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CHARLESTON -- Statewide hospitalizations in West Virginia are nearing the September high mark, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Health and Human Resources on Friday.
Cases were at 980 on Friday, the department said on the coronavirus dashboard. The high mark on hospitalizations was 1,012 on Sept. 24.
Friday's hospitalizations were 65 patients greater than Thursday morning's numbers.
September's record more than likely will be surpassed, Dr. Clay Marsh, coronavirus leader in West Virginia, said Friday.
WVU Medicine Camden Clark on Friday also reported an increase in the number of COVID patients, from 60 on Thursday to 67 on Friday. Twenty-four of the patients were vaccinated.
The medical center also reported nine patients in the Intensive Care Unit, none vaccinated, and nine ventilated patients, one of whom is vaccinated.
Statewide, of the 980 patients in the hospital, 683 are unvaccinated. The state reported 228 people in an intensive care unit, 187 of those unvaccinated, and 131 patients who are on a ventilator, 116 of those unvaccinated.
Seventeen pediatric patients have been confirmed with one in an intensive care unit.
The state reported 16,742 active cases, up from 15,906 on Thursday. Also, 5,335 new cases were received in the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday morning.
From Wednesday to Thursday, 5,453 new cases were received.
The daily positivity rate is 23.78 percent.
Active cases in local counties on Friday (Thursday) were: Wood 629 (663); Calhoun, 47 (36); Doddridge, 40 (36); Gilmer, 50 (37); Jackson, 146 (79); Pleasants, 50 (57); Ritchie, 58 (52); Roane, 129 (117); Tyler, 113 (89); Wetzel, 153 (128); Wirt, 64 (54).
Nineteen more deaths were confirmed from Thursday to Friday morning, raising the death toll during the pandemic to 5,609.
The deaths included an 80-year-old woman from Calhoun County. Deaths also were confirmed of residents from Raleigh, Barbour, Marion, Kanawha, Preston, Berkeley, Monongalia, Greenbrier, Barbour, Boone and Hancock counties.
"Every loss in West Virginia brings grief to a family," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR cabinet secretary. "As we comfort those who mourn, we must also do our best to stop this deadly virus by choosing to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19."
According to the County Alert Map based on infection rates, no counties are green, the lowest level. One is yellow, second lowest, and most are red or orange, worst and second-worst levels.
Wood, Wirt, Roane, Wetzel and Tyler counties are red. Pleasants, Doddridge, Ritchie, Jackson, Gilmer and Calhoun are orange.