The Shadow
RONCEVERTE, W.Va. — The Greenbrier County Health Department on Monday reported seven more positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of active cases related to a Ronceverte church to 41.
Graystone Baptist in Ronceverte has been identified as the church where multiple people have contracted the virus.
On Friday, Greenbrier County health officials were following a possible COVID-19 exposure at another church. Cathy Slemp, the commissioner for the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health, said an individual at the second church had been exposed to the virus by a person who attends Graystone Baptist.
The name of the second church was not disclosed. Health officials said the exposure at the second church is not considered to be an outbreak.
Gov. Jim Justice said there are three active COVID-19 outbreaks in West Virginia churches. A church in Ohio County has 18 active cases. There are nine active cases at a church in Boone County.
“In a church, where people are singing and sitting close together, it is an absolute breeding ground for this disease,” Justice said in a Monday media briefing.
Justice again stressed the need for people in churches to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
The governor said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in West Virginia grew by more than 100 over the weekend. On Monday, the number of active cases in the state stood at 782.
“We are still seeing the results of people traveling out of our state, especially to places like Myrtle Beach,” he said.
Greenbrier County is reporting 51 cumulative cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Ten people have fully recovered from the disease, the health department said.
