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PARKERSBURG -- West Virginia's COVID-19 death toll stands at 4,817, with five Mid-Ohio Valley residents among the 47 deaths announced Wednesday.
The deaths of a 65-year-old man from Wood County, an 80-year-old man from Wetzel County and a 95-year-old man from Jackson County were attributed to the coronavirus in the latest update from the state Department of Health and Human Resources. The ongoing data reconciliation by the Bureau for Public Health with official death certificates also added a 49-year-old Wetzel County woman and a 72-year-old Wood County man who died in October but had not been included.
"At the holidays, we want to gather with family in our homes, not in the hospital," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. "Protect yourself and your loved ones by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine."
On the County Alert Map, which measures the spread of the virus based on the lower of infection rate per 100,000 people in a designated period of time or percentage of positive tests, Wood and Wetzel counties were red, the highest level.
Calhoun, Jackson, Ritchie, Tyler and Wirt were orange, the second-highest category, while Doddridge and Roane were yellow, the second lowest. Gilmer and Pleasants counties were two of just four in the state on green, the lowest level.
Active cases in local counties Wednesday (previous day) were: Calhoun, 40 (40); Doddridge, 18 (18); Gilmer, 9 (12); Jackson, 67 (64); Pleasants, 16 (16); Ritchie, 28 (27); Roane, 40 (45); Tyler, 35 (35); Wetzel, 78 (69); Wirt, 26 (24); Wood, 290 (276).
The online COVID-19 dashboard indicated the numbers will not be updated again until Monday because of the Thanksgiving holidays.
West Virginians 5 and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Boosters are also available to those 18 and older who have been fully vaccinated. Information about eligibility and vaccination sites can be found online at vaccinate.wv.gov or by calling 1-833-734-0965.
Free COVID-19 testing opportunities can be found online at https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx.