PARKERSBURG — Additional free COVID-19 testing is being offered in Wood County this week as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to climb.

According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, the county has 855 laboratory confirmed cases and 247 probables, pushing the total above 1,100. Nine deaths in the county have been attributed to COVID-19.

“It’s rampant right now,” said Carrie Brainard, threat preparedness coordinator for the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. “People aren’t paying attention. They aren’t wearing masks. They aren’t social distancing. They’re having parties.”

Wood County recorded approximately 127 new cases on Sunday, Brainard said.

There are approximately 30 outbreaks in the six-county area served by the department, Brainard said, including Calhoun, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane and Wirt counties, in addition to Wood. She said many of them involve churches or health care facilities, although the department generally does not identify them.

Brainard said the free testing offered this week and last week is intended to help people find out if they have the virus, even if they’re asymptomatic. While there is some momentary discomfort, she said the tests are not painful and are offered at no cost.

“So why not get tested?” she said.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources listed the following case totals, confirmed and probable, for area counties Monday evening: Calhoun (38), Doddridge (78), Gilmer (118), Jackson (462), Pleasants (45), Ritchie (73), Roane (120), Tyler (84), Wetzel (274), Wirt (59) and Wood (1,102).

The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department announced the following free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Wood County this week:

TODAY

* 9 a.m. to noon, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg

* 2-5 p.m., Grand Central Church of Christ, 5805 Grand Central Ave., Vienna

WEDNESDAY

* 9 a.m. to noon, 1-5 p.m., Health Department, 211 Sixth St., Parkersburg

THURSDAY

* 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wood County parking lot, 315 Market St., Parkersburg

* 2-5 p.m., Vienna Baptist Church, 3401 Grand Central Ave., Vienna

Other testing sites in the region today include:

JACKSON COUNTY

* 9 a.m. to noon, Jackson County Health Department, 504 Church St. South, Ripley

* Noon to 4 p.m., Sandyville Senior Center, 29 Gilmore Drive, Sandyville

TYLER COUNTY

* 9-11 a.m., Sistersville Volunteer Fire Department, 121 Maple Ave., Sistersville

* Noon to 2 p.m., Wetzel-Tyler Health Department, 425 S. Fourth Ave., Paden City

* 3-5 p.m., Tyler County Senior Center, 504 Cherry St., Middlebourne

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com