West  Virginia Governor Jim Justice said during his Monday COVID-19 response press conference that he is concerned with how the virus is moving through both the southern part of the country and the southern part of the state.

 

"The biggest concern I have is migration of this from the south," Justice said. "If you look at Mingo, Mercer, Logan counties, we are having real issues right now. Look where they border. They border the southern states. We have to continue to take every possible precaution, especially those of you in our southern counties."

 

The Princeton nursing home, which is in Mercer County, is the state's biggest hot spot right now according to Justice. A total of 31 staff members and 33 residents of that Princeton facility have tested positive and there have been 19 hospitalizations, including 16 overnight.

 

A pair of hosptials in the southern part of the state, one in Raleigh county and one in Logan County, have also developed into hot spots and the National Guard and the Department of Health of Human Resources are actively assisting at both locations.

 

DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch said 22 staff members at the Logan Hospital have tested positive as well as five patients and also warned they are dealing with an outbreak in the entire county and not just the hospital.

 

It was also announced during the that St. Francis Hospital in Charleston will become a COVID-19 surge hospital.

 

"Initially that will be 15 beds ready to go but that number could increase," Crouch said. "In this case, we are running to the fire before there is a fire."

 

The governor touched on the topic of the Monongalia County bars closure being extended for 10 days — an order he issued over the weekend. He said they remain hopeful those businesses can come back with limited capacity soon.

 

Justice said there are still four active outbreaks in churches in four different counties — Mason, Grant, Logan and Taylor.

 

"All across our nation, all the health experts, everybody is saying we have to practice good hygiene, we have to look out for our neighbors, we have to social distance and we have got to wear our masks. Nobody likes it, but we have got to wear our masks.. 

 

"There is movement into rural areas that we maybe thought at first were safer. You have got to wear your maks West Virginia and I'm calling on all businesses to help me, help police wearing of masks. If you are someone that feels like you don't have to wear a mask, maybe someone else can run into the store and pick up what you need."

 

Justice said funds sent through the state for small business grants is at $4.4 million and that $102 million worth of CARES Act funds have been sent out to cities and counties.

 

Free COVID-19 testing is either under way or planned to begin in the upcoming days in Taylor County (Aug. 8) as well as McDowell, Jackson, Raleigh, Hampshire, Mingo and Brooke counties.

 

Video from Monday's press conference can be viewed below.