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CHARLESTON -- Another nine people were confirmed Wednesday as deaths caused by COVID-19 in West Virginia, the Division of Health and Human Resources reported.
The death count since the pandemic started was 7,115 residents, although state health officers believe the number of deaths and the number of infections of the virus may be under-reported.
The deaths confirmed on Wednesday were of a 67-year-old man from Wyoming County, an 86-year-old man from Putnam County, a 93-year-old man from Boone County, a 67-year-old woman from Boone County, an 84-year-old man from Ohio County, a 93-year-old man from Cabell County, a 92-year-old man from Berkeley County, an 81-year-old woman from Marshall County and a 90-year-old woman from Mason County.
Condolences were issued by department Secretary Bill J. Crouch. He also encouraged vaccinations and booster shots.
"Many communities within our state have been affected by the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19," Crouch said. "Protect yourself and your community by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters."
The department issues a pandemic update on weekday mornings.
Active cases as of Wednesday were 2,957, a jump of more than 200 since the Tuesday morning report. The department on Wednesday also reported 1,027 new cases of the virus were received in the 24-hour period from Tuesday to Wednesday morning.
The latest variant of the omicron virus mutation, BA5, is becoming the predominant strain in the country and West Virginia, according to Dr. Clay Marsh, state coronavirus adviser.
Current active cases in local counties were (previous day): Calhoun 7 (6), Doddridge 4 (3), Gilmer 11 (6), Jackson 37 (27), Pleasants 14 (15), Ritchie 12 (12), Roane 30 (29), Tyler 11 (10), Wetzel 35 (34), Wirt 1 (0), Wood 141 (130).
More counties are now yellow, second lowest in terms of infection, on the County Alert System Map. From 13 green counties on Tuesday, eight were reported on Wednesday. Green is the lowest level on the alert system.
One county is mid-level gold, Wyoming.
Jackson and Wirt counties are green. Wood, Pleasants, Wetzel, Tyler, Ritchie, Doddridge, Roane, Calhoun and Gilmer counties are yellow.
Statewide, hospitalizations were at 304 on Wednesday with 147 of those unvaccinated. Forty-one patients, an increase of five, are in an intensive care unit, 16 unvaccinated, and 14 are on a ventilator, one unvaccinated.
Vaccinated is defined as receiving the initial one or two doses, depending on the type of vaccine, but does not take into account recommended booster doses,
Eleven pediatric patients were reported, three were in an ICU.
Sixty-nine staff and 89 inmates were reported with the virus by the Division of Corrections. Sixteen were at the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County.