WHEELING — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice believes a Jan. 4 federal mandate requiring employees at larger businesses to get COVID-19 vaccinations “will not happen.”

During his virtual briefing with state reporters on Friday, Justice discussed the Biden Administration’s mandate that workers at U.S. companies with at least 100 employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly starting Jan. 4.

“While I adamantly disagree with the Biden Administration in regard to this, it is a federal requirement,” Justice explained “It will trump our state wishes.”

He noted a bill passed last month in the West Virginia Legislature forbids workers in West Virginia from being terminated from their jobs because they wish not to be vaccinated because of medical or religious concerns.

“I think with all in me we should be respectful of people’s freedoms,” Justice said. “That’s what made this country the absolutely great country we are today.

“I do believe that while they rolled out and said Jan. 4 will be the date, I do believe that will not happen.”

Legal challenges are likely to occur, according to Justice.

On Friday, State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced he was joining with six other attorneys general to file a petition before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for private sector employees.

The coalition is asking the court to review the emergency temporary standard issued by the Biden Administration’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The group also is requesting the court to stay the immediate effect of the mandate.

“I think there are umpteen lawsuits all over the place in regard to challenging this,” Justice said. “I cannot imagine… with the track record — with the shipwreck that happened with the Democratic party in the elections that happened just this Tuesday — that we are continuing down these paths that absolutely infringe on our good people.”

Justice said he continues to believe vaccinations are the best protection we have against COVID.

“But absolutely we should abide by the Constitution. It should be a choice of the people — a freedom,” he said. “That is how I believe, and exactly what I think.”

Justice announced there were 28 additional deaths from COVID in the state since his last briefing on Wednesday. The total number of deaths in West Virginia attributed to COVID now stands at 4,518.