VIRUS BRIEFING — Gov. Jim Justice urges church congregations to wear masks and socially distance after additional church outbreaks were reported. (Photo Courtesy/W.Va. Governor’s Office)

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice, state health officials and the West Virginia National Guard continue to watch as coronavirus cases increase in the state and as outbreaks pop up at nursing homes and churches.

“We’re going to continue to watch and we’re going to continue to stay on top of this,” Justice said Monday during a coronavirus briefing at the Capitol.

According to the Department of Health and Human Resources, the number of new cases between July 6 and July 19 was 1,719, which is a 107 percent increase from the previous 14 days. As of Sunday, the state reported 89 new cases. The total number of tests over the last 14 days was 46,866, which was a 30-percent increase in testing compared to June 22 through July 5.

As of Monday, Justice said there are outbreaks in churches in seven counties resulting in 75 positive cases. The counties with church outbreaks are Boone, Grant, Logan, Kanawha, Raleigh, Taylor and Wood counties.

“We absolutely have to stay on top of this with all in us,” Justice said. “Please know that the church setting is the ideal setting to spread this virus. Please know that. We have said repeatedly a pew between us, some level of social distancing, and absolutely social distance from those who are not in your immediate family. The other thing is just this: you have got to wear masks in church. I know it’s hard to do…but for right now that has to be done.”

Justice said he directed the West Virginia National Guard to a nursing home in Pendleton County to test all residents and staff. The Pendleton Manor in Franklin reported a positive COVID-19 case over the weekend.

“They are there right now testing everyone at that nursing home,” Justice said. “That’s how we run to the fire and we want to be able to continue to do so at nursing homes or wherever it may be.”

Active case numbers, the number of infected people in self-quarantine or hospitalized, sits at 1,580 as of Monday morning, an 18-percent increase in active cases since last week. Active cases have increased in 31 out of 55 counties, while cases in 18 counties have decreased and four counties have seen no changes in case numbers. Three counties have no positive coronavirus cases.

Monongalia County continues to lead the state with 395 active cases, a 14 percent increase since last week, with 66 percent of cases coming from teenagers and young adults between the ages of 10 and 29. Kanawha County saw a 37 percent increase in active cases with 171 residents either in self quarantine or hospitalized. Ohio County saw a 25 percent increase, from 53 active cases to 70.

Some counties with large cities and populations have seen cases decrease. Active cases in Berkeley County which had the largest number of cases at one point saw a 17 percent decrease from 96 cases last week to 82 cases as of Monday. Wood County saw a 25-percent decrease in cases, from 94 to 75. Cabell County saw a 12-percent decrease over the last seven days, from 85 to 76.

Justice encouraged West Virginians and businesses to continue to follow his executive order mandating masks while indoors and in settings where social distancing is limited.

“I surely appreciate everybody wearing their mask when they go out and go into a building,” Justice said. “If we do it and do it in a good way like we’re doing it, hopefully we’ll start backing down from these numbers and we’ll continue to be able to do everything we like and are able to do in the state of West Virginia.”

Hospitalizations have increased over the last week to 76, with 33 confirmed cases in intensive care units and 17 cases on ventilators. The average number of hospitalizations between July 6 and July 19 jumped by 119 percent over the average number of hospitalizations in the previous 14 days.

Deaths between July 6 and July 19 totaled five, bringing the total number of deaths in West Virginia to 100 since the first death was reported March 29. Deaths are down 17 percent from six deaths reported between June 22 through July 5.

“We’ve had no additional deaths since last Friday. That’s wonderful news as far as I’m concerned and good news throughout our state,” Justice said. “The bad news is we have 100 great West Virginians that we’ve lost, and that’s just 100 flat too many.”

(Adams can be contacted at sadams@newsandsentinel.com)