you can continue to run down ratholes and try to come up with stuff here and there, but at the end of the day I hope and pray, at least, that you’ll report the final outcomes,” he said.

West Virginia Reports 1,000 New Coronavirus Cases, 4,000 Active, As Delta Spread Surges

With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the rise, West Virginia officials say the delta variant is causing more extreme spread than previous strains of the virus. State officials say the fast-spreading variant could lead to a surge more deadly than previous waves of the pandemic.

West Virginia health officials reported 1,037 new cases of the coronavirus Monday, putting the number of active cases at 4,010. Active cases peaked in January of this year, but were less than half the current number exactly a year ago.

“This is exactly what we’ve been afraid of,” said Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh, the top health official advising Gov. Jim Justice.

Justice and other state officials pointed to the recent uptick in cases, hospitalizations and the use of intensive care and ventilators as the need for all residents to get vaccinated.

“We’re not going to be able to stop this surge that is with us right now,” Justice said, before reiterating that the best defense is vaccinations.

James Hoyer, director of the state’s interagency task force, said data from the West Virginia Hospital Association shows 269 hospitalizations for the coronavirus as of Monday. A year ago, state officials recorded 123 hospitalizations, ahead of that figure peaking at 818 on Jan. 5, according to data from public health officials.

“Look at the trend line. We’re putting our health care workers, our hospitals, in an exceptionally difficult position if we don’t pick up the pace of vaccination,” Hoyer said.

While other statistics, such as ICU hospitalizations and ventilator usage, are not near records during the wave, Justice and his advisers continue to warn that the delta variant may put the state back to the worst moments it has experienced during the pandemic.

Health officials said the delta variant accounts for 91 percent of new cases of the coronavirus. They say data on variant sequencing can be delayed by as much as a week.

Marsh says the worst of the delta variant is still in front of the state — with a potential peak likely to come in the fall.