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CHARLESTON -- Statewide active COVID-19 cases remained steady while another four deaths from the virus were confirmed Wednesday by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
The state reported 970 active COVID-19 cases, more than 40 more than on Tuesday, but about par with the total active cases reported on Friday. Another 311 positive cases have been received since Tuesday morning's pandemic report, the state said.
Three of the 11 counties that are yellow on the County Alert System Map are in this region, Wetzel, Pleasants and Ritchie. Yellow is second lowest to green in terms of infections.
All other counties in the state are green.
Active cases in local counties on Wednesday (previous report) were: Calhoun, 4 (5); Doddridge, 3 (3); Gilmer, 4 (4); Jackson, 13 (11); Pleasants, 4 (3); Ritchie, 7 (4); Roane, 9 (10); Tyler, 4 (5); Wetzel, 12 (16); Wirt, 2 (2); Wood, 44 (36).
Four deaths have been reported, raising the total number to 7,534 deaths attributed to the virus.
"We still see people who are dying of COVID-19," Dr. Clay Marsh, coronavirus adviser to the state of West Virginia, said during the governor's online briefing Wednesday morning.
The department has confirmed the deaths of a 58-year-old woman from Raleigh County, a 71-year-old man from Wyoming County, a 79-year-old woman from Kanawha County and a 70-year-old woman from Kanawha County.
"Too many families are experiencing the pain of loss due to COVID-19," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "Please schedule your COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot today to prevent severe outcomes from COVID."
The new variants that are emerging from the omicron BA.5 mutation, the BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, appear to be more infectious that previous strains, but not necessarily deadlier than the delta variant, according to Dr. Ayne Amjad, state health commissioner. Part of the reason is more people are vaccinated, she said.
Residents 6 months and older are eligible for a vaccination. All individuals 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. At this time, one Omicron booster shot (bivalent) is recommended for everyone ages 5 and older who completed the primary series, and their most recent COVID-19 shot was at least two months ago.
The state reported 162 patients are in the hospital with 23 in an intensive care unit and nine on ventilators. Four pediatric cases were reported with one on a ventilator.