Trending
Staff Report
CHARLESTON -- Active cases rose around 200 from Wednesday to Thursday in West Virginia, according to the Department of Health and Human Resources.
The department reported 8,634 active cases statewide, up from 8,469 on Wednesday. Another 1,100 new cases were received in the 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday morning.
West Virginia set a pandemic peak of active cases with 29,744 on Sept. 16. The more infectious delta variant and unvaccinated residents are the reasons for the latest, more rapidly growing surge, state officials have said.
Nineteen more deaths were confirmed from Wednesday to Thursday, including a 71-year-old man from Wood County and a 53-year-old man from Roane County.
The death count since the pandemic started in March 2020 is now 4,238 people statewide and 238 in Wood County where five people were confirmed fatalities due to COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Deaths were confirmed Thursday in Wyoming, Kanawha, McDowell, Cabell, Berkeley, Jefferson, Berkeley, Lewis, Morgan, Raleigh, Randolph, Preston and Nicholas counties. The youngest was 51 and the oldest was 83.
"Every life lost to this deadly virus leaves a hole in a family, a community and our state," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "I offer my deepest sympathies to all who are mourning a loved one today."
Local active cases as of Thursday are (previous day): Calhoun, 45 (43); Doddridge, 32 (30); Gilmer, 35 (23); Jackson, 144 (148); Pleasants, 31 (27); Ritchie, 48 (52); Roane, 77 (75); Tyler, 26 (22); Wetzel, 75 (68); Wirt, 43 (44); Wood 368 (372).
According to the County Alert System map, based on spread of the virus, Gilmer is yellow, Tyler and Doddridge are at mid-level gold, Wetzel, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun and Roane are orange and Wood and Jackson are red, the worst level on the chart.
Four counties are green, the lowest level on the alert system.
Of the 3,117 deaths since vaccinations began in December, the unvaccinated account for 92.15 percent of the deaths.
The state has vaccinated 58.2% eligible residents 12 and older.
The state reported 691 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals, 76.4 percent unvaccinated. patients in an intensive care unit totaled 211 on Thursday, 86.8 percent unvaccinated. On ventilators were 122 people, 87.7 percent unvaccinated.
WVU Medicine Camden Clark reported 53 COVID-19 patients, 40 unvaccinated. All 12 patients in ICU are unvaccinated and 10 of 11 patients on ventilators are unvaccinated.