Thread by @BradMcElhinny

Starting: "We've been a little late getting going. We're getting some additional slides that should give you some more valuable information."

https://twitter.com/WVMetroNews/status/1256263626282893316

Justice announces more deaths.

"Dag, I hate this."

Justice: "When you look back at it and all you're going to do is think about stats, the number is good."

"We had 41 deaths and now we have 46. I hate it. I just really hate it."

"I'm going to quadruple down and urge our people in every way."

Justice: "As far as our reopening, we are opening 'West Virginia Strong: The Comeback.' I caution everyone out there, we're dealing with a disease that's a killer."

Justice: "You have got to be on guard, cautious, really, really smart."

Justice discusses the resumption of worship services:

"We want you to be able to go back to your churches. And we want you to be able to worship together in a family and a church family.

Justice: "All I would do is ask you, if you're a person my age or older think about maybe just giving it a little extra time before you're starting to congregate together."

He suggests enjoying service over radio or through other means

Justice: "Please. Follow our guidelines. Wear masks."

"The last thing we want is me reporting more and more of you as deaths."

"Please take heed. A little extra time is good."

Justice: "If you choose to go, wear a mask. Absolutely follow the guidelines that we put out."

Justice goes over the "Safer at Home" order previously discussed. This starts Monday.

Justice on 11 hotspot counties. "We've been in touch with all 11."

"We want a continued effort of a lot, a lot of feedback from these counties."

Over the weekend, he says, additional guidelines about hotspot counties will be released.

Justice: "We are very aware of the hotspot counties and their bordering out-of-state neighbors."

Justice: "We have our revenue numbers. They're terrible. And we expected them to be terrible."

Justice: "A goodly amount of those dollars were income tax filings that we put off until July 15."

Justice: "I really believe wholeheartedly we're going to be able to backfill through the federal government."

"We have not received that assurance yet, but we're going to continue working it."

"Remember, I'm the business guy."

Justice: "The federal government is going to allow us to backfill revenue, and then we're not a state that is upside down on pensions like you see on TV."

Justice says 148,000 initial unemployment claims have been processed by #WVgov

Justice: "May is here, and hopefully the rain is going to stop. We want the sun to shine and the temperatures to go up, and that's hopefully going to help us with this virus."

Justice: "There's nothing good about sitting here and telling you we've lost five West Virginians. Nothing about that is good in any way."

Justice describes dire societal and economic repercussions if the state doesn't start opening up more.

Justice: "Be safe. Be smart West Virginia."

Coronavirus defensive coordinator Clay Marsh says state officials are looking at county-level data.

Plus the R-naught

Marsh advises caution even as state opens up more

"As we go back out, many, many West Virginians are not protected. And as we've said before, we have the most vulnerable population in the country."

Marsh: "If you don't have to be outside, stay home. If you can work from home, stay home."

"Go outside and wear a face covering or wear a mask."

DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch says all 123 nursing homes have been tested, residents and staff

"It's really hard to believe we've done 123 facilities in two weeks"

But not all results are in, so a summary will be put off until next week

Q from Annie Moore of WVVA, wanting to know an update on planned transfer of federal prisoners to WV

But Justice says he doesn't really have an update. Keeping an eye on the issue

Q from @_aizaguirre about what the state is currently doing with $1.25 billion in federal dollars

Justice: "We're trying as best we can to take ideas and solicitations from everybody."

Justice: "We're going to make good decisions. And we're going to make really good decisions on that."

The business guy hasn't given a super specific answer here

"We're going to make smart decisions on what to do."

Justice: "There's no question at all we're going to have a significant shortfall. And by significant, I mean really significant."

Justice: "There's no point in everybody scrambling around and running for the cheese. Because we don't even know the rules yet."

Justice: "We'll end up just doing the smart stuff."

Q by @stevenadamswv on the $1.25 billion federal dollars. "Would it not be prudent to get the Legislature here, maybe in June to try to move some Rainy Day money temporarily?"

Justice: "If we get to the point in time where we are looking at a possibility of June and we don't have relief in place, you dadgum right we'll have 'em here in June."

Justice: "I've surely got some inside information. And I feel like, feel like -- I don't know -- that we're going to be OK."

Q by @dbeardtdp -- rebel -- who is breaking the rules and asking 2 questions

Justice: "I was just hoping people would greatly postpone their graduations and in the summer bring people back in."

Question on Justice being a coach and how much he has drawn from that for pandemic leadership.

Pitch is off-speed and down the middle. Justice hits the meat of the ball.

Justice: "I've got a heck of a team."

Justice: "This team right here is the real deal."

Justice: "West Virginians you're a pleasure to coach. And I'm really proud to be your coach, that's for sure."

Q by @TaylorStuckHD about what to do if your employer reopens but you are among the vulnerable

Justice advises that anyone who feels they are treated unreasonably to call the Governor's Office. "I don't like it."

Q from William K Bass about rolling out a plan for testing vulnerable communities

Marsh: "We see the opportunity to test congregate settings but also simultaneously focus on vulnerable communities."

Q from @PhilKabler about an estimate of how the reopening might revitalize state revenue

Justice: "I don't want to wait around. Even though the information is incomplete, I want more information."

He's describing a 4 p.m. meeting today with #WVgov Revenue officials

Justice: "I think we're really good through the entire month of May and probably out to June the 10th."

"That's a good question and has been a legitimate concern."

I asked if there's any concern about meeting state bills *this month*

Q from @KaraLofton about day cares opening and whether parents should take their kids. Any guidance?

Justice: "I can share in everyone's concern."

He says DHHR is putting out guidance to day care centers

Q from @MarkCurtisWOWK, wondering if there's truth to sunlight and warm weather affecting the virus

Marsh: "For many viral infections, we do see a reduction in warmer months."

Marsh, without saying it should be in the body, also says ultraviolet light helps

Crouch: "The safest thing for West Virginians to do is to assume this virus is not going away. It will still be with us in the fall."

Justice, wrapping it up: "I want everyone to take heed to what we've been saying. We've been saying over and over and over to be cautious about what you do.

"We do feel like it is surely safe moving forward."

Justice: "If in fact, we have a problem we'll back up and if need be, I'll close it back down. That's all there is to it. If this thing turns the wrong way, I'm going to react. And I'm going to react before we have a bad situation."

Justice: "God bless you and thank you so much."