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Hospital COVID census increases in West Virginia

PARKERSBURG — Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients increased by 40 between Tuesday and Wednesday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.

The coronavirus dashboard shows 843 patients with virus complications were in the hospital, with 619 of those unvaccinated. The state reported 216 patients in an intensive care unit, 187 unvaccinated, and 138 people on ventilators, 127 of those unvaccinated.

The totals on Tuesday were 803 hospitalized, with 220 in an ICU and 128 on ventilators.

Seventeen pediatric COVID cases with three in ICU also were listed on the dashboard Wednesday.

The highest number of COVID-related hospitalizations in the state was 1,012 on Sept. 24.

WVU Medicine Camden Clark reported 48 total COVID patients, of which 32 are unvaccinated. Five of seven patients in ICU are unvaccinated, and six of seven vented patients are unvaccinated.

Active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia slightly decreased from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, the department said. Active cases were listed at 13,607, down 21 from 13,628 on Tuesday.

Statistics on active cases changed last week in accordance with new guidelines from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Cases are considered active for five days instead of, previously, 10 days.

The new CDC guideline also said people testing positive and who are asymptomatic can be released from quarantine after five days instead of 10, but should wear a mask for the additional five days.

The number of active cases in local counties on Wednesday (Tuesday) were: Wood 603 (589); Calhoun, 33 (27); Doddridge, 22 (17); Gilmer, 18 (20); Jackson, 73 (72); Pleasants, 44 (39); Ritchie, 36 (31); Roane, 60 (67); Tyler, 39 (38); Wetzel, 120 (115); Wirt, 20 (17).

The state reported 4,440 new cases received from Tuesday to Wednesday. The daily positivity rate for testing is 18.55%.

Twenty-nine more deaths attributed to the virus were confirmed in the 24-hour period between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The death count stands at 5,481 as of Wednesday.

The deaths include an 85-year-old man from Pleasants County, a 93-year-old woman from Wood County, a 73-year-old man from Wood County, a 70-year-old man from Wood County and a 79-year-old woman from Wood County.

The youngest were two 43-year-old women in Raleigh County and a 46-year-old man in Nicholas County.

Deaths were also confirmed in Hancock, Mercer, Nicholas, Upshur County, Raleigh, Putnam, Marion, Taylor, Summers, Mingo, Marshall, Cabell, Wyoming and Lewis counties.

“We join the families in mourning the passing of these West Virginians,” DHHR Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. “Please protect one another by getting vaccinated today.”

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