Jackson County man among latest West Virginia COVID deaths

CHARLESTON -- Six more deaths were reported from the virus on Friday including a 69-year-old man from Jackson County, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.

While active cases rose to 1,432 on Friday from 1,305 on Thursday, active cases have been on a downward trend. The state also reported 469 new cases of the virus have been received between Thursday and Friday mornings.

In addition to the Jackson County death, the state reported the deaths of a 43-year-old man from Raleigh County, a 73-year-old man from Kanawha County, a 74-year-old woman from Lincoln County, an 81-year-old man from Lewis County and an 82-year-old man from Marshall County.

The death count since the pandemic began more than two years ago was at 6,550 residents as of Friday.

Condolences were expressed by department Secretary Bill J. Crouch, who also encouraged residents to get vaccinated and to schedule a booster shot.

"We mourn with all families suffering the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19," he said.

Active cases in local counties as of Friday were: Calhoun 13; Doddridge 1; Gilmer 5; Jackson 10; Pleasants 4; Ritchie 11; Roane 7; Tyler 11; Wetzel 12; Wirt 5; Wood 55.

Fifty-three counties are green, the lowest level of infection rates, on the County Alert System Map. Wirt is the only yellow county, second lowest in the rating system, in the state. Webster is gold.

Hospitalizations also continue to trend downward.

The state reported 312 people were in the hospital, 184 of those are unvaccinated. Fifty-four of the 78 patients in an intensive care unit are unvaccinated.

Of the 50 patients on a ventilator, 34 are unvaccinated.

Five pediatric patients were reported with one on a ventilator.

Hospitalizations peaked in January with 1,097 patients. ICU cases topped at 299 and patients on a ventilator peaked at 195 at the end of September.

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In Addition

Of the 5,450 deaths from the virus occurring after vaccines became available in December 2020, 724 people were fully vaccinated and died. Total deaths in West Virginia were at 6,550 as of Friday.