Church Outbreak: A look at what’s next in WV’s effort to control COVID-19 in the state’s African American May 8, 2020 / 06:45 PM EDT

/ Updated: May 8, 2020 / 06:32 PM Zion W.Va.

As the debate continued in both traditional media and on social media, those were the words of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice as he and state health officials announced the formation of an advisory task force focused on the state’s African American population.

State Health Officer Dr. Cathy Slemp also offered up data illustrating that infection rates among African Americans in West Virginia exceed their percentage of the state’s population.

Romelia Hodges

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church member Romelia Hodges, who’s been outspoken since learning of the church outbreak, wants to meet with public health officials about the data.

Next week, 12 News plans to talk with other church members affected by the outbreak, as well as provide an update on the task force meeting scheduled for Monday.