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Active COVID-19 cases dip below 1,000 in West Virginia

CHARLESTON — Active COVID-19 cases dropped below 1,000 statewide in West Virginia, the state Department of Health and Human Resources reported on Thursday.

The state reported 968 active cases, down from 1,002 on Wednesday. Cases have been on a downward trend and the state may have passed the peak of the most recent surge, according to West Virginia coronavirus adviser Dr. Clay Marsh.

Another 286 new cases of the virus were received in the 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday mornings, the DHHR said.

Active cases in local counties on Thursday (Wednesday): Calhoun, 2 (2); Doddridge, 5 (5); Gilmer, 2 (5); Jackson, 13 (11); Pleasants, 3 (4); Ritchie, 4 (1); Roane, 8 (8); Tyler, 6 (6); Wetzel, 3 (4); Wirt, 2 (2); and Wood, 48 (48).

Thirteen counties are yellow on the County Alert System Map that is based on infection rates or percentage of positive tests, whichever is lower. Yellow is the second lowest level; green is the lowest.

Four of the yellow counties are in this region: Tyler, Wirt, Ritchie and Doddridge. All other counties in the region are green.

“You can see most of our state is green, and that’s good,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said during his online pandemic briefing Thursday.

Another nine deaths were attributed to the virus between Wednesday and Thursday, raising the death toll to 7,445 residents. Twenty-nine deaths have been reported this week, according to the state.

The department confirmed the deaths of a 55-year-old man from Boone County, a 64-year-old man from Taylor County, an 86-year-old man from Logan County, an 83-year-old man from Kanawha County, an 86-year-old woman from Berkeley County, an 87-year-old man from Logan County, a 73-year-old man from Harrison County, a 92-year-old woman from Marion County and an 87-year-old woman from Harrison County.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of these West Virginians,” DHHR Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. “Through vaccination and boosters, we will continue to work toward protecting our residents from severe disease and death.”

Statewide hospitalizations totaled 189 patients with 29 in an intensive care unit and 15 on ventilators. Five pediatric cases with one in an ICU and one on a ventilator were reported.

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