By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
July 9, 2020
At almost the same moment federal officials were urging a full return to schools in the fall, West Virginia Jim Justice said the state isn’t ready and pushed back the start date to Sept. 8.
That came as West Virginia’s numbers for positives compared to overall testing, reproductive rate and hospitalizations surged alarmingly.
Two counties — Monongalia and Kanawha — reported one-day records for positive tests.
“I can assure you that I am not going to move until I am absolutely as sure as I can possibly be that our kids are going to be safe,” Justice said during a briefing today.
West Virginia schools were aiming to open in just a few weeks. The delay would also push back the start of fall sports.