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From staff reports
PARKERSBURG -- Another seven deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in West Virginia, the state Department of Health and Human Resources reported on Friday.
The deaths confirmed were a 91-year-old woman from Boone County, a 92-year-old man from Harrison County, a 54-year-old man from Mason County, a 76-year-old man from Clay County, an 88-year-old man from Raleigh County, an 83-year-old man from Marion County and a 79-year-old man from Mineral County.
That raised the number of dead from the virus in West Virginia to 7,364 residents since the pandemic began in March 2020, according to the department.
"This thing is just flat not over," Gov. Jim Justice said during his Friday morning pandemic briefing from Charleston.
Condolences were issued by DHHR Secretary Bill J. Crouch and Justice.
"The loss of seven additional West Virginians adds to the overwhelming sorrow caused by this pandemic," Crouch said. "Let's protect our friends and families by choosing to become vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19."
Statewide, active cases totaled 2,288, up 123 in the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday mornings. The state received 689 new cases in the period.
Active cases in local counties on Friday (Thursday) were: Calhoun, 17 (12); Doddridge, 4 (3); Gilmer, 14 (13); Jackson, 25 (19); Pleasants, 5 (5); Ritchie, 7 (6); Roane, 29 (31); Tyler, 13 (14); Wetzel, 7 (15); Wirt, 7 (7); and Wood, 54 (50).
Calhoun County is now gold, the middle level, on the County Alert System Map based on infection rates. Previously yellow, it's one of two gold counties, the other being Wyoming.
The number of green counties dropped by six to 17 on Friday. Green is the lowest level on the ratings map.
Wood, Pleasants, Wetzel, and Doddridge are green in this region. Tyler, Ritchie, Wirt, Jackson, Roane and Gilmer are yellow, second lowest.
No counties are red or orange, the most severe levels.
Statewide hospitalizations with COVID were 278 as of Friday, with 44 in an intensive care unit and 14 on ventilators. Five pediatric cases were reported with three in an ICU and one on a ventilator.
Wood and Ritchie counties moved to medium on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID Community Levels metric, based on new cases and hospitalizations in the previous seven days. In counties classified as medium -- which also includes Doddridge and Pleasants -- people who are at risk of severe illness from the virus are advised to consult with their health care provider about what precautions to take.
Other area counties' Community Level is considered high, in which people are advised to wear masks in indoor, public places. That includes Washington County in Ohio, which had been medium last week.