West Virginia has its first inmate test positive for COVID-19

The first case of coronavirus within a West Virginia state prison or jail was announced Tuesday by Governor Jim Justice.

A 62-year-old male inmate and Huttonsville Correctional Center tested positive.

This news followed an announcement Monday that a part-time employee at the Randolph County facility tested positive.

Officials don’t believe these cases are connected. All staff and inmates in that cell block will be tested, and if more cases are found, that testing will expand to the entire facilities. Meanwhile, Justice also said the state is receiving a potentially life-saving drug from the U.S. Department of Human Services.

"There is a drug called Remdesivir, and West Virginia has now received a shipment of that drug from health and human services. The drug is produced by a company Gilead and was donated to the government for use on critically ill patients with this disease,” Justice said.

Announcements about West Virginia bowling alleys and pools are expected Wednesday.

OHIO

Meanwhile in Ohio, a new step in the fight against COVID-19.

Governor Mike DeWine is moving from orders to strong recommendations.

DeWine issued an urgent health advisory called Ohioans Protecting Ohioans. The advisory includes social distancing, sanitizing efforts, limited gatherings, and all of the business orders.

The advisory is designed to protect the vulnerable and does not require all Ohioans to stay home, although it is recommended.

"You’ll have no other time in our lives when our own individual actions or inactions could impact the lives of so many of our fellow citizens,” DeWine said. “The virus, of course, has become one of the leading causes of death in Ohio.”

Limited travel restrictions have been lifted under this advisory.

While you are encouraged to stay home as much as possible, by the end of May, about 95 percent of Ohio’s economy will be re-opened.

For more information, click here.

https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home