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CHARLESTON -- Statewide active cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus slightly rose from Thursday to Friday, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Also, no deaths were reported in the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday morning. The toll since the pandemic began remains at 7,487 confirmed COVID-related deaths in West Virginia.
The state on Friday morning reported 875 active cases, up seven from 868 on Thursday. Also reported were 263 new confirmed cases received between Thursday and Friday.
Active cases in local counties on Friday (Thursday): Calhoun, 1 (1); Doddridge, 5 (3); Gilmer, 2 (2); Jackson, 11 (11); Pleasants, 3 (2); Ritchie, 0 (0); Roane, 5 (5); Tyler, 3 (4); Wetzel, 1 (0); Wirt, 0 (0); Wood, 33 (35).
Twelve counties are yellow on the County Alert System Map that is based on infection rates, up three from Thursday. Yellow is second lowest while green is lowest on the chart.
Doddridge is the only county in the region that is yellow. Other yellow counties are Harrison, Lewis, Barbour, Tucker, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Webster, Clay, Summers, McDowell and Mingo.
All other counties in the state are green.
The state reported 157 patients across the state are in a hospital with COVID complications. Twenty-seven patients are in an intensive care unit with eight on a ventilator. Three pediatric cases with one in an ICY were reported.
Most local counties maintained a "medium" designation on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly COVID Community Level measurement. Released on Thursdays, it's based on new cases per 100,000 people and hospitalization statistics in the preceding seven days.
In counties listed as medium, the CDC recommends people at risk of severe illness consult with their health care provider about what precautions to take, including masking.
Doddridge and Gilmer County moved from medium to "low," in which the recommendations are to keep up with vaccinations and boosters and get tested for COVID if symptoms develop. They joined Tyler and Wetzel counties.
No area counties were classified as "high," where the CDC recommends masks in indoor public spaces.