Proclamation of State of Emergency for COVID-19 (Governor of State of West Virginia)

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT At Charleston A PROCLAMATION By the Governor WHEREAS, beginning on the Twenty-first day of January, Two Thousand Twenty, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention activated their Emergency Response Center and began responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in numerous countries, including in the United States; and WHEREAS, a State of Preparedness was issued on the Fourth Day of March, Two Thousand Twenty for all counties in West Virginia, to allow agencies to coordinate and create necessary measures to prepare for the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS, it is of the utmost importance that our Cabinet Secretaries, Commissioners, and Directors throughout the state have the ability to take measures necessary to ensure the safety of our citizens; and WHEREAS, the COVID-19 epidemic constitutes a disaster under section two, article five, chapter fifteen of the Code of West Virginia; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 has been deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organization and the President of the United States has declared a national emergency; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of West Virginia that we are able to stand up emergency operation centers and allow boards and agencies to suspend certain rules that inhibit them from responding effectively; and NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM JUSTICE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of West Virginia, and in view of the foregoing, do hereby FIND AND DECLARE that a State of Emergency does exist in Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming Counties of West Virginia, said State of Emergency to remain in effect unless terminated by subsequent Proclamation. I therefore INVOKE the emergency powers set forth in section six, article five, chapter fifteen of the Code of West Virginia; UTILIZE the Emergency Operations Plan, as necessary; ORDER the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the West Virginia National Guard to mobilize appropriate personnel and resources to respond to the emergency; order all other state agencies to assist as may be requested and to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected areas and people in this state; and DELEGATE certain administrative powers to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the Director of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the West Virginia National Guard, as necessary, to facilitate the provision of essential emergency services to alleviate the potential impacts to the people, property, and infrastructure of West Virginia that may be caused by this outbreak. Further, I hereby ORDER that it is unlawful for any person, business, or other entity to sell any food items, essential consumer items, and emergency supplies in a manner that violates the provisions of section three, article six J, chapter forty-six A of the Code of West Virginia. Finally, I hereby DELEGATE to all state agencies the ability to suspend rules, if strict compliance therewith would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with

the emergency. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed. DONE at the Capitol in the City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Twenty in the One Hundred Fifty-eighth year of the State. By the State J'/pe_.Jy~ SECRETARY OF STATE