WV and National Disaster News - January 4, 2022

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WEST VIRGINIA

Government

• WV Daily COVID Update and Stats for January 4, 2022 (WV DHHR) - There have been five deaths reported since the last report (1/3/22), with a total of 5,361 deaths attributed to COVID-19. DHHR has confirmed the deaths of an 85-year old male from Jefferson County, a 68-year old male from Wayne County, a 77-year old female from Jackson County, an 88-year old female from Ohio County, and a 77-year old male from Cabell County. “As we continue the fight against this pandemic, we are devastated by the loss of more West Virginians," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “I urge all West Virginians to follow the health recommendations and receive their vaccine or booster immediately." 
• Gov. Justice directs state health officials to continue monitoring Omicron numbers and hospital bed availability (Governor of West Virginia)

Local

• West Virginia surges past 15,000 covid cases and 700 hospitalizations (WV Metro News)
• Virus Cases, Hospitalizations Surge in West Virginia (AP)
• Calls grow for state leaders to address EMS issues magnified by pandemic (WV Metro News)
• Complex I-70 Bridge Project in West Virginia Heading Toward Completion (Construction Equipment Guide)
• West Virginia environmental agency approves Mountain Valley Pipeline permit (Danville Register and Bee)

NATIONAL NEWS

COVID

• More than 2K schools closing over COVID concerns in first week of 2022 (Fox News)
• FDA OKs Pfizer booster for 12- to 15-year-olds; wait time for 3rd shots now 5 months: COVID updates (USA Today)
• NY COVID Hospitalizations Top 2021 Surge Levels; Omicron Quintuples Risk of Breakthrough Cases (NBC 4 New York)
• Biden will make 'brief remarks' Tuesday on rapid spread of the Omicron variant (CNN) Also see:  Fox News 
• Not 2020 again? Tell that to parents where COVID cases, test shortages are closing schools (USA Today)
•  'Omicron Ts​unami' Drives Staff Shortages at New Jersey Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities (Newsweek)
• Philly officials warn residents against using pop-up COVID-19 testing sites in Center City (Philadelphia Inquirer - PA) Also see: Philly Voice (PA) 

WEATHER

• Biggest mid-Atlantic snowstorm in years kicks off the first week of 2022 (NBC News)
• Fierce winter storm lashes South, mid-Atlantic with heavy snow, wind; nearly 850,000 without power (USA Today)
• Snow closes COVID-19 vaccinations centers Monday across DC, Maryland, Virginia (Fox 5 DC)
  
• Deadly winter storm delivers over a foot of snow, snarls traffic and air travel (AccuWeather)  Also see Weather Channel 
• Motorists have been stranded on a major interstate in Virginia since last night (CNN) Also see; WUSA News 9 (DC) and The Weather Channel
• Two more rounds of snow forecast for this week (The Weather Channel) Also see: AccuWeather 
• Displaced by Marshall fire, thousands scramble to find homes in tight housing market (Denver Post - CO) 
• Jill Biden to visit Kentucky to see tornado damage (The Hill)​

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