CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – During Monday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that he would convene an emergency meeting Monday afternoon between state health, education, athletics experts, and more to discuss potential changes to the the color-coded School Re-Entry Map system, which determines the level of scholastic, athletic, and extracurricular activities permitted in each county for that particular week.
This past Saturday’s map included eight counties in either orange or red status, which, in its current format, means schools must utilize a fully-virtual instruction model, with no in-person instruction or extracurricular activities.
“It’s plenty tough for everybody,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s tough from a daycare issue. It’s tough from an economic issue. It’s tough for our parents who worry about sickness. It’s tough for our numbers going up. It’s tough for our medical teams. It’s tough in every different way.
“I can tell you this: I am trying with all my soul to continue to change and adapt this system to where it works the very best for all of us, where it keeps us safest, and where it works in a better way for all of us,” Gov. Justice continued.
The Governor discussed the possibility of adding gold as a fifth color to the existing color scale of green, yellow, orange, and red – between yellow and orange – to allow for more options when it comes to protocols depending on each county’s case numbers.
After the briefing, Gov. Justice met with these experts at the Governor’s Mansion to discuss a potential fifth color and numerous other possible adjustments to the current system.
The meeting, which included leaders from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia Department of Education, West Virginia National Guard, West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh, and other members of the Governor’s staff, went on well into the evening as experts discussed a multitude of possibilities.
To give West Virginians and members of the media adequate notice, Gov. Justice and his panel of experts have decided to provide an update on these discussions today.
