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CHARLESTON -- Active COVID-19 cases in Wood County were below 40 while statewide cases were below 800 on Wednesday, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Thirty-eight active cases were reported in Wood County on Wednesday, 21 less than in the Monday morning pandemic report from the department.
The department also reported 798 active cases statewide, a drop of 128 since Monday. The state also reported 488 new positive cases were received since the last report on Monday.
Cases have fluctuated up and down and state health officials believe the state has passed the peak number of cases, but colder weather could cause an increase as people stay inside.
Wood County is now green on the County Alert System Map, the lowest level on the five-tier rating system based on infection rates. Wood County was yellow, second lowest, earlier this week.
Eight counties in the state are yellow. The remainder are green.
Yellow counties in this region are Pleasants and Tyler counties.
Active cases in other local counties on Wednesday (previous report) were: Calhoun, 3 (1); Doddridge, 2 (2); Gilmer, 6 (4); Jackson, 5 (10); Pleasants, 11 (6); Ritchie, 4 (4); Roane, 9 (6); Tyler, 7 (5); Wetzel, 4 (10); Wirt, 1 (1).
Two deaths were confirmed since Monday, raising the count since the pandemic began to 7,538.
Deaths were a 91-year-old woman from Berkeley County and an 85-year-old man from Grant County.
"We send our condolences to families who have lost a loved one due to COVID-19," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. "As we experience colder weather and we are indoors more, I urge West Virginians to stay up-to-date on COVID vaccines and booster shots."
On Wednesday, statewide COVID hospitalizations were at 142 with 19 in an intensive care unit and 10 on a ventilator. Two pediatric cases were reported.
West Virginians 6 months and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. All individuals ages 6 months and older should receive a primary series of vaccination, the initial set of shots that teaches the body to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, the state said. At this time, one Omicron booster shot (bivalent) is recommended for everyone ages 5 years and older who completed the primary series, and their most recent COVID-19 shot was at least two months ago.