Tag: West Virginia

Health Care Leaders Look Back On Four Years Of COVID-19

On March 17, 2020, West Virginia became the last state in the U.S. to test positive for COVID-19.

Time passes differently from each person’s perspective. The COVID-19 pandemic may seem like decades ago to some, and just like yesterday to others. In actuality, it has been four years since the world as we knew it came to a grinding halt.

The current Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health, Dr. Sherri Young, was working as the health officer and executive director for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department when the virus arrived in the state.

“We were the 50th state to have, or announce, our first case,” Young said. “And so it seems like from those waiting points, things accelerated very quickly to having more and more cases, and kind of evolving from all the responses that we had to do.”

Dr. Clay Marsh was eventually appointed by Gov. Jim Justice as West Virginia’s COVID-19 czar, the person who coordinated the federal, state and local agencies, health officials, researchers and other agencies aiding in the state’s response to the virus.

However, at the beginning of the pandemic, Marsh was making decisions for West Virginia University (WVU), as its executive dean for health sciences. He said he watched news reports of how the virus was spreading around the world and made decisions based on the most up-to-date information.

“Seeing that coming toward us in the U.S., we decided, you know, right before spring break, that instead of bringing the students back after spring break, we would actually close the university to classes, of course, taking care of the students that were at the university, international students, people, who didn’t have other places to go,” Marsh said. “But otherwise, then we took a big step and went online after that.”

Marsh said West Virginia’s rural demographics protected it from the virus for so long, with no large urban areas for COVID-19 to spread.

“We had the benefit of waiting until COVID came through the rest of the world and part of the rest of the country, and the urban centers to be able to respond,” Marsh said. “And so I think that was a tremendous advantage for us.”

Young said the first year of the pandemic was spent making hard decisions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and casualties from it. 

“We knew that there was very limited testing, we were using repurposed PCR testing that we changed the calibration for what we’d use for a flu test or other types of coronaviruses that we had to develop testing,” Young said. “So I remember sitting at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department with 10 swabs, knowing that there were more people exposed in one patient than I could possibly test at that time.”

Young said one of the defining steps in mitigating the risk was the development of testing and distribution.

“One of the things that Gov. Justice did that was so great for us at the local health level, was making that testing available to everyone, once we had that capability,” Young said.

Marsh said a big milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic was understanding how it was communicated.

“I think that going from not understanding how COVID was transmitted, to understanding that COVID was really transmitted by respiratory exchange, and breathing, exchange, cough and exchange, sneezing exchange, and it was airborne, is really, really a huge advantage,” Marsh said.

Of course, both Young and Marsh agree, the invention of the COVID-19 vaccine was a turning point in fighting the virus.

“The next big evolution within the COVID pandemic, when we finally got that vaccine, that was life-altering, life-changing, I will forever remember the minute that I got to get the first dose from the health department,” Young said.

Marsh said not only was the invention of the vaccine a turning point, but a revolutionary moment in medicine.

“Coming up with the new vaccines, particularly the messenger RNA vaccines, were really a turning point in the pandemic and allowed us to protect the most vulnerable first, the aged, the older you are, the more likely COVID will have severe consequences, people that are immunocompromised, and then of course, eventually, you know, people who are first responders who are medical caregivers, and then everyone,” Marsh said.

Young agreed, remembering how exciting it was for the elderly to be allowed to visit with their loved ones again, without fear or worry.

“For some of the older adults, especially those 65 and older, and one of the most gratifying things getting to stand in those clinics, or even doing house calls, which we had done from the Kanawha-Charleston perspective, with the gratitude and being able to be open to being back around folks,” Young said. “So at the initiation of the vaccine, the uptake was good, and the response was good.”

Marsh said the world is not done with COVID-19, as it continues to mutate and with some patients still suffering from Long COVID.

“We still are not done with COVID, particularly related to the impact of Long COVID, the extended problems that people can suffer including brain fog and a variety of other problems,” Marsh said. “And we’re learning more and more about Long COVID. But that’s certainly still something that is impacting people in the U.S. and across the globe every day.”

Young encouraged people to speak with their physicians about what vaccination is appropriate.

“Well, fortunately, people, I think, were very well attuned at the beginning, but we don’t talk about COVID a lot,” Young said. “I think where we need to have that conversation is just realizing that it is something that we have to live with. It’s now endemic in our society, we will forever be dealing with it just like we deal with the flu, just like we deal with RSV and other diseases.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans 65 and older should receive an additional dose of the latest COVID-19 vaccine this spring.

