CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There are currently 400 people hospitalized in West Virginia with COVID-19, an increase of 120 patients in one week.
The pandemic high includes 116 patients being treated in intensive care units with 43 patients on ventilators.
The numbers were updated Tuesday morning by the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh said the state Coronavirus Task Force, the West Virginia Hospital Association and others are watching the numbers closely.
“West Virginia still has sufficient capacity (in its hospitals),” Marsh said during a Tuesday appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.” “We’re not at the panic point.”
Marsh said there are currently more patients in ICU beds that don’t have COVID than the ones who do.
Hospitalizations usually lag behind the increase in cases anywhere from two to four weeks, according to Marsh.
“Unless we start to dampen down this rate of growth of COVID-19 in West Virginia and in the U.S., we’ll see more and more people that have to be hospitalized for COVID-19,” Marsh said.
Vice President and Executive Dean of WVU Health Sciences Dr. @claymarsh speaks with @DaveWilsonMN about the current spread and recent spikes in COVID-19 in West Virginia and across the country. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/1VVXCQcdxc
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) November 17, 2020
The West Virginia virus cases continued to climb Tuesday. There were 864 confirmed COVID-19 cases added by the DHHR. Active cases are now at 10,707. The statee’s daily positivity test rate at 5.72% and the overall positive test rate at 3.31%.
Marsh said those watching the hospitalizations want to stay ahead of a possible surge and there may be a time when they have to bring back a reduction in elective procedures like what occurred at the beginning of the pandemic in order to conserve hospital beds. He said it hasn’t yet reached that point.
The DHHR also said Tuesday that total deaths have climbed to 598 with 13 new deaths reported including an 84-year old female from Boone County, a 59-year old male from Kanawha County, a 79-year old female from Kanawha County, a 68-year old female from Barbour County, a 72-year old male from Fayette County, an 86-year old male from Ohio County, an 88-year old female from Ohio County, a 75-year old female from Jefferson County, a 68-year old male from Hancock County, an 80-year old male from Putnam County, a 69-year old female from Putnam County, an 89-year old female from Putnam County, and a 68-year old male from Boone County.
“I am very heartbroken to report that we have lost more West Virginians,” state DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch said. “Please remember that your actions may result in saving the lives of your family, neighbors and friends.”
More counties are moving toward the “red” on the COVID-19 daily alert map. There were 17 “orange” counties, one step away from “red,” Tuesday including Kanawha County. “Red” counties include Hardy, Mineral, Marshall and Jackson counties.
Marsh said West Virginians have the power to reduce the numbers by wearing masks and following the other guidelines. He said this a key time in the state and nation.
“The next two to three weeks to two to three months are going to be a definiing part of this pandemic for West Virginia and for the United States,” Marsh said.
Overall confirmed cases include: Barbour (270), Berkeley (2,298), Boone (530), Braxton (97), Brooke (401), Cabell (2,229), Calhoun (44), Clay (99), Doddridge (89), Fayette (969), Gilmer (179), Grant (244), Greenbrier (330), Hampshire (217), Hancock (407), Hardy (168), Harrison (905), Jackson (569), Jefferson (997), Kanawha (4,786), Lewis (201), Lincoln (357), Logan (928), Marion (621), Marshall (822), Mason (260), McDowell (504), Mercer (1,083), Mineral (656), Mingo (840), Monongalia (2,835), Monroe (302), Morgan (216), Nicholas (269), Ohio (1,079), Pendleton (86), Pleasants (62), Pocahontas (80), Preston (364), Putnam (1,449), Raleigh (1,148), Randolph (579), Ritchie (100), Roane (138), Summers (222), Taylor (224), Tucker (77), Tyler (109