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Staff Report
PARKERSBURG -- Another fluctuation in active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia on Tuesday as the numbers dropped more than 1,850 from Monday to Tuesday morning, according to the pandemic update from the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
The state reported 13,268 active cases on Tuesday, a drop from the 15,124 reported on Monday morning.
Cases are now considered active for five days instead of 10. Last week, the state changed to reflect new guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that said people who test positive can be released from quarantine after five days instead of 10, if they are asymptomatic and continue to wear a mask the additional five days.
The number of active cases in local counties Tuesday (Monday) were: Wood 589 (666); Calhoun, 27 (34); Doddridge, 17 (18); Gilmer, 20 (25); Jackson, 72 (75); Pleasants, 39 (47); Ritchie, 31 (44); Roane, 67 (72); Tyler, 38 (39); Wetzel, 115 (111); Wirt, 17 (20).
While active cases fluctuated downward, the number of omicron variant infections rose to 375 statewide on Tuesday. Most of the cases are in Monongalia County, 246. The next highest county is Berkeley, with 31.
Eight cases have been found in Wood County and two in Jackson County.
Statewide hospitalizations totaled 803 on Tuesday, 12 less than Monday. The state reported 605 hospitalized individuals were unvaccinated.
Intensive care admissions and patients on a ventilator also slightly decreased from Monday. The state reported 220 people with COVID complications in an ICU on Tuesday, down from 224 on Monday. Ventilated patients totaled 128 on Tuesday, down from 133 on Monday.
Hospitalizations were last higher than 800 on Oct. 14, when the total was 806. The pandemic record for admissions was 1,012 on Sept. 24 with 296 people in ICUs and 195 on ventilators.
Seven deaths were reported from Monday to Tuesday morning, raising the death count to 5,452 residents since the pandemic record-keeping started. The report includes three deaths found during the Bureau of Public Health's data reconciliation.
The department has confirmed the deaths of a 61-year-old woman from Jefferson County, a 63-year-old man from Ohio County, a 68-year-old man from Lewis County and a 41-year-old man from Berkeley County, the youngest of the deceased.
Data reconciliation deaths include a 78-year-old woman from Kanawha County, a 71-year-old man from Kanawha County and a 66-year-old woman from Taylor County. Those deaths occurred from November to December.
"As we extend our deepest sympathies to their loved ones, we also encourage all West Virginians to recognize the continued need to take every possible step to slow the spread of this disease," DHHR Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "Please make the decision to be vaccinated."
The County Alert System map, which measures infection rates, was again unavailable Tuesday due to technical issues.
Vaccination information is available online at vaccinate.wv.gov or at 1-833-734-0965. Free COVID-testing sites can be found online at https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx.