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CHARLESTON -- Five residents were confirmed as deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus on Wednesday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.
The department has confirmed the deaths of an 82-year-old woman from Jefferson County, a 78-year-old man from Randolph County, a 63-year-old woman from Kanawha County, an 85-year-old man from Randolph County and a 92-year-old woman from Wayne County.
The deaths raise the count since the pandemic began to 7,455 residents in West Virginia.
State health officials encourage residents to get vaccinated and up to date on booster shots to lessen complications if they contract the virus.
"Staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination means completing the initial series and receiving the most recent booster dose," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "Boosters help optimize your immunity against the virus and its variants."
COVID-19 vaccinations are available for West Virginians 6 months and older. After the primary vaccinations, those 5-11 are recommended to get an original (monovalent) booster shot when due and those 12 and older are recommended to get an omicron booster shot (bivalent) at least two months after completing their primary series.
Active cases in West Virinia were 848 on Wednesday, up from the 833 reported on Tuesday. West Virginia may have peaked in case numbers, health officials have said.
The state also reported 327 new cases of the virus were received between the Tuesday and Wednesday reports.
Gilmer, Tyler, Roane and Doddridge counties were yellow, second lowest in severity, on Wednesday on the County Alert System Map that is based on infection rates. Ritchie County, the only yellow county in the region on Tuesday, was green on Wednesday, the lowest level.
All other counties in the region are green.
Twelve of the 55 counties are yellow. The remainder are green.
Current active cases in local counties (last report) are: Calhoun 1 (3), Doddridge 4 (2), Gilmer 3 (3), Jackson 9 (7), Pleasants 4 (4), Ritchie 2 (4), Roane 11 (9), Tyler 7 (5), Wetzel 2 (2), Wirt 1 (0), Wood 40 (43).
The state reported 187 patients are in a hosptial with COVID complications. Thirty-four are in an intensive care unit and 13 are on a ventilator. Eight pediatric cases with one in an ICU and one on a ventilator also were reported.