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Staff Report
CHARLESTON -- Hospitalizations from the COVID-19 coronavirus increased 10 percent in the 24-hour period between Monday and Tuesday mornings, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.
The department reported 225 hospitalizations on Tuesday, up from 203 on Monday, with 30 patients in an intensive care unit and 13 on a ventilator.
A dozen pediatric cases, three more than Monday, also were reported with one in an ICU and two on a ventilator.
No COVID-19 deaths were reported in the 24-hour period between Monday and Tuesday mornings and active cases dipped below 1,200, according to the Department of Health and Human Resources.
The state reported 1,168 active cases as of Tuesday morning, down from the 1,207 reported Monday morning. Also reported was another 363 new positive cases received between the Monday and Tuesday morning pandemic updates from the department.
Positive cases are probably understated as most people are now testing from home, according to Gov. Jim Justice.
"We don't know the results of these," the governor said during his Tuesday morning pandemic briefing from the Capitol.
Twenty counties, four fewer than Monday, were yellow on the County Alert System map based on infection rate and percent positivity and ranked in terms of severity by green, yellow, gold, orange and red levels with green as the lowest.
In this region, Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie and Roane counties were yellow. All other counties in the region are green.
Current active cases in local counties are (previous report): Calhoun 1 (2); Doddridge 1 (0); Gilmer 1 (1); Jackson 10 (18); Pleasants 8 (9); Ritchie 8 (6); Roane 23 (12); Tyler 8 (8); Wetzel 5 (6); Wirt 0 (0); Wood 45 (45).
No deaths were reported. The death count since the pandemic began more than 30 months ago remained at 7,661 on Tuesday.
The last deaths reported were four on Dec, 16.
State officials encouraged residents to become vaccinated and stay up-to-date with booster shots as the most effective way to combat the virus.
"The variants now are pretty contagious," Justice said. "The chances of you getting this are pretty high."
Vaccination is particularly important for those over 65, Dr. Clay Marsh, coronavirus adviser, said. Ninety-five percent of deaths are people over 65, he said.
"The best present for you and people that you love is to protect yourself and protect the people who you love, your children and your elders for sure, is by staying up-to-date with the new COVID booster shot," Marsh said.