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CHARLESTON -- Active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia jumped above 17,000 Friday, according to statistics from the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
DHHR reported 5,061 new cases in its Friday update, outpacing the number of residents whose infections are no longer considered active. The active case number Thursday was 14,817.
Thirteen deaths were attributed to the virus, bringing the statewide total to 5,516 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. They included a 68-year-old man from Doddridge County and a 78-year-old man from Wood County.
"The continued loss of West Virginians weighs heavily on all of us, with the greatest sadness borne by family and friends," said DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch. "Please take every effort to protect one another."
Statewide hospitalization numbers decreased slightly on Friday, with 846 people in hospitals with COVID complications, down from 861 on Thursday. Of those, 609 were unvaccinated.
There were 206 people in intensive care units, 177 of them unvaccinated. On Thursday, the ICU census was 217. The state reported 130 people on ventilators, and 118 of them were unvaccinated. The ventilator count Thursday was 135.
Active cases continued to climb in some Mid-Ohio Valley counties, including a nearly 43% jump from 96 to 137 in Roane County, where Geary Elementary-Middle School went to remote learning Thursday and was joined by Roane County High School Friday due to COVID-related issues.
Active cases in other area counties Friday (Thursday) were: Calhoun, 53 (45); Doddridge, 30 (22); Gilmer, 37 (27); Jackson, 98 (96); Pleasants, 54 (46); Ritchie, 56 (34); Tyler, 52 (54); Wetzel, 138 (125); Wirt, 46 (32); Wood, 726 (641).
Technical issues continued to keep the County Alert System map off the state's online COVID dashboard Friday.
Gov. Jim Justice, who tested positive for the virus Tuesday, issued a statement Friday saying he was feeling better.
"I miss being in the office, and I'm excited to get back to work very soon," he said. "I'll never, ever forget all the prayers and well wishes that I've received. I can't tell you how much Cathy and I appreciate them."
Justice said he felt great on Monday but "by Tuesday I was in bad, bad shape.
"I truly believe that my choice to get vaccinated and boosted saved my life," he said. "People might say, 'Here's Gov. Justice; he got vaccinated and he still got sick.' And to those people, I'd say, 'Here's Gov. Justice talking to you today.' That's the difference. Gov. Justice didn't end up in the hospital, the ICU, or -- God forbid -- worse."
Friday's release said it would be the final daily update on the governor's condition unless circumstances dictated otherwise. Justice's care is being supervised by Dr. Clay Marsh, the state's coronavirus czar, and Dr. Jill Justice, the governor's daughter. He received monoclonal antibody treatments on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.