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CHARLESTON -- Active coronavirus cases again rose more than 200 from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
The state reported 8,482 active cases on Wednesday, up 233 cases from 8,249 on Tuesday. Active cases are generally trending upward, but the pandemic high was 29,744 set Sept. 16.
The department in its Wednesday morning pandemic update also reported 1,053 new active cases received in the 24-hour period from Tuesday to Wednesday morning.
Another 15 residents were confirmed as coronavirus deaths from Tuesday to Wednesday. The deaths include 74- and 88-year-old men from Jackson County and a 71-year-old man from Wetzel County.
Deaths also were confirmed in Greenbrier, Mineral, Harrison, Grant, Nicholas, Kanawha, Mingo, Marshall, Barbour and Brooke counties. Wednesday's report included a 71-year-old woman from Jefferson County who died in November, a death found by the data reconciliation with death certificates by the Bureau for Public Health.
The death toll since the pandemic began in spring 2020 was 5,036 as of Wednesday.
"With a heavy heart, we share this solemn news of more lives lost to this pandemic and extend our sympathies to the families impacted," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "If you are eligible, please schedule your COVID vaccine or booster today."
Wood, Wetzel, Pleasants, Wirt, Jackson and Roane are red on the County Alert System map. Red is the highest level based on spread of infection and percent positivity.
Ritchie and Calhoun are orange, second highest. Doddridge and Gilmer is yellow, second lowest. Tyler is gold, mid-level.
Unvaccinated residents continue to dominate the hospital and death statistics. Of the 3,926 deaths that occurred since the vaccinations began last year, 11.09 percent were breakthrough cases, residents who were vaccinated, but became infected.
Of the 595 people who are in a hospital in West Virginia, 460 are unvaccinated and of the 206 people in an intensive care unit, 172 are unvaccinated. The state reported 93 of the 111 patients on a ventilator were unvaccinated.