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CHARLESTON -- Another 56 West Virginia deaths were attributed to COVID-19 Thursday, most from an ongoing examination of death certificates going back to January.
The total fatalities since the start of the pandemic two years ago rose to 6,544, while other statistics regarding the virus continued to improve.
According to Thursday's update from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, 18 new deaths were added to the tally, ranging in age from a 41-year-old Marshall County woman to a 99-year-old woman from Marion County. Among them was a 78-year-old Tyler County woman.
The ongoing data reconciliation with official death certificates added 38 more, including a 42-year-old woman from Wood County, a 46-year-old woman from Jackson County, a 72-year-old man from Roane County and a 75-year-old man from Wetzel County. The Wood County woman was the youngest, while a 102-year-old Kanawha County woman was the oldest.
Those deaths occurred from January to March.
"Our hearts go out to these West Virginians and their families," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR cabinet secretary. "Let's continue taking every precaution we can to curb the spread of this disease, including vaccination and boosters."
Active cases of the virus statewide dipped to just over 1,300 Thursday, at 1,305. Active case totals in area counties on Thursday (Wednesday) were: Calhoun, 11 (10); Doddridge, 1 (1); Gilmer, 5 (2); Jackson, 13 (12); Pleasants, 4 (3); Ritchie, 6 (7); Roane, 5 (5); Tyler, 14 (14); Wetzel, 14 (9); Wirt, 5 (6); Wood, 47 (44).
Tyler County remained yellow on the state's County Alert System map, along with Clay and Webster counties. Yellow is the second-lowest category, based on the lower of the number of infections per 100,000 people in a given period or percentage of people testing positive.
West Virginia's remaining 52 counties were green, the lowest level.
COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased by 28 to 340. Of those, 206, or 60.6 percent, were unvaccinated.
There were 94 patients in intensive care units, 69.1 percent unvaccinated, and the number on ventilators remained steady at 50, with 68 percent unvaccinated.
Three pediatric patients were hospitalized, one on a ventilator.
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Vaccines
* West Virginians ages 5 years and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Booster shots are also available for those 12 and older.
* For more information about vaccines or to find vaccination sites, visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.
* Testing opportunities can be viewed at tinyurl.com/2p943d3u