Five churches in West Virginia have experienced coronavirus outbreaks, including 17 cases that have been identified at a single church in Greenbrier County.
Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, ordered the National Guard to immediately begin decontamination at the Greenbrier County church. The church will be closed for 14 days for cleaning, and state health officials have started contact tracing, the Department of Health and Human Resources said.
Justice encouraged residents to adhere to safety precautions to limit the spread of the virus and get tested.
“I want to strongly encourage all West Virginians, especially when in church settings, to follow the guidelines and use every other pew, maintain social distancing, and please wear masks,” Justice said Saturday in a news release.
The churches with outbreaks were not identified.
The other counties where coronavirus outbreaks have occurred in churches are Boone, Hampshire, Jefferson, and Marshall counties, state officials said.
