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CHARLESTON -- West Virginia surpassed 900 active COVID-19 cases in Friday's update from the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
The total was 805 on Thursday. The new number reflects some of those moving off of active status as 354 new cases were reported to the DHHR. No new deaths were reported.
Only minor fluctuations were noted in local counties, where case totals on Friday (Thursday) were: Calhoun, 0 (0); Doddridge, 3 (1); Gilmer, 0 (0); Jackson, 11 (12); Pleasants, 4 (4); Ritchie, 3 (4); Roane, 8 (5); Tyler, 3 (2); Wetzel, 5 (5); Wirt, 2 (2); Wood, 32 (29).
There were 17 counties labeled yellow, the second-lowest category on the County Alert System map, with the state's other 38 on the lowest level, green. The colors are assigned based on the infection rate or percentage of positive tests over the last seven days, whichever is lower.
Wirt County remained yellow and was joined locally by Doddridge and Jackson counties, which had been green on Thursday.
Hospitalizations with COVID stood at 223 Friday, down from 243 the previous day. There were 26 patients with COVID in intensive care units and 10 on ventilators, compared to 39 and 16 on Thursday. The number of pediatric hospitalizations remained the same at seven, with one in ICU and one on a ventilator.
All area counties were classified as low on the COVID Community Levels issued on Thursday afternoons by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The metric is based on new cases per 100,000 people in the previous seven days and hospitalization numbers.
In counties designated low, the recommendations are to stay up to date on vaccinations and get tested if COVID symptoms develop. Masking in indoor, public spaces is recommended for counties ranked high, while people at greater risk for severe illness are advised to consult health care professionals about precautions when a medium rating is in place.