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Note: The DHHR on Feb. 9 said the figure of 21 pediatric hospitalizations was the result of an error reported by a hospital to the West Virginia Hospital Association, which supplies the data to the department. The pediatric total should have been three.
CHARLESTON -- Twenty-one pediatric COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday morning in West Virginia hospitals.
The total, an increase of 17 cases from Tuesday, doesn't likely indicate a widespread infection among young children, Dr. Clay Marsh, West Virginia Coronavirus adviser, said. Few of the patients who were admitted at WVU Medicine came to the hospital for reasons other than a COVID-19 infection, but later tested positive, he said.
The latest XBB strains of the omicron variants are highly infectious, regardless of age, but haven't resulted in large hospitalizations of youth in other states, he said.
Of the 21 pediatric cases, one is in an ICU and on a ventilator, the state Department of Health and Human Resources said. Four pediatric cases were reported Tuesday morning.
Last week the DHHR reported the death of a 3-month-old girl, the youngest death from the virus in West Virginia.
"COVID is not over yet," Marsh said.
The pediatric age group is teens and under.
The department on Wednesday reported a total of 240 COVID-19 cases in state hospitals. Twenty-six patients were in an intensive care unit and seven were on ventilators.
The increase in pediatric cases from Tuesday to Wednesday would catch the attention of parents, Marsh said.
"It does give parents the indication that it's important to pay attention to the environment their children are in," he said.
Winter weather is a factor, too.
The virus spreads through the air, Marsh said. Children, like most people, are spending more time inside where the air can be stagnant, unlike the outside, he said.
The advice in protecting children has been the same message for the past few years, Marsh said. The state encourages vaccinations and boosters, staying away from those who are sick, staying home from school if infected and practicing good hygiene habits like washing hands, among others, he said.
Following the recommendations not only protects children, but older residents, too, from the spread of the virus, Marsh said.
Wednesday's report from the department included confirmation of eight more deaths attributed to the coronavirus between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The additional deaths raise the count to 7,885 people since the pandemic started.
The DHHR Wednesday confirmed the deaths of an 83-year-old woman from Marion County, a 79-year-old man from Kanawha County, a 53-year-old man from Lincoln County, a 91-year-old man from Cabell County, a 67-year-old woman from Wayne County, a 62-year-old man from Raleigh County, a 75-year-old man from Jefferson County and a 49-year-old woman from Kanawha County.
"We mourn with those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19," Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben, interim department secretary, said. "If you are due for a vaccine or booster, make plans to get one today."
Statewide active cases on Wednesday were 729 with 320 new cases received in the 24-hour period between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
Current active cases in local counties on Wednesday (previous day) were: Calhoun, 0 (0); Doddridge, 3 (4); Gilmer, 0 (0); Jackson, 13 (12); Pleasants, 0 (0); Ritchie, 7 (6); Roane, 3 (4); Tyler, 0 (0); Wetzel, 4 (4); Wirt, 3 (2); Wood, 22 (24).
Wirt and Doddridge are the only local counties shaded yellow on the County Alert System Map that is based on infection rates and percent positivity of tests. The scale in ascending order of severity is green, yellow, gold, orange and red.
Statewide, 10 counties are yellow, and the other 45 are green.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.