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CHARLESTON -- Active COVID-19 coronavirus cases jumped more than 100 statewide from Thursday to Friday, nearing 1,200 cases, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
The state reported 1,160 active cases of the virus, up from 1,028 cited in the Thursday morning pandemic update, and another 430 new cases received since the last report on Thursday morning.
Cases haven't been in the 1,200 range since the end of September and first of October.
Current active cases in local counties are (previous report): Calhoun 1 (2); Doddridge 0 (0); Gilmer 1 (1); Jackson 18 (18); Pleasants 8 (3); Ritchie 9 (8); Roane 9 (9); Tyler 8 (5); Wetzel 12 (13); Wirt 1 (1); Wood 49 (49).
The number of yellow counties on the County Alert System Map rose to 21 on Friday from 11 on Thursday. Yellow is second lowest to green on the rating system based on infection rates and the percent positivity.
Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants and Dodridge counties in this region are yellow. All other counties are green.
Roane County is rated high on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Levels chart based on new cases and hospitalizations.
Recommended precautions include masks indoors in public, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, testing if symptoms arise and additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.
Gilmer and Dodridge counties are low while Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood are rated medium.
In Ohio, Athens, Hocking and Gallia counties are rated low on the CDC chart. Washington County is medium.
Also reported on Friday by the state of West Virginia was another four deaths, raising the death toll to 7,661 residents since the pandemic began.
The department has confirmed the deaths of a 70-year-old woman from Monongalia County, an 84-year-old man from Harrison County, a 66-year-old woman from Hardy County and a 62-year-old man from Monongalia County.
"West Virginia communities have experienced profound loss of loved ones due to COVID-19," said Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben, interim department secretary. "The vaccine and booster are safe and help prevent serious illness, hospitalization and further loss of life."
Hospitalizations increased by 14 to 191 on Friday. Twenty-one patients are in an intensive care unit and seven are on ventilators. Five pediatric cases with one in an ICU were reported.
Peak hospitalizations were in February with nearly 1,100.