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Staff Report
CHARLESTON -- Nineteen residents were confirmed as deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus between Monday and Tuesday in West Virginia, the Department of Health and Human Resources reported Tuesday.
The additional deaths raised the fatality count since the pandemic started almost three years ago to 7,749.
The deaths include a 74-year-old woman from Ritchie County.
The state has confirmed the deaths of a 78-year-old man from Ohio County, a 67-year-old man from Mercer County, a 63-year-old man from Harrison County, a 74-year-old woman from Pocahontas County, a 76-year-old woman from Greenbrier County, an 86-year-old woman from Kanawha County, a 68-year-old man from Kanawha County, an 84-year-old woman from Harrison County, an 88-year-old woman from Fayette County, an 84-year-old woman from Kanawha County, a 77-year-old woman from Marshall County, a 70-year-old man from Marion County, a 58-year-old woman from Fayette County, an 85-year-old woman from Berkeley County, a 68-year-old man from Monongalia County, a 72-year-old man from Marion County, a 74-year-old woman from Kanawha County and a 98-year-old woman from Mason County.
At least 67 people have been confirmed as dying from the virus since Jan. 1.
"Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself from getting very sick, needing hospital care, or even dying from COVID-19," said Jeffrey H. Coben, M.D., Interim DHHR Cabinet Secretary. "If you're not sure when you need a booster, I encourage you to use the COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator on our website."
The state also reported 1,169 active COVID-19 cases statewide on Tuesday, 182 less than on Monday. Another 306 new cases have been received since the last update on Monday.
State health officials believe the actual number of cases is higher because in-home tests that show a positive result are not recorded.
Current active cases in local counties (previous report) are: Calhoun 0 (1), Doddridge 4 (5), Gilmer 2 (1), Jackson 23 (22), Pleasants 1 (2), Ritchie 4 (15), Roane 13 (13), Tyler 6 (9), Wetzel 8 (10), Wirt 1 (1), Wood 38 (32).
Nineteen counties statewide are yellow on the County Alert System Map. Yellow is second lowest to green.
Yellow counties in the region are Tyler, Doddridge, Jackson and Roane. Green counties are Wood, Wirt, Wetzel, Pleasants, Ritchie, Calhoun and Gilmer.
The state reported 317 people are in a hospital with 53 in an intensive care unit and 11 on a respirator. Five pediatric cases with one in an ICU were reported.