According to West Virginia’s Pan Respiratory Dashboard, just 36 percent of West Virginians over the age of 61 are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. The dashboard shows that of the more than 100 West Virginians who died from COVID-19 in the past year, the average age was 73.

“As the data consistently shows, those who are older and immunocompromised are the most vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19,” said Young in a press release. “It is for this reason we encourage those individuals to strongly consider getting an additional dose.”

Under current recommendations, those 65 and older can receive an additional dose of the vaccine at least four months after the previous shot. The updated vaccine targets both the original strain of the virus and newer variants, offering broader protection. 

To find updated COVID-19 information and the nearest vaccination location, visit COVID-19 Vaccine.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

Inmate Dies After He Was Found Unresponsive At Scrutinized West Virginia Jail

Correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail found the 24-year-old man unresponsive in his cell and attempted life-saving measures, according to a Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation statement. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, WCHS reported.

An inmate at a West Virginia jail scrutinized in lawsuits citing inmate deaths and alleging poor living conditions was pronounced dead Friday morning, officials said.

Correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail found the 24-year-old man unresponsive in his cell and attempted life-saving measures, according to a Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation statement. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, WCHS reported.

Authorities did not immediately provide further details or reveal the deceased inmate’s identity. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Criminal Investigation Division and the West Virginia State Police have opened an investigation into the death.

Several former correctional officers with Southern Regional Jail were indicted last month by a federal grand jury in connection with the 2022 death of an incarcerated man who was beaten while handcuffed and restrained in an interview room and later a jail cell. They were also charged with trying to cover up their actions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The indictments came weeks after two West Virginia corrections officers pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy charge stemming from the fatal beating of the same inmate, 37-year-old Quantez Burks. Burks was a pretrial detainee who died less than a day after he was booked into the Southern Regional Jail.

The state of West Virginia also agreed this year to pay $4 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by inmates who described conditions at the jail as inhumane. The lawsuit filed last year on behalf of current and former inmates described a lack of access to water and food at the facility, as well as overcrowding and fights that were allowed to continue until someone was injured.

W.Va. Poised To Benefit From Future Aerospace Investments

“In a rural world where you’re sending out a drone over what would be a long drive over Appalachia,” Luxion said. “A drone can fly that thing; it reaches out to those families that are in need within your state whom you have a responsibility to take care of.” 

The aerospace industry looks extremely promising for West Virginia according to panelists who were part of a robust industry discussion at the Culture Center Monday. 

The diverse group of aerospace experts included representatives from Vertx Partners, Aurora Flight Sciences – A Boeing Company, Marshall University, Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex, TMC Technologies and ASSURE – the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research.

Moderator Col. Sean Frisbee (USAF Ret.) is the president of Vertx Partners. He said the state is positioned to become a powerhouse for the state as well as the national defense.

“It’s an exciting industry, it’s booming and we want to make sure West Virginia stays on the leading edge of the industry,” Frisbee said. “A lot of people don’t realize it but aerospace literally touches everybody.”

Frisbee talked about technologies commonly used by people in their everyday lives which stem from the aerospace industry. 

“GPS for example, how could we possibly live without our Google maps, Waze and so forth,” Frisbee said. “But also the cameras that you have on your phones, the technology to make that camera as good as it is and as small as it is comes from aerospace.”

“How many of you use memory foam mattresses? The technology was developed by NASA as a safety measure as well as a comfort measure for astronauts,” he said. “Earbuds, headphones and even baby food can look at its origin back to developing food for astronauts.”

A newer technology Frisbee said holds huge promise is a silent leaf blower.

“It is incredible, you are holding a leaf blower, and there is literally no noise coming out of it,” he said. “And that technology is being developed for drones in order to reduce the acoustics of these drones that fly around.”

West Virginia’s aerospace industry is worth an estimated $1.35 billion a year, which Frisbee said contributes $486 million to the state’s GDP and more than $24 million in state and local taxes.

“But what we see globally is just an incredible growth of this industry,” he said. “From the commercial systems in defense, the emerging space economy and sustainability initiatives, battery development as well as alternative fuels to reduce carbon emissions which could be an important role here in West Virginia.”

Panelists discussing the future of aerospace technology at the WV Division of Culture and History.

Caroline MacGregor/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Tracy Miller is the president of the Bridgeport based Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex which specializes in aviation and aerospace component manufacturing. She said the future for the industry in the state offers boundless opportunities for West Virginians. 

