NEW MARTINSVILLE – A “large gathering” of people at an undisclosed event in Wetzel County in late June has led to a spike in coronavirus cases there, Wetzel-Tyler Health Department Administrator Karen Cain said.

Cain declined to say what the gathering involved or where it was located, but she said at least 16 Wetzel County residents were infected with COVID-19 at the event, and another five from Tyler County.

She said more tests are pending from people who attended the event during the last week in June.

“The information we need to get out there is people need to wear their masks and social distance,” Cain said.

Cain also advised people to stay at home if possible, and wash their hands while in public.

“But the big thing is we need to social distance and wear our masks,” she said.

As of Thursday, there have been 27 total coronavirus cases reported in Wetzel County since the beginning of the pandemic, and nine cases in Tyler County.