The absence of data on COVID-19 infections by race is leaving a hole in what the public knows about the spread of the virus in West Virginia and could be costing communities emergency grant money.
Patientsâ race is unidentified in 17,824 cases, a third of the state total, according to numbers reported Friday on West Virginiaâs coronavirus dashboard.
In the seven-day period ending Friday, 5,757 of 8,841 new positive cases did not list race.
West Virginia officials identified Black communities as a vulnerable population in May after Black leaders across the state pushed for greater transparency in data reporting.
The state then formed an advisory commission, which worked to increase testing in minority communities.
12/10/2020 Page Content
This testing location was organized through Gov. Jim Justice’s COVID-19 Advisory Commission on African American Disparities
CHARLESTON, WV – The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) announced an upcoming free COVID-19 testing location at the Ranson Civic Center in Jefferson County, 431 W. 2nd Avenue, Ranson, WV 25438. Testing will be offered Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pre-registration is available but not required. Those interested in registering for the free testing can do so online at The COVID-19 testing locations are organized, in part, by Gov. Jim Justice’s COVID-19 Advisory Commission on African American Disparities in order to provide testing opportunities to residents in counties with high minority populations and evidence of COVID-19 transmission.