Trending
CHARLESTON -- Active cases of COVID-19 across West Virginia rose slightly as the state Department of Health and Human Resources announced 14 deaths attributed to the virus.
The deaths included an 88-year-old man from Wood County, among individuals ranging in age from a 62-year-old Raleigh County woman to a 92-year-old Webster County man. It raises the state's total to 7,822 since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.
"As we continue the fight against COVID-19, we encourage West Virginians to receive their COVID vaccines and boosters," said Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben, interim DHHR cabinet secretary. "We offer our sympathy to families who are grieving."
There were 805 active cases in Thursday's update from the DHHR, up from 795 Wednesday. As some cases moved off of active status, 325 new ones were reported.
Active cases in local counties on Thursday (Wednesday) were: Calhoun, 0 (0); Doddridge, 1 (1); Gilmer, 0 (0); Jackson, 12 (12); Pleasants, 4 (3); Ritchie, 4 (4); Roane, 5 (7); Tyler, 2 (3); Wetzel, 5 (3); Wirt, 2 (1); Wood, 29 (32).
Pleasants County joined Ritchie and Wirt as yellow, the second-lowest of five levels on the County Alert System map. The map is based on the infection rate or percentage of tests positive, whichever is lower. Despite having two active cases, Wirt County's 13.33% positive test rate falls under red, the highest category. But its infection rate of 17.18 new cases per 100,000 people in the previous seven days is in the yellow range.
Fourteen of the state's 55 counties are yellow, with the rest green, the lowest level.
There were 243 West Virginia residents hospitalized with COVID as of Thursday morning, down from 251 Wednesday. Thirty-nine were in an intensive care unit, with 16 on a ventilator. Seven pediatric cases were reported with one in ICU and one on a ventilator.