COVID-19 cases down in West Virginia; 43-year-old among latest deaths

CHARLSTON -- Statewide active cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus dropped below 1,900 in West Virginia over the weekend, according to the Monday morning pandemic update from the Department of Health and Human Resources.

The state reported 1,850 active cases on Monday, a drop of 433 since the Friday update by the department. The state also reported 1,223 new cases have been received since Friday.

Active cases were last under 2,000 the last week of June while cases were below 300 in April.

Active cases in local counties on Monday (previous report) were: Calhoun, 12 (17); Doddridge, 5 (4); Gilmer, 7 (14); Jackson, 15 (25); Pleasants, 1 (5); Ritchie, 9 (7); Roane, 18 (29); Tyler, 9 (13); Wetzel, 7 (7); Wirt, 22 (7); and Wood, 65 (54).

Wood County was yellow on Monday, but was green on Friday. Green counties in the region are Wetzel, Pleasants, Doddridge and Gilmer. Wirt and Jackson. Yellow counties are Wood, Tyler,Ritchie, Calhoun and Roane.

Wyoming County is the only county rated gold, the middle level, on the County Alert System Map based on infection rates. Eighteen counties are green, the lowest level, on the map.

Statewide, no counties are red or orange, the most severe levels.

Three deaths were attributed to the virus since Friday, including a 43-year-old man from Mercer County, the second death of a resident in their early 40s in the past week. Also confirmed Monday were an 83-year-old man from Wood County and a 75-year-old woman from Monongalia County.

The death count since the pandemic began in March 2020 was at 7,367 as of Monday.

The number of deaths in Wood County was at 360 on Monday.

"As a grandfather, I am particularly sensitive to the grief children are suffering from the loss of a grandparent or beloved neighbor," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "I encourage all West Virginians to get vaccinated and boosted to help prevent further tragedies due to COVID-19."

COVID-19 hospitalizations were 298 on Monday, up 20 since Friday, with 49 in an intensive care unit and 18 on ventilators. Four pediatric cases were reported with two in an ICU and one on a ventilator.