×

Wood County resident listed among COVID deaths

Magnolia High School shifts to remote learning

From staff reports

CHARLESTON — A 65-year-old Wood County man resident was among 20 people whose deaths were attributed to COVID-19 on Thursday by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

“Every life lost is one too many,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “We extend our sympathy to all of the families affected by these deaths. Protect your loved ones by continuing to wash hands, social distance, wear masks and schedule your vaccine.”

Those who died ranged in age from a 34-year-old man from Randolph County man to a 93-year-old woman from Mercer County.

Most Mid-Ohio Valley counties were red on the state’s County Alert System map, representing the highest level of spread of the virus based on new cases per 100,000 people in a one- or two-week period and the percentage of positive tests. The exceptions were Roane County at orange, the second-highest level, and Pleasants, which dropped to yellow, the second lowest.

Pleasants and Tucker were the only yellow counties in the state, while Pocahontas was gold, at the mid-point of the scale. Roane was one of eight orange counties, with the other 44 red and none green.

Among the red was Wetzel County, where the school district announced on its Facebook page that Magnolia High School would be closed to students starting today due to COVID-19. Teachers will be teaching remotely through Sept. 19, and all extracurricular or co-curricular activities will be canceled or rescheduled during that time.

The move comes a day after the district’s New Martinsville School shifted to remote learning, also because of circumstances related to the virus.

Active cases in local counties as of Thursday (previous day) were: Calhoun, 201 (193); Doddridge, 121 (115); Gilmer, 64 (61); Jackson, 232 (239); Pleasants, 111 (109); Ritchie, 148 (132); Roane, 169 (151); Tyler, 218 (219); Wetzel, 339 (324); Wirt, 87 (84); and Wood, 1,125 (1,076).

COVID-19 testing is available at many Fruth and Walgreens pharmacies and other locations. More information can be found online at dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx.

Vaccination sites can be located by visiting vaccinate.wv.gov or calling 1-833-734-0965.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today