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CHARLESTON -- A resident from Wood County was the only COVID-19 coronavirus death reported Friday morning by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
The state in its pandemic update confirmed the death of a 58-year-old woman from Wood County.
The death raises the number of COVID-related fatalities to 7,867 people since the pandemic started three years ago. Forty-five deaths have been confirmed this week, including a 3-month-old girl who was the youngest recorded pandemic death in the state.
"We send comfort to all who are grieving the loss of a loved one today," said interim department Secretary Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben. "I encourage all to receive their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to prevent further loss of life and serious outcomes due to this virus."
The state reported 897 active COVID-19 cases statewide with 305 new cases received in the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday mornings.
Current active cases in local counties (previous day) were: Calhoun 1 (1), Doddridge 1 (1), Gilmer 0 (0), Jackson 9 (12), Pleasants 1 (1), Ritchie 8 (7), Roane 3 (4), Tyler 0 (0), Wetzel 2 (3), Wirt 1 (1), Wood 21 (18).
Thirteen counties are yellow on the County Alert System Map, up from 10 on Thursday. Yellow is second lowest to green based on infection-related rates.
All other counties in the state are green. Wirt and Ritchie are the only yellow counties in the region.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention risk assessment, the COVID Community Level is low in Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood counties. Revised CDC guidance recommends people at greater risk of severe illness from the virus discuss possible precautions with a health care provider.
That was previously the recommendation for counties labeled medium. Now, the CDC recommends people at greater risk of severe illness wear a high-quality mask or respirator when in indoor public spaces.
The risk level is medium in Doddridge and Gilmer counties.
The recommendation for counties labeled high remains for everyone to mask in indoor, public spaces. No local counties had that designation.
The CDC measure, updated weekly by Thursday evening, is based on new cases per 100,000 people and hospitalization statistics over the preceding seven days. More information is available online at tinyurl.com/yc59nbun.