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Active COVID cases continue to decrease

Staff Report CHARLESTON — Active cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have dropped to 508 as of Tuesday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said in its Tuesday morning pandemic update. Tuesday’s case count is 115 less than Monday. The state also reported 90 new cases were received since the last update on Monday. In the region, only Wood County is in double digits on active cases, 25 as of Tuesday, according to the department statistics. Twenty-six active cases were listed in Wood County on Monday. Active cases in counties in the region (previous day) are: ...

Scientists worry virus variant may push up COVID cases in US

With coronavirus cases rising in parts of Europe and Asia, scientists worry that an extra-contagious version of the omicron variant may soon push cases up in the United States too. Experts are also keeping their eyes on another mutant: a rare delta-omicron hybrid that they say doesn't pose ...

Officials roll out vaccine tool as COVID collapses in West Virginia

CHARLESTON – COVID-19 cases are lower than at any previous point since the start of the pandemic in West Virginia two years ago, but officials are rolling out a new tool to help residents know when it is time to get their next dose or booster. Gov. Jim Justice and state COVID-19 response ...

West Virginia sees COVID hospitalizations drop below 200

CHARLESTON — A Wirt County man was among the five deaths from COVID-19 complications reported on Monday by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The state also reported 623 active COVID-19 cases statewide, the lowest since around July 2020, and hospitalizations below 200, the first time they were that low since August. The death count since the pandemic started more than two years ago was at 6,651 residents of West Virginia. Among the deaths confirmed on Monday was an 86-year-old man from Wirt County, a 62-year-old man from Cabell County, a 56-year-old man from ...

Parkersburg City Council to vote on unused COVID funds

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council will consider reallocating pandemic assistance dollars and new guidelines for deciding how American Rescue Plan Act funds are spent when it meets Tuesday. The regular council meeting at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building will be preceded by a meeting of council’s Stormwater Committee and followed by an Urban Renewal Authority session. One resolution on the council agenda would amend the Community Development Block Grant budget to move unused funding the city received early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The ...

West Virginia says active COVID cases lowest since July 2020

CHARLESTON — Active cases remained about the same on Thursday and Friday in West Virginia, according to the Department of Health and Human Resources. The state reported 795 cases on Friday, up four from Thursday. It is the lowest since July 2020, Gov. Jim Justice said. The state also reported 227 new cases were received since the Thursday update. Eleven deaths have been confirmed from Thursday to Friday, raising the death count since the pandemic started more than two years ago to 6,646. Deaths have been confirmed in Putnam, Kanawha, Fayette, Brooke, Lewis, Barbour, Mason, Mercer, ...