Trending
CHARLESTON -- Three residents from the region including a woman from Wood County were among the confirmed dead from the COVID-19 coronavirus reported on Friday by the Department of Health and Human Resources.
Twelve more deaths were reported in the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday mornings, raising the death toll since the pandemic began three years ago to 7,802 people in West Virginia.
The state Friday reported the death of an 84-year-old man from Roane County, a 94-year-old woman from Wood County, a 69-year-old woman from Roane County, an 83-year-old woman from Boone County, an 81-year-old man from Mason County, an 82-year-old woman from Kanawha County, a 61-year-old man from Summers County, a 77-year-old man from Putnam County, an 89-year-old woman from Mercer County, an 84-year-old woman from Kanawha County, an 82-year-old woman from Putnam County and an 85-year-old woman from Raleigh County.
The death in Wood County raises the count to 374. Wood County is fourth in the number of deaths in the state behind Kanawha with 855, Cabell with 434, and Raleigh with 409.
"I encourage West Virginians to take steps to keep themselves and loved ones protected by receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or booster," said Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben, Interim DHHR Cabinet Secretary. "If you are unsure if you are due for a vaccine, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Due Date Calculator for more information."
Statewide active cases of the virus were at 962 on Friday and the state reported another 307 new cases were received between Thursday and Friday.
Current active cases in local counties are (previous day): Calhoun 3 (3), Doddridge 3 (3), Gilmer 2 (2), Jackson 16 (14), Pleasants 1 (1), Ritchie 0 (0), Roane 8 (9), Tyler 5 (6), Wetzel 1 (1), Wirt 0 (0), Wood 30 (25).
Tyler, Ritchie and Calhoun counties are yellow, second lowest, on the County Alert System Map. All other counties in the region are green, lowest level.
Eighteen counties in the state are yellow. The remainder are green.
Statewide hospitalizations were 266 on Thursday with 38 in an intensive care unit and six on a ventilator. The numbers on Wednesday were 267, 37 and nine, respectively.
Five pediatric cases were reported with one in an ICU.
Roane is the only county in the region to be listed as high on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Community Level rankings.
The recommendations for residents at high-risk include wearing a high-quality mask or respirator, avoid non-essential indoor activities in public to reduce exposure, self-test to detect infection before coming into contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt and Wood counties are ranked medium and Tyler and Wetzel are ranked low.