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CHARLESTON -- Four more deaths have been attributed to the COVID-19 coronavirus in West Virginia, the Department of Health and Human Resources reported on Wednesday.
The state also reported another decline in the number of active cases between Tuesday and Wednesday, reporting 1,125 active COVID-19 cases statewide compared to 1,233 on Tuesday. Cases have been on the decline, a number indicating the state may have passed the peak of the latest omicron BA.5 variant surge, according to Gov. Jim Justice.
Another 334 new cases of the virus have been received in the 24-hour period between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the state said.
Counties listed as green, the lowest level on the County Alert System Map, on Wednesday exceeded the number of yellow counties, second lowest on the chart. Forty of the 55 counties are green and the remainder are yellow.
No counties are gold, orange or red, the highest level of infection and spread.
Pleasants County is the only yellow county in the region.
Active cases in local counties on Wednesday (previous report) were: Calhoun, 1 (1); Doddridge, 1 (1); Gilmer, 2 (1); Jackson, 7 (6); Pleasants, 7 (7); Ritchie, 2 (2); Roane, 8 (13); Tyler, 5 (2); Wetzel, 12 (11); Wirt, 0 (0); and Wood, 40 (46).
James Hoyer, who heads the state interagency task force on vaccines, said the RT value that measures spread of the virus was below one, which indicates the virus is on a downward trend.
With the four deaths reported on Wednesday, the death toll since the pandemic started about 30 months ago was at 7,406.
The department has confirmed the deaths of a 56-year-old woman from Marion County, a 60-year-old man from Kanawha County, a 94-year-old woman from Taylor County and a 92-year-old woman from Putnam County.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of more West Virginians due to COVID-19," DHHR Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "Since this virus can adversely affect some individuals, especially those who are older and with vulnerable health, please ensure you are up to date with your vaccinations and boosters."
Hospitalizations from Tuesday to Wednesday dropped by one to 229. Thirty-five patients were in intensive care units, two less than Tuesday, and 11 were on ventilators. Three pediatric hospitalizations were reported.
The peak number of hospitalizations this year 1,097 on Jan. 2. The low was 77 on April 20.