Debate in West Virginia over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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Debate over responses to coronavirus pandemic
Topics Elections • Protests • Religious service restrictions • School closures • State lockdowns • Testing
Arguments by topic Testing • Mask requirements • School closures • Travel restrictions • Lockdown/stay-at-home orders • Expansion of absentee/mail-in voting • Religious service restrictions
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Related coronavirus coverage Changes to elections • Federal responses • State responses

Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

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This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in West Virginia in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:

Debate over stay-at-home orders in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in West Virginia.

Delegates Larry Kump (R) and Tom Bibby (R) (WCHS): Delegates Larry Kump (R) and Tom Bibby (R) argued in a press release that Governor Jim Justice's (R) stay-at-home order infringes on the constitutional rights of assembly and association. They proposed that the state legislature enact limits on the governor's power to issue executive orders that would limit the scope and the time they may be in effect. - "Two W.Va. lawmakers say governor's stay-at-home order may violate Bill of Rights," April 21, 2020.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (WSAZ): "This afternoon Governor Justice made the decision to place West Virginia under a stay-at-home order beginning at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24th. I urge every West Virginian to abide by this order. We must come together to do the difficult things required to slow the spread of COVID-19. This outbreak is serious and the only option is to fight it together. West Virginians have always taken care of one another and right now that means staying at home unless absolutely necessary." - "Stay-at-home order issued in West Virginia," March 24, 2020.

Debate over reopening plans in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening plans in West Virginia.

Governor Jim Justice (R) (Officer of the Governor): Governor Jim Justice (R) unveiled a six-week plan to reopen West Virginia that he said would be evaluated every day to determine if the state needs to stop, slow down, or go back to a shutdown.

"If we’ve got to stop, or slow, or back up, then that’s what we’re going to do. You’ve done good work so far, West Virginia, and now we’re going to have to move forward. We cannot sit still forever because too many bad things will happen." - "Gov. Justice unveils plan to reopen state: “West Virginia Strong – The Comeback”," April 27, 2020.
Delegate Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) (The Register Herald): Delegate Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) argued that the state should not have decreased its reopening benchmark from two weeks of declining case counts to positive cases below 3% because he said cumulative data not recent should be used as a benchmark for reopening.

"Recent data, not cumulative data, should be used to make a decision about reopening the state." - "Justice's claim that threshold for reopening W.Va. is based on math is doubtful," April 27, 2020.

Additional reading

"Case spikes warrant more COVID caution" - Charleston Gazette-Mail, June 12, 2020

Debate over school closures in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in West Virginia.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.

Debate over religious service restrictions in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in West Virginia.

Anne Lofaso, professor at West Virginia University (Newswise): "The argument here is that the state is denying worshippers their right to worship under the free exercise clause. The governors who have issued those orders have not issued those orders to prevent worship. Instead, those orders have been exercised in line with the governors’ police powers to prevent community spread of the coronavirus. Those orders have an incidental effect on worship, which is permissible under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment." - "Law professors break down freedom of religion, labor issues amid COVID-19," April 20, 2020.

Debate over election policy in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Debate over absentee voting in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over absentee voting and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on absentee voting in West Virginia.

Monroe County Democratic Executive Committee (The Register Herald): The Monroe County Democratic Executive Committee voted on April 13 to ask Governor Jim Justice (R) to issue an executive order making the state's June 9 primary election entirely vote-by-mail because the committee was concerned about staffing and sanitizing voting locations.

"The elderly population is most susceptible to this virus, and the majority of poll workers come from our senior population. ... There is no possible way to keep the polling places sanitized throughout Election Day." - "Monroe Democrats seek absentee-only primary election," April 13, 2020.
Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) (Axios): Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) announced that the state would be expanding mobile device voting to people with disabilities for the June primary after it let residents and troops abroad vote using a mobile device in the 2018 state election. He said that the pandemic would not cause the state to expand mobile device voting further and that they are encouraging voters to request absentee ballots instead. - "Why we're still not voting online, even in a pandemic," April 20, 2020.

Debate over election date changes in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over election date changes during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election date changes in West Virginia.

State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) (West Virginia Public Broadcasting): State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) defended Governor Jim Justice's (R) declaration that moved West Virginia's May 12 primary to June 9.

"The governor's declaration is really focused on protecting the health and safety of citizens and also the workers — because he's trying to limit their exposure to the virus and that's based upon the best medical information that's available .The governor does have the emergency powers to move this election date because he's trying to protect the public health." - "With Coronavirus Peak Looming, West Virginia Delays Primary Election Until June 9," April 1, 2020.
House Majority Leader Amy Summers (R) (Metro News): House Majority Leader Amy Summers (R) argued that the state should not move its May 12 primary to June 9 because absentee ballots are available and accommodations have been made to practice social distancing at the polls. - "Consensus grows to delay West Virginia election as Justice huddles with Morrisey, Warner," March 21, 2020.

Debate over economic impact in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over economic impact during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on economic impact in West Virginia.

Clay Marsh (MetroNews): Clay Marsh, the coordinator for West Virginia's coronavirus response, said that health is the top priority but the state must also get back to work soon and continue to use common sense to slow the spread in the state. - "Trump says governors ‘call your own shots;’ Justice says he’ll put health and safety first," April 16, 2020.
John Deskins (WVNS TV): John Deskins, director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research, argued that the underlying economy of West Virginia is stable but the uncertainty of the state lockdown threatens the state's economic future. Deskins also argued that the federal government should take an aggressive approach to ward off recession through a stimulus package. - "WVU expert says the economic impact of COVID-19 could be devastating for West Virginia and the nation," March 21, 2020.

Debate over executive orders in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Debate over executive orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on executive orders in West Virginia.

Delegates Larry Kump (R) and Tom Bibby (R) (WCHS): Delegates Larry Kump (R) and Tom Bibby (R) argued in a press release that Governor Jim Justice's (R) stay-at-home order infringes on the constitutional rights of assembly and association. They proposed that the state legislature enact limits on the governor's power to issue executive orders that would limit the scope and the time they may be in effect. - "Two W.Va. lawmakers say governor's stay-at-home order may violate Bill of Rights," April 21, 2020.

Responses to the coronavirus in West Virginia[edit]

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (West Virginia)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in West Virginia.

General resources[edit]

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.