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Two Jackson County residents among latest West Virginia COVID deaths

(Graphic Illustration/MetroCreative)

CHARLESTON — Two more Jackson County residents were listed as deaths in the last week due to the COVID-19 coronavirus by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

The department in its Wednesday pandemic update said five people died from the virus in the last week, including a 79-year old man and a 75-year-old woman from Jackson County. Also confirmed were a 65-year-old woman from Logan County, a 76-year-old man from Grant County and a 91-year-old woman from Putnam County.

In the prior week, two residents of Jackson County also were among five deaths reported by the department, which has switched to once-a-week reports since the expiration of the public health pandemic emergencies in May. In the previous week, a 65-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman from Jackson County died from the virus, the state said.

The death toll from the virus with the addition of the latest five was 8,150 people as of Wednesday in West Virginia, according to the department.

Nationally, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have increased since the first of the month.

Dr. Matthew Christiansen at the governor’s press briefing last week said West Virginia has yet to see the increase, but hospitalizations are expected to rise as fall approaches. The rise will depend on whether people get vaccinated and take other precautions, he said.

The new Pan-Respiratory Advisory Committee will focus on flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19, he said.

The state continues to encourage residents 6 months and older to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination. At this time, to stay up-to-date, one Omicron (bivalent) COVID-19 shot is recommended for most people ages 6 and older. Those ages 6 months through 5 have more specific recommendations. Those 65 years and older and those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised also are eligible for at least one additional Omicron COVID-19 shot for updated protection.

To learn more about COVID-19, or to find a vaccine, go to vaccines.gov, vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.

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