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WV Governor Jim Justice said the thought of the Delta variant spreading makes him want to “pee and puke.”
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West Virginia has seen a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases in recent weeks.
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Earlier this week, however, justice refused to enforce a mask warrant in the state.
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The rise of the Delta variant in West Virginia and the fear of inadequately containing it makes the governor of West Virginia uncomfortable.
During a coronavirus briefing Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice said the idea of the Delta variant rising in the state makes him want to “pee and puke.” according to West Virginia Metro News.
He said he felt disturbed when his senior health officials informed him of the virus in West Virginia. When he met with the state’s COVID-19 coordinator and the head of state’s government response team, he asked to be excused from their meeting to use the washroom.
“Because you don’t like the news, it happens to you,” he said about an hour and 22 minutes after the briefing began, which was broadcast live. “It’s a difficult thing.”
West Virginia has seen a spike in confirmed cases of the coronavirus in recent weeks, which officials have attributed to the Delta variant.
New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that urge people vaccinated to now wear face coverings indoors. Earlier this week, justice declined to apply a mask warrant in the state, but said it would remain “open-minded” about the demands amid ongoing conversations with experts.
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During Thursday’s briefing, justice said the state would take precautions to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus and in particular the Delta variant. But those precautions currently do not include a mask warrant or arrest restrictions.
Instead, he said, the focus will be on making sure there is enough personal protective equipment and hospital beds to handle the wave.
“I think I can see the enemy coming, and I’m really hesitant to shoot or not,” he said at the briefing. “But I know for sure that I can see the enemy coming. At least I think I can. The enemy is this delta variant.”
Read more: Internal CDC document warns ‘war has changed’ with more infectious Delta variant
About 42% of West Virginia’s total population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. New positive cases have been increasing in the state for at least two weeks, according to JHU data.
The justice office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
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