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COVID cases continue to rise in West Virginia

CHARLESTON — Hospitalizations are down and active cases are up, according to the latest COVID-19 statistics from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

With 1,023 new cases since Wednesday, the active case count Thursday morning was 3,250, an increase from 3,111 the day before.

Active cases in local counties Thursday (Wednesday) were: Calhoun, 10 (7); Doddridge, 10 (10); Gilmer, 11 (11); Jackson, 38 (37); Pleasants, 10 (10); Ritchie, 17 (19); Roane, 19 (21); Tyler, 13 (15); Wetzel, 29 (24); Wirt, 9 (12); Wood, 194 (163).

Hospitalizations totaled 373 Thursday after reaching 399 on Tuesday. A majority of those patients, 197, are classified as vaccinated, which accounts for the initial one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine but not recommended booster shots.

“We are in the position today where we can address COVID-19 in a way that very few if any people need to die from this now treatable and even potentially preventable disease,” Dr. Clay Marsh, the state’s coronavirus czar, said during Gov. Jim Justice’s online briefing Thursday. “There is just so much real-world data that suggests that staying up to date with your vaccines and being fully vaccinated makes the biggest difference in determining life or death for at least some people.”

Fifty-seven patients were in intensive care units, 29 vaccinated. Eight patients were on ventilators, all but two vaccinated.

The DHHR confirmed two more deaths attributed to the virus — an 89-year-old woman from Kanawha County and a 65-year-old woman from Berkeley County — bringing the total COVID-19 deaths in the state to 7,203.

“With the start of a new school year upon us, I encourage families and school faculty and staff to add COVID vaccination and boosters to their lists for back-to-school preparation,” DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. “Being healthy and ready to learn are key components for success in education.”

Most Mid-Ohio Valley counties were yellow on the County Alert System map, the second-lowest of five categories measuring the spread of the virus. The color is determined by the number of new cases per 100,000 people over the previous seven days or the percentage of positive tests, whichever is lower. Gilmer, Pleasants and Roane County were green, the lowest level.

Statewide, the split was 38 yellow, 13 green and four gold, the middle of the scale. The gold counties were Boone, Hardy, Logan and Wyoming.

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