Gov. Jim Justice talks about his second experience with COVID-19. The governor spoke during an administrative briefing Tuesday from the Capitol. (Photo Provided)

CHARLESTON — The governor Tuesday said he’s feeling good after coming off a second bout with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“I’m in good shape. I’m ready to go,” Gov. Jim Justice said during his administrative briefing streamed online from the Capitol.

Justice announced Jan. 17 he tested positive for COVID. It was the second time the governor contracted the virus, the first in January 2022.

The governor is fully vaccinated and up-to-date with booster vaccinations. Justice attributed his well-being to being vaccinated and receiving the available booster shots.

“It does stack the deck in your favor,” Justice said.

He has encouraged residents throughout the pandemic to get vaccinated.

“It was not as bad as the first go round. It seems like it lingered a little bit,” Justice said.

Justice also said his “whole clan” came down with the virus, too.

“It is extremely contagious,” he said. “We told you that over and over and over.”

The governor is well enough to travel around the state promoting a proposed 50% reduction in the personal income tax.

Justice will be in Parkersburg at noon today in Parkersburg City Council chambers where he will talk about the tax reduction then take any questions. Revenue Secretary David Hardy and Delegate Vernon Criss, R-Wood, chairman of the House Finance Committee, will be there, too, Justice said.

He’ll be in Beckley on Thursday and in Wheeling at noon Friday at Independence Hall.

Justice’s state-trotting follows what he did before the election in opposing Amendment 2, a Senate-backed tax plan.

The governor believes economic development, jobs and people will come to West Virginia with the reduction and eventual elimination of the income tax, which will infuse $1 billion into the economy.

“It’s an opportunity you can’t imagine,” he said.

Thirty percent would be effective this year retroactive to Jan. 1 followed by 10% in each of the next two following years.

The House of Delegates passed the cut 95-2. It went to the state Senate where members are more reluctant to reduce the revenue to the state in the event of economic downturns.

He hopes the Senate comes around and agrees with him.

“Now do we want to be smart? Do we want to make sure we don’t overextend ourselves? Of course we do,” he said.

In other issues, the governor announced a plan to increase compensation in the Department of Health and Human Resources Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services and Youth Services, among other improvements.

Starting salaries have been raised 20% and previously hired employees who are under new salary classification will be brought to the new level, increases in the retention bonus based on the base salary of employees, creating a hiring rate of $50,000 for CPS employees in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties, raising the Youth Services classification to the same pay grade as CPS workers, creating new positions in field staff and in policy and licensing support, buying tablets for field staff and installing wifi in all county offices.

The total cost will be $10 million in the first year, Dr. Jeff Coben, interim director of the Department of Health and Human Resources, said.