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CHARLESTON -- The state reported Thursday another slight decrease in active cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in West Virginia while hospitalizations broke 200.
The Department of Health and Human Resources reported 2,196 active cases statewide, a drop of 76 from Wednesday when the state said there were 2,272 cases. Also reported Thursday morning was 647 new cases of the virus were received between Wednesday and Thursday, the department said.
Hospitals in West Virginia are treating 201 patients with COVID-19 complications, the state said. Of those, 101 are unvaccinated.
Total hospitalizations rose 13 from Wednesday to Thursday. Thirty-six patients are in an intensive care unit, eight more than Wednesday, with 19 ICU cases unvaccinated.
Seven people, all vaccinated, are on a ventilator.
Ten pediatric cases were reported with four in an ICU.
The pandemic high was about 1,100 patients in January. Cases dropped to about 80 in April.
State health officers have said the omicron mutation of the virus has become the predominant strain. The omicron mutations, while having less severe health affects, are much more infectious than previous strains, according to Dr. Clay Marsh, state coronavirus adviser.
Current active cases in local counties (previous day) are: Calhoun 6 (11), Doddridge 7 (8), Gilmer 17 (16), Jackson 13 (11), Pleasants 6 (7), Ritchie 10 (10), Roane 25 (20), Tyler 13 (14), Wetzel 29 (36), Wirt 1 (2), and Wood 56 (60).
On the County Alert System Map, which is based on infection rates, the number of yellow counties has dropped around half. Yellow is the second lowest to the green level.
Twelve counties are yellow while the remainder of the 55 are green. Tyler, Ritchie, Doddridge and Roane counties in this region are yellow.
One death was reported between Wednesday and Thursday, raising the count since the pandemic began to 6,998.
The department Thursday confirmed the death of a 96-year-old man from Cabell County.
Condolences were expressed by department Secretary Bill J. Crouch.
"We offer our deepest sympathy as both the family and our state grieves another loss due to COVID-19," Crouch said. "I urge you to schedule your vaccine and booster shot as soon as possible."
The state's ability to report COVID-19 deaths has been affected by a system update by the National Center for Health Statistics. The center until June 20 will be unable to certify deaths.
The state will continue to certify and report deaths using the reconciliation process with death certificates, but there may be a decrease in deaths reported during the time period.
Twenty-nine staff and 175 inmates have the virus, the Division of Corrections said. Most of the cases, 115, are at the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County.