“You’re adding value to the existing aerospace industry that we’ve had and you’re saying, folks, there’s ways to redefine it,” Miller said. “We’re in the flow of a new definition of aviation and I think it’s up to all of us to put your aerospace hat on, we can be the brainpower behind anything we want to be in aviation.”

The panel lauded the idea of investments in airports and education and working with schools like Marshall University to develop the state as an innovative hub to secure space assets from potential cyber-attacks. 

Marshall University Chief Aviation Officer Bill Noe said the future for aerospace technology is limitless.

“This aviation space right now, it’s not even a big pond, it’s an ocean and there’s room for so many fish to swim in it, it’s ridiculous,” he said.

Noe said Marshall University has strategically employed momentum to grow the state’s aerospace industry and expose more people to aviation.

“It goes into the air traffic control training, it goes into dispatch training, flight attendant training, it goes into the airlines, creating this area of space that will interest people, inspire people and really create a delightful outlook on their futures that we can really provide,” he said.

Denise Lindsey, is the vice president for TMC Technologies Federal Civilian Division. She said supporting educational opportunities for school kids is key.

“The K- through 12 is super important from a space perspective as well,” she said. “They grow up, they read books, they learn about their planets but to actually be engaged in a curriculum or activity that involves space is a game changer.”

Lindsey said space camps would also be a great investment for the state.

“If you really want to get the kids involved in space in our region, start up a space camp,” she said. “That could be in anyone’s district, I think it would be a great idea.”

The focus of discussion also centered heavily around Advanced Air Mobility systems – drones that can be used to move people and cargo. The idea is being embraced in West Virginia as a way to transport goods and medicines to the state’s difficult to reach and underserved rural Appalachian communities.

“The thing that excites me about this is, we’ve got a lot of technology, but we’ve got a lot of people in this state who would directly benefit,” Noe said. “We can get there with this technology. We can take pain points and smooth those out, and we’re going to be not only training it and researching it and figuring it out, but it’s going to be done right here and it’s just one of the strong pillars of opportunity we can have.”

Executive Director of ASSURE Col. Stephen Lux Luxion (USAF Ret.) said while there’s a lot of talk and money surrounding urban mobility, the greatest generation where drones can help the most are in remote communities where medical inaccessibility and below-average health outcomes exist. Rural Advanced Air Mobility offers the potential to redefine healthcare in the state.

“In a rural world you’re sending out a drone over what would be a long drive over Appalachia,” Luxion said. “A drone can fly that thing; it reaches out to those families that are in need within your state whom you have a responsibility to take care of.” 

Millions Of U.S. Apples Were Almost Left To Rot. Now, They’ll Go To Hungry Families

Many growers across the country have been left without a market due to oversupplied apple processors. West Virginia rescued its surplus, with a plan that donates apples to hunger-fighting charities.

By Alan Jinich

NPR Staff

Listen to this story and see more photos on npr.org.

It’s getting late in the harvest season in Berkeley County, West Virginia and Carla Kitchen’s team is in the process of hand-picking nearly half a million pounds of apples. In a normal year, Kitchen would sell to processors like Androsthat make applesauce, concentrate, and other products. But this year they turned her away.

“Imagine 80% of your income is sitting on the trees and the processor tells you they don’t want them,” Kitchen says. “You’ve got your employees to worry about. You’ve got fruit on the trees that need somewhere to go. What do you do?”

For the first time in 36 years, Kitchen had nowhere to sell the bulk of her harvest. It could have been the end of her business. And she wasn’t the only one. Across the country, growers were left without a market. Due to an oversupply carried over from last year’s harvest, growers were faced with a game-time economic decision: Should they pay the labor to harvest, crossing their fingers for a buyer to come along, or simply leave the apples to rot?

Bumper crops, export declines and the weather have contributed to the apple crisis

Christopher Gerlach, director of industry analytics at USApple, says the surplus this year was caused by several compounding factors. Bumper crops have kept domestic supply high. Exports have declined 21% over the past decade, a symptom of retaliatory tariffs from India that only ended this fall.

Weather also played a role this year as hail left a significant share of apples cosmetically unsuitable for the fresh market. Growers would normally recoup some value by selling to processors, but that wasn’t an option for many either – processors still had leftovers from last year sitting in climate-controlled storage.

“Last year’s season was so good that the price went down on processors and they said, ‘let’s buy while the buyings good,’ ” Gerlach says. “These processors basically filled up their storage warehouses. It’s just the market.”

While many growers in neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia left their apples to drop. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was able to convince the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pay for the apples produced by growers in his state, which only makes up 1% of the national market.

