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Virus claims seven more in West Virginia

CHARLESTON — While a new statewide online vaccination scheduling system starts Monday morning, West Virginia officials announced Friday seven additional deaths from the virus, raising the number of confirmed dead to 1,856 people since the pandemic began.

Friday’s update of new confirmed deaths between Thursday and Friday mornings was among the lowest in the last month, seven people statewide. The highest in the last month was 40 residents between Jan. 11 and Jan. 12.

The Department of Health and Human Resources reported Friday it has confirmed the deaths of residents from Barbour, Mercer County, Kanawha, Cabell, McDowell, Hancock and Pendleton counties. Condolences were issued by department Secretary Bill J. Crouch.

“Today was another hard day as people cope with the loss of loved ones,” Crouch said. “These are not numbers. These are people-mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers, and sisters. Our deepest condolences go out to the families who have lost loved ones in this pandemic.”

The statewide vaccination registration system through Everbridge will go online at 8 a.m. Monday, Gov. Jim Justice announced. Access is at vaccinate.wv.gov or by phone at 833-734-0965 and the age is for 65 and older.

The Mid-Ohio Health Department on its Facebook page Friday morning said it was asked by the state to immediately stop taking appointments for its waiting list.

“Persons that are already on our list will be added to the new state list and will be given priority over those who register with the new system,” the health department said.

The state, with a population of about 1.8 million, has administered 35,991 second doses to residents from the 75,500 it was received, according to the Friday morning update. Of the 156,300 first doses received, 146,469 were administered.

Active cases as of Friday totaled 25,342. New positive cases increased 998 from Thursday to Friday. The daily positivity rate is 4.93 percent and the cumulative is 5.52 percent.

Hospitalizations totaled 638 people with 167 in an intensive care unit and 88 on ventilators, which has been declining over the past two weeks.

Local county statistics:

* Calhoun: 28 active, 166 recovered, 173 cumulative confirmed, 21 cumulative probable, 6,052 tests, 0 deaths.

* Doddridge: 64 active, 307 recovered, 282 cumulative confirmed, 94 cumulative probable, 4,903 tests, 5 deaths.

* Gilmer: 22 active, 514 recovered, 451 cumulative confirmed, 91 cumulative probable, 7,850 tests, 6 deaths.

* Jackson: 175 active, 1,313 recovered, 1,383 cumulative confirmed, 148 cumulative probable, 22,566 tests, 43 deaths.

* Pleasants: 67 active, 661 recovered, 624 cumulative confirmed, 116 cumulative probable, 6,077 tests, 12 deaths.

* Ritchie: 79 active, 439 recovered, 434 cumulative confirmed, 92 cumulative probable, 7,190 tests, 8 deaths.

* Roane: 80 active, 349 recovered, 395 cumulative confirmed, 40 cumulative probable, 12,631 tests, 6 deaths.

* Tyler: 133 active, 398 recovered, 348 cumulative confirmed, 186 cumulative probable, 6,905 tests, 3 deaths.

* Wetzel: 187 active, 736 recovered, 551 cumulative confirmed, 390 cumulative probable, 10,511 tests, 18 deaths.

* Wirt: 45 active, 263 recovered, 242 cumulative confirmed, 67 cumulative probable, 3,647 tests, 1 death.

* Wood: 669 active, 5,500 recovered, 4,717 cumulative confirmed, 1,539 probable, 73,060 tests, 87 deaths.

The department said free COVID-19 testing is available to all West Virginia residents. For additional periodic and pharmacy testing events, visit https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx.

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