By Brad McElhinny in News | March 30, 2020 at 3:28PM
Gov. Jim Justice announced measures meant to keep people from coronavirus hotspots from congregating in West Virginia, which has a relatively low case rate.
Justice announced an executive order for people who have traveled to West Virginia from hot spots such as New York, Connecticut, Louisiana, Italy or China to quarantine for 14 days if they travel to the state.
He also announced state parks campgrounds will be closed, a decision driven by reports of crowds of people from out-of-state taking up residence.
“All of this is driven primarily from the standpoint of others coming across our borders,” Justice said during a Monday afternoon news briefing. “And we don’t want ’em to come.
“Now we in West Virginia want to embrace all and have people come from all walks of life when this is over — but right now, we don’t want you to come. And we want you to hear us: We don’t want you to come across our borders.”
Justice said he would ask the State Police to monitor the situation.
The governor noted the exception of people commuting back-and-forth across state lines for essential work duties.
“Other than that,” Justice said, “we don’t want people coming across our state lines.”
