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West Virginia COVID adviser: Cool weather may bring new surge of infections

CHARLESTON — Colder weather may bring with it an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, according to West Virginia’s coronavirus adviser on Thursday. Studies from the United Kingdom indicate increases in cases and hospitalizations have occurred with the arrival of cooler weather, Dr. Clay Marsh said. Documented cases have increased 30 percent while hospitalizations have risen by 17 percent, he said. “They have also done their own analysis and they believe this is not because of a new variant, it’s really because they are seeing waning immunity because not enough of their ...

COVID claims four more lives in West Virginia

CHARLESTON — Four more deaths have been attributed to the COVID-19 coronavirus in West Virginia, the Department of Health and Human Resources reported on Wednesday. The state also reported another decline in the number of active cases between Tuesday and Wednesday, reporting 1,125 active COVID-19 cases statewide compared to 1,233 on Tuesday. Cases have been on the decline, a number indicating the state may have passed the peak of the latest omicron BA.5 variant surge, according to Gov. Jim Justice. Another 334 new cases of the virus have been received in the 24-hour period between ...

Active cases drop to 170 in West Virginia

Staff Report CHARLESTON — Active cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus dropped about 170 from Monday to Tuesday mornings, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said Tuesday. The department reported 1,233 active cases of the virus, down from 1,402 on Monday. Monday’s number was down from the 1,726 active cases reported on Friday. Key in stopping or slowing the spread of the virus are vaccinations or boosters, particularly the latest omicron booster, Gov. Jim Justice said during Tuesday’s pandemic briefing. “We can slow this down,” Justice said. “In ...

Two Jackson County residents among West Virginia COVID deaths

CHARLESTON — Two Jackson County residents were among 14 people whose deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in the latest update from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The agency announced Monday it had confirmed the deaths of two women, ages 83 and 94, from Jackson County, along with other West Virginians ranging in age from a 54-year-old Kanawha County man to a 96-year-old Marion County man. That brings the state’s death toll attributed to the virus to 7,396. “COVID-19 has affected far too many West Virginians,” said DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. ...

Pfizer seeks to expand omicron booster to 5- to 11-year-olds

Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Monday to expand use of its updated COVID-19 booster shot to children ages 5 to 11. Elementary school-aged children already received kid-sized doses of Pfizer's original vaccine, a third of the dose given to everyone 12 and older -- two primary shots plus a ...

Parkersburg City Council to discuss COVID relief funds

PARKERSBURG — Expenditures of $3.1 million in COVID-19 relief funds are on the agenda of Parkersburg City Council on Tuesday. Council will act on a resolution revising the American Rescue Plan Act Fund. The allocations are from the second disbursement of $10.925 million to the city. The city has received $21.85 million in two allocations. The revisions include: * $200,000 to be allocated to nonprofit groups through local foundations. * $1.5 million to renovate Bennett Stump Baseball Field in City Park. * $850,000 in stormwater lining projects and paving Broadway Avenue after the ...