WV and National Disaster News - May 19, 2021

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West Virginia

Government News

WV Daily COVID Update and Stats for May 19, 2021 (WV DHHR)

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 60-year old male from Berkeley County, a 36-year old male from Webster County, a 72-year old male from Kanawha County, and a 67-year old female from Raleigh County.

“The pain of grief runs long and deep,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “Scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine is the most powerful way to prevent further loss of life to this devastating disease.”

Local News

• Vaccination efforts shift but continue in eastern panhandle (MetroNews-Radio)
• Justice plans to move ahead with $100 for 12 to 35 year olds (The Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• Active COVID cases, hospitalizations continue to decline in West Virginia (MetroNews-Radio)
• Kanawha-Charleston Health Department says 49-year-old woman dies from COVID-19 (WCHS-TV)
• Many local stores no longer require face coverings (The Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• Masks required in all WVU Medicine facilities (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• Easing Into A Maskless West Virginia (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• Millions of newly-distributed dollars will await West Virginia leaders’ priorities (MetroNews-Radio)
• How is WV going to spend its $677M in American Rescue Plan funds? (WVNS-TV)

National

COVID

• Top FDA official says fully vaccinated people could need COVID booster shots within a year (CNBC)
• Covid cases dropping by 5% or more in nearly every U.S. state, vaccinations continue to fall (CNBC)
• 600,000 kids between 12 and 15 have received Pfizer vaccine dose since FDA authorization (Yahoo News)
• Slow uptake of Covid-19 vaccine in rural areas could hinder the end of the pandemic, CDC says (CNN)
• Coronavirus vaccines may not work in some people. It’s because of their underlying conditions. (Washington Post)
• Covid-19 vaccine acceptance rates lower among Black US military service members, military study finds (CNN)
• Average Covid-19 cases are the lowest they've been in nearly a year. Vaccines can push them even lower; officials say (CNN)
• About 60% of American adults have had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, including more people of color (CNN)
• Hospitals may be overcounting how many kids are admitted for COVID-19 in the US, study finds (USA Today)
• As FEMA leaves Memphis, public vaccine sites begin drawdown and canvassing ramps up (Commercial appeal)
• Florida Vaccine Updates: Hialeah Gardens Holding Free Event, MDC Site Closing Next Week (NBC)
• Maryland to move from COVID-19 mass vaccination sites to communities (Yahoo News)

Weather

• Millions in Texas are under flash flood warnings due to torrential rain (CNN)  Over 100,000 without power.

• Flooding from Louisiana storms turns deadly (NBC) At least three people were dead after a foot of rain fell in Lake Charles and 10 inches in Baton Rouge, officials said. More rain is forecast.

• Historic rainfall to continue deluging South Central states (AccuWeather)

OTHER

FEMA Announces Operational Guidance for Disaster Response and Recovery in Pandemic Environment (Homeland Security Today)

InterNational COVID News

• With 100M inoculations in just 9 days, a fresh batch of Covid cases finally helped China combat vaccine hesitancy (CNN)
• Indian data suggests runaway COVID infections as deaths hit daily record (Reuters)
• Canada expected to pass US on first dose Covid vaccinations as demand declines among Americans (CNN)