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Staff Report
CHARLESTON -- Active cases continued to decline Tuesday while the death toll from the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to rise, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Statewide, the department reported 1,854 active COVID-19 cases, down 135 from the 1,989 reported by the state on Monday. The state also reported 509 new cases of the virus were received since the Monday morning pandemic update.
Active cases have not been in the 1,800s since mid May. The high mark was in January in the most recent surge of more than 21,700 active cases.
On the County Alert System Map, which assigns color-coded levels based on infection severity, 16 counties were yellow, second lowest to green on the infection scale. Three counties in the region, Tyler, Doddridge and Ritchie, are yellow.
All other counties in the state were green.
Another 12 deaths related to the virus were confirmed Tuesday, which includes seven residents counted during the routine data reconciliation with death certificates by the Bureau of Public Health.
Deaths have been confirmed in Fayette, Kanawha, Harrison, Mercer, Ohio, Wyoming, Cabell and Randolph counties. The youngest was a 48-year-old man from Mercer County.
Deaths found during the reconciliation occurred February through May with two occurring in December.
To date, 7,013 deaths in West Virginia have been attributed to COVID-19.
"Today's news of more losses is a heartbreaking reminder of the threat this virus presents," department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. "We extend our sympathy to all of the loved ones impacted by these deaths."
Current active cases in local counties as of Tuesday were (previous day): Calhoun 6 (4), Doddridge 6 (5), Jackson 11 (7), Pleasants 1 (1), Ritchie 8 (8), Roane 16 (20), Tyler 7 (7), Wetzel 20 (21), Wirt 2 (1) and Wood 68 (70).
Hospitalizations dropped by 14 from Monday to Tuesday. The state reported 203 people were in the hospital with COVID-19 complications, 105 unvaccinated.
Twenty-five people are in an intensive care unit, 13 unvaccinated, and four are on a ventilator, all unvaccinated.
Thirty-four staff and 156 inmates are active cases in the Division of Corrections. Sixty-nine inmates are in the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County.