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Wood County sees COVID-19 outbreak at church

PARKERSBURG — Wood County is among seven locations in West Virginia to have an active COVID-19 outbreak at a church.

The total number of positive cases in Wood County is now 219, according to a release from the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. Of those, 122 remain active, meaning they are still being monitored by the department and are not considered to have recovered.

Gov. Jim Justice announced the seven new church outbreaks during his Monday pandemic press briefing. The specific Wood County congregation involved has not been revealed.

“I can tell you that there was a church in Wood County that had an outbreak of five individuals,” said Carrie Brainard, public information officer for the Health Department, which covers six counties, including Wood. “We prefer not to disclose the name of the church unless the church decides to” do that on its own.

The department did receive calls Monday afternoon from individuals asking what church had the outbreak, Brainard said.

“People can rest assured that if they were one of the contacts they will be notified by the Health Department,” she said.

A “contact” is someone who spent more than 15 minutes less than 6 feet from an individual who tested positive during the incubation period, Brainard said. The incubation period is two days prior to the onset of symptoms, though some infected individuals never develop symptoms.

“We continue to monitor the situation, speak to the contacts and build a line list to follow,” Brainard said. “Individuals that might be linked to the outbreak are advised to monitor for symptoms, consider being tested five days after potential exposure and to quarantine at home until negative tests results are acquired.”

Brainard said the Health Department first got word about a couple of the individuals involved Friday. The church outbreak is still being investigated.

“Some family connectivity” is between the infected individuals, she said.

The Health Department release said that in a church or other indoor area, masks are required by an order from the governor. Exceptions include residences, when sitting at a table in a restaurant, when social distancing is possible and for people with breathing problems or who cannot put on a mask without assistance.

“Masks and consistent hand sanitizing are the most effective way to avoid contracting COVID-19 or passing it to others,” the release says.

In addition to the new cases in Wood County, the Health Department reported one new case in Pleasants County. That makes the total there five, with three still being monitored by the department.

Other counties’ case totals remained unchanged.

Of the 12 positive cases in Roane County, two remain in isolation, while Wirt County has six cases with one still isolated. There have been five cases in Calhoun County, two of which are still being monitored, while Ritchie has had three, with two active.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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