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Coronavirus

Two Wood County residents among new COVID deaths

CHARLESTON — Two more Wood Countians were added Thursday to the statewide count of those who have died from the COVID-19 virus, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The state has confirmed the deaths of a 78-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man from Wood County, according to the Thursday morning pandemic report. The deaths follow the eight from Wood County who were reported in Wednesday’s pandemic report by the department. Twenty-seven more deaths statewide were confirmed by the state Thursday morning, the youngest being a 39-year-old man from ...

Wood County officials weigh proposals for American Recovery Act funds

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission looked over the suggestions it has received for consideration to fund through the county’s American Recovery Act funds. The commission went over almost 90 requests Thursday submitted by area residents, local officials and others in recent weeks on how the county might spend around $16.2 million it is receiving in federal funds. The money has to be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026, officials said. Commissioners have said they are looking for things that will result in a “generational change” for the area. The ...

Officials attribute eight Wood County deaths to COVID-19

PARKERSBURG — Eight Wood County residents were among the 65 deaths attributed to COVID-19 on Wednesday by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. Four men ages 46, 55, 67 and 83 and four women ages 69, 73, 76 and 78 from the county were listed in the fatalities announced by DHHR. Wood County’s death toll since the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 is 220. Statewide, the total is 3,839. “We send our condolences to these families for the loss of their loved ones,” said DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch. “The COVID vaccine is safe, effective ...

Federal study says vaccinations reduced COVID toll among West Virginia seniors

CHARLESTON — COVID-19 vaccinations have been linked to a reduction of deaths, hospitalizations and infections among seniors in West Virginia, according to a study issued this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report confirms what state officials have been saying for months, that vaccinations can prevent infections and save lives. “Saying for more like for 570 days,” said James Hoyer, director of the state interagency task force on vaccines. The report, “Associations Between County-level Vaccination Rates and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Medicare ...

West Virginia University extends indoor mask requirements

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University will extend requirements for all individuals regardless of vaccination status to wear a mask indoors in all WVU System buildings and facilities through Oct. 20 when public health conditions will be re-evaluated. The announcement is an extension of requirements set in September that were going to be re-evaluated in early October. Positive cases and quarantine instances involving WVU employees and students remain low when compared with COVID-19 cases across West Virginia, including a continued high rate of hospitalizations throughout the state. ...

AG Morrisey condemns vaccination requirements

PARKERSBURG — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey told local residents Tuesday there were a number of ways to deal with the pandemic that did not violate people’s rights. Morrisey appeared at the Rock Church in Parkersburg and addressed over 50 residents about a variety of ...