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CHARLESTON -- Active COVID-19 cases increased by almost 100 from Wednesday to Thursday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reported on Thursday.
The state Thursday reported 2,256 cases, up 99 from 2,157 reported on Wednesday. Also, 734 new cases of the virus were received since the Wednesday morning update, the department reported.
State health officials have said the surge in cases around the nation has reached West Virginia. Most new cases are a variant of the BA2 mutation, which may have less severe symptoms, but is more infectious, according to state coronavirus adviser Dr. Clay Marsh.
Active cases have increased by about 2,000 since the first of April. The highmark in active cases was over 29,700 in early January.
Current active cases per in local counties (previous day) as of Thursday were: Calhoun 2 (3), Doddridge 7 (4), Gilmer 3 (3), Jackson 11 (9), Pleasants 4 (4), Ritchie 3 (5), Roane 18 (19), Tyler 3 (6), Wetzel 10 (12), Wirt 5 (6), Wood 46 (42).
Another nine residents have died from the virus in the 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday mornings, raising the count to 6,942 since the pandemic began more than two years ago. Seven deaths were added after the Bureau of Public Health reviewed deaths certificates.
The deaths include a 77-year-old man from Roane County, a 79-year-old woman from Upshur County, a 92-year-old woman from Clay County, a 75-year-old woman from Raleigh County, a 77-year-old woman from Harrison County, a 71-year-old woman from Raleigh County, a 96-year-old man from Boone County, an 82-year-old woman from Webster County and a 45-year-old man from Kanawha County.
"COVID-19 has affected far too many West Virginians," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch, said. "I urge you to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot as soon as possible."
Yellow-level counties totaled 21 on the County Alert System Map. Yellow is second lowest and all other counties are green, lowest level.
Pleasants is the only yellow county in the region. Wetzel, Tyler and Ritchie have been upgraded to green.
Hospitalizations rose by five from Wednesday to Thursday.
The state reported 143 patients were in the hospital, 59 unvaccinated. Twenty-seven residents were in an intensive care unit, 10 unvaccinated, with 10 on a ventilator, three unvaccinated.
Eight pediatric patients were reported with three in an ICU and one on a ventilator.
Thirty-five staff and 20 inmates have the virus, the Division of Corrections said. Two are at the North Central Regional Jail and three are at Parkersburg Community Corrections.