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CHARLESTON -- Active cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus went over 1,100 on Friday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.
The state reported 1,114 active COVID-19 cases across West Virginia, the most since mid March.
"We've got to beware. This dreaded killer is not gone," Gov. Jim Justice said.
Justice held a pandemic briefing on Friday morning. The pandemic started more than two years ago.
"We're going to have to find a way to absolutely find a way to live with this dreaded killer. And we can do that. We can do that with vaccines that are very, very safe," he said.
Elderly remain at the highest risk level including hospitalization and death from infection, Dr. Clay Marsh, coronavirus adviser for the state, said.
"We absolutely want everyone who has not been vaccinated to please consider getting vaccinated," he said.
The state also has received 364 new cases of the virus in the period between Thursday's and Friday's pandemic report.
Active cases in Wood County were at 18 on Friday, up from 16 on Thursday.
Active cases in other counties in the region on Friday were (previous day): Calhoun 6 (3), Doddridge 1 (2), Gilmer 0 (0), Jackson 4 (5), Pleasants 4 (3), Ritchie 3 (3), Roane 10 (7), Tyler 3 (3), Wetzel 3 (4) and Wirt 1 (1).
One death was reported, a 73-year-old man from Berkeley County. The number of deaths since the pandemic started was 6,880 on Friday.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are extended to this family for their loss," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary.
Seven counties are yellow on the County Alert System Map. Roane, Putnam, Cabell, Wayne, Raleigh, Monroe and Jefferson counties are yellow, second lowest on the map.
All other counties are green, lowest level of alert.
A hundred people are in the hospital, 43 unvaccinated. Twenty-four are in intensive care units, 12 unvaccinated, and 11 are on ventilators, six unvaccinated.
Two pediatric patients and one in an ICU were reported.
Eighteen staff and 15 inmate cases were reported Friday by the Division of Corrections.
The Department of Health and Human Resources reported 52 staff and 117 residents of long-term care facilities have COVID-19 as of Friday.