WV and National Disaster News - August 17, 2021

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WEST VIRGINIA

Government

WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for August 17, 2021 (WV DHHR) - DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 64-year old male from Mason County, a 65-year old female from Randolph County, an 84-year old female from Kanawha County, a 77-year old female from Berkeley County, a 44-year old male from Kanawha County, a 79-year old female from Wayne County, a 41-year old female from Summers County, an 80-year old female from Nicholas County, a 79-year old female from Marshall County, a 75-year old female from Cabell County, a 72-year old female from Logan County, and a 79-year old female from Lewis County.

“The COVID vaccine is safe, effective, readily available and free. Take time to schedule an appointment today,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “We send our sincere condolences to these families for their profound loss.”

Local

• Justice says covid is getting dire but not bad enough for another mask mandate (MetroNews-Radio)
• Justice walking fine line between groups on pandemic response (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• 'We are going to have more people die,' Gov. Justice says as active cases spike (WCHS-TV)
• Marion Co., West Virginia, Schools to enforce mask mandate based on DHHR COVID-19 dashboard (The Exponent Telegram)
• On first day of school, demonstrators take to streets over Fayette County mask policy (WVVA-TV)
• Boone County Schools mask mandate stays despite hostile meeting (WOWK-TV)
• Marshall County to start school year with no mask requirements (WTRF-TV)
• Wood County among top in West Virginia for delta variant infections (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• Four positive cases of COVID-19 linked to the State Fair of West Virginia (WVNS-TV)
• Amjad: Conditions improve at Fayette nursing home where there were breakthrough cases (MetroNews-Radio)
• Guidance for additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised individuals released (WTAP-TV)
• Nonprofit gets $3.5 million grant to boost W.Va. COVID testing, vaccines (WCHS-TV)
• YCF Awards more than $30,000 in new COVID-19 Emergency Impact Grants to local nonprofits (WBOY-TV)
• ACA expansion deadline ends for West Virginians impacted by COVID (MetroNews-Radio)
• Gov. Justice places West Virginia under state of preparedness (WTRF-TV)
• Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred to bring heavy rain to our area late Tuesday (WCHS-TV)

national

COVID

Many news sources are reporting that federal officials will recommend COVID-19 booster shots:

• Sources: US to recommend COVID vaccine boosters at 8 months (AP)
• U.S. expected to recommend Covid vaccine booster shots 8 months after second dose, sources say (CNBC)
• Biden administration expected to advise Covid booster shots for most Americans (CNN)
• U.S. to Advise Boosters for Most Americans 8 Months After Vaccination (NYT)
• The White House May Recommend COVID-19 Booster Shots (NPR)
• Biden to recommend Covid vaccine booster shots as Delta variant rages (MSNBC)
• Oregon’s US lawmakers urge FEMA to help short-staffed hospitals (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• US COVID-19 cases back to pre-vaccination levels (CIDRAP)
• ‘We are on fire’: Five U.S. states set new records for COVID cases as hospitalizations rise (CNBC)
• A grim warning from Israel: Vaccination blunts, but does not defeat Delta (Science)
• Can the Vaccinated Develop Long Covid After a Breakthrough Infection? (NYT)
• Employers Are Struggling With Whether To Mandate COVID Vaccines For Their Workers (NPR)
• Babies and Toddlers Spread Virus in Homes More Easily Than Teens, Study Finds (NYT)
• Alabama Has Only Two ICU Beds Available As Delta Explodes in State (NewsWeek)

WEATHER

• Tropical Depression Fred Is Spreading Threats of Flooding Rain and Isolated Tornadoes Into the Southeast (The Weather Channel)
• Polis and Other Western US Governors Urge Biden To Declare A Federal Drought Disaster (CPR News)
• Texas requests FEMA help with mortuary trailers, expecting surge in COVID 19 deaths  (Axios)
• Biden approves Florida emergency declaration due to Tropical Storm Fred (Fox News)