| West Virginia has set a record for newly confirmed coronavirus cases as infections, deaths and hospitalizations surge in the state.
State health data recorded 220 new cases Friday, the most since the outbreak began.
So far this week there have been 13 deaths, a record number for the Mountain State, as cases roar out of control across the nation.
Officials also reported record highs in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, intensive care unit patients and virus ventilator use in WV.
Some US epidemiologists say many cases have not been reported, as testing is still a problem that has been left to 50 states.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice renewed his call for residents to wear masks and urged people to take the virus seriously as it surges within West Virginia and in surrounding states. Still, he declined to reimpose additional virus restrictions Friday, but did not rule out such measures if metrics continue to climb.
Meanwhile, state health officials defended their response to an outbreak at a Princeton nursing home.
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