A relief program in West Virginia donated its surplus apples to hunger-fighting charities

This apple relief program, covered under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935, purchased $10 million worth of apples from a dozen West Virginia growers. Those apples were then donated to hunger-fighting charities across the country from South Carolina and Michigan all the way out to The Navajo Nation.

A nonprofit called The Farmlink Project took care of more than half the state’s surplus – 10 million pounds of apples filling nearly 300 trucks.

Mike Meyer, head of advocacy at The Farmlink Project, says it’s the largest food rescue they’ve ever done and they hope it can serve as a model for their future missions.

“There’s over 100 billion pounds of produce waste in this country every year; we only need seven billion to drive food insecurity to zero,” Meyer says. “We’re very happy to have this opportunity. We get to support farmers, we get to fight hunger with an apple. It’s one of the most nutritional items we can get into the hands of the food insecure.”

At Timber Ridge Fruit Farm in Virginia, owners Cordell and Kim Watt watch a truck from The Farmlink Project load up on their apples before driving out to a food pantry in Bethesda, Md. Despite being headquartered in Virginia, Timber Ridge was able to participate in the apple rescue since they own orchards in West Virginia as well. Cordell is a third-generation grower here and he says they’ve never had to deal with a surplus this large.

“This was unprecedented territory,” Watt says. “The first time I can remember in my lifetime that they [processors] put everybody on a quota. I know several growers that just let them fall on the ground. … The program with Farmlink has really taken care of the fruit in West Virginia, but in a lot of other states there’s a lot of fruit going to waste. We just gotta hope that there’s funding there to keep this thing going.”

At the So What Else food pantry in Bethesda, Md., apple pallets from Timber Ridge fill the warehouse up to the ceiling. Emanuel Ibanez and other volunteers are picking through the crates, bagging fresh apples into family-sized loads.

“I’m just bewildered,” Ibanez says. “We have a warehouse full of apples and I can barely walk through it.”

“People in need got nutritious food out of this program. And that’s the most important thing”

Executive director Megan Joe says this is the largest shipment of produce they’ve ever distributed – 10 truckloads over the span of three weeks. The food pantry typically serves 6,000 families, but this shipment has reached a much wider circle.

“My coworkers are like, ‘Megan, do we really need this many?’ And I’m like, yes!” Joe says. “The growing prices in the grocery stores are really tough for a lot of families. And it’s honestly gotten worse since COVID.”

Back in West Virginia, apple growers, government officials, and Farmlink Project members come together in a roundtable meeting. Despite the existential struggles looming ahead, spirits were high and even some who were skeptical of government purchases applauded the program for coming together so efficiently.

“It’s the first time we’ve done this type of program, but we believe it can set the stage for the region,” Kent Leonhardt, West Virginia’s commissioner of agriculture says. “People in need got nutritious food out of this program. And that’s the most important thing.”

Following West Virginia’s rescue program, the USDA announced an additional $100 million purchase to relieve the apple surplus in other states around the country. This is the largest government buy of apples and apple products to date. But with the harvest window coming to an end, many growers have already left their apples to drop and rot.

W.Va. Major Retailers To Close On Thanksgiving

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, more stores are closing on Thanksgiving — and staying closed until the next morning for Black Friday. These stores will be closed on Thanksgiving: Best Buy, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Walgreens, non-24 hour CVS, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Marshalls, PetCo, PetSmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, Piggly Wiggly and Aldi. 

Updated on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023 at 10:45 a.m.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, more stores are closing on Thanksgiving — and staying closed until the next morning for Black Friday.

These stores will be closed on Thanksgiving: Best Buy, DICK’s Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Walgreens, non-24 hour CVS, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Marshalls, PetCo, Petsmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, Piglet Wiggly and Aldi. 

Bridget Lambert, president of the West Virginia Retailers Association said this is part of a growing trend of stores to close on, and around the holidays since the pandemic. 

“Traditionally, retailers have started closing more in the last three or four years,” Lambert said. “So yes, a lot of the larger retailers will be closed Thanksgiving Day. The grocery chains, some of them are open during the day, but will be closing early in the evening so that their employees will have time to spend with their families.”

Piggly Wiggly and Kroger will be open until 4 p.m. Twenty-four hour CVS’s will only be open until 5 p.m. Walgreens usual 24 hour pharmacy will be open with varied hours. 

Lambert said this change is part of a cultural shift in attitudes about work life balance from major retailers. 

“They certainly want to meet their customer demands, but also know the needs of their employees,” Lambert said. 

Lambert said the trend has been on the rise, and she expects that it will continue into the future. 

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