CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A state lab in West Virginia is now able to conduct its own tests for the new coronavirus, Gov. Jim Justice said Saturday.
In a news release, Justice said coronavirus tests will be done at the state Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Public Health lab.
Previously, West Virginia had submitted tests of people at risk of having the virus to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
West Virginia has no reported cases of coronavirus. Five people have been tested, Justice said. Two tests were negative, and results for three more were pending Saturday, the governor said.
“The ability to test at the state level is a huge step forward that will allow us to respond even faster to this evolving situation,” Justice said.
The U.S. death toll from the virus was 19 on Saturday. The number of infections has swelled to nearly 400, scattered across about half of the U.S. states.
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