CHARLESTON — Another 22 people have been confirmed dead from the coronavirus, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.

The deaths cited in the Monday pandemic update include an 85-year-old woman from Ritchie County, a 62-year-old woman from Jackson County and a 52-year-old woman from Wetzel County.

Deaths also were reported in Upshur, Taylor, Preston, Berkeley, Mercer, Randolph, Fayette, Cabell, Clay, Monroe, Marshall, Raleigh and Mingo counties. The youngest was a 45-year-old man from Monroe County.

The death count in West Virginia since the pandemic started in the spring of 2020 was at 5,107. In comparison, the population of New Martinsville in Wetzel County is about 5,100.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to each of these families,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “Help prevent or severely lessen the effects of this virus by choosing to have all family members ages five and older receive the COVID vaccine.”

While active cases of the virus exceeded 9,000 on Friday, active cases on Monday were 8,428, however, that may be due to reporting lag times during the weekend. Active cases have generally been trending upward in the past several weeks.

The pandemic peak was 29,744 on Sept. 16.

The state reported Monday 772 new cases of the virus since its last update.

Active cases in local counties are: Wood, 355; Wirt, 28; Wetzel, 51; Roane, 81; Ritchie, 37; Pleasants, 35; Jackson, 59; Gilmer, 13; Doddridge, 22; Calhoun, 38.

The number of red counties, the highest level of infection rates, on the County Alert System map has dropped statewide.

Wood and Wirt counties are red on the map, the only local counties in the red zone. Wetzel, Pleasants, Doddridge, Jackson and Roane counties are orange, second highest. Doddridge and Gilmer are yellow, second lowest. Tyler and Calhoun are gold, mid level.

The state reported 633 people are in a hospital with COVID complications, 519 of those are unvaccinated. Of the 201 people in an intensive care unit, 173 are unvaccinated. The state also reported 123 people are on ventilators, 105 of those are unvaccinated.

The high mark on admissions was 1,012 on Sept. 24. Cases are primarily the delta mutation of the virus strain.