Justice: 'Way premature' to lift state of emergency despite favorable risk map
CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice said Monday it’s “way premature” to consider lifting a six-month-old state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the state’s color-coded risk assessment map currently shows 46 of the 55 counties are either lowest-risk green or low-risk yellow.
“We are nowhere close to lifting our state of emergency,” Justice said during the state COVID-19 briefing Monday. “We’ve got to stay as diligent as we possibly can. We’ve got to stay on our game.”
State law gives governors broad powers during states of emergency, including the ability to amend or rescind state rules and regulations; to assume procurement and appropriations authority; to suspend state laws; and to exercise all other powers and duties “necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population.”
The governor’s powers even extend to the authority to “suspend or limit the sale, dispensing or transportation of alcoholic beverages,” an authority Justice has exercised on two occasions during the pandemic to order all bars closed in Monongalia County.
Read more: https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/justice-way-premature-to-lift-state-of-emergency-despite-favorable-risk-map/article_33bf5f47-adc5-5f99-90fe-fac554fe55eb.html
(Huntington Herald-Dispatch)