As protests for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black folks who have been the victims of police violence continue across the nation, many have questioned how such large gatherings will impact the spread of the novel coronavirus. While the answer to that question remains to be seen (and is likely a complex one in itself), another question that hasn’t gotten enough mainstream media attention is one of how in-person religious gatherings may contribute to the spread of the virus. The latest example comes to us from West Virginia, where, as reported by local outlet WCHS-TV, 28 members at Greystone Baptist Church in Greenbrier County tested positive for the virus.
Gov. Jim Justice issued a press release encouraging all people in the state “especially when in church settings” to maintain social distancing, use every other pew, and to wear masks. Gov. Justice also noted that many people who attend services are “elderly and at higher risk.”