Staff Report

CHARLESTON — Four more people were confirmed as COVID-19 deaths Friday morning by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

The deaths include an 82-year-old man from Jackson County where the total number of deaths since the pandemic started are 159. Total deaths across the state were at 7,904 on Friday.

In addition to the Jackson County man, also confirmed were a 63-year-old woman from Raleigh County, a 62-year-old woman from Summers County and a 74-year-old man from Marshall County.

“We send heartfelt condolences to all impacted by the loss of these West Virginians,” Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben, Interim department secretary, said. “Let’s do everything we can to prevent further deaths by staying current on vaccines and boosters.”

The department reported 812 active cases statewide with another 251 cases received in the 24-hour period between the Thursday and Friday pandemic reports.

Current active cases in local counties (previous day) were: Calhoun 0 (0), Doddridge 1 (3), Gilmer 0 (0), Jackson 6 (8), Pleasants 1 (1), Ritchie 7 (6), Roane 5 (4), Tyler 0 (0), Wetzel 3 (4), Wirt 4 (4), Wood 21 (22).

Community risk levels are ranked low in Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doddridge, Gilmer, Tyler and Wetzel counties are ranked medium.

Residents are advised in low-risk counties to stay current with vaccines and boosters, avoid contact with those who are suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 and isolate from others if you suspect or are confirmed with COVID-19. In medium-risk counties, residents are encouraged to wear a mask, stay current with vaccinations, isolate and get tested.

Ten counties, three more than Thursday, are yellow on the County Alert System Map. The map is based on infection rate and percent positivity on tests and is scaled from green, yellow, gold, orange and red in terms of severity.

Wirt and Ritchie counties are the only yellow counties in the region. Mason County, while closer to Wood than Wetzel, also is yellow.

The remaining 45 counties in West Virginia are green.

The state reported 205 people are in the hospital with COVID-19 with 24 in an intensive care unit and 10 on ventilators. Three pediatric cases were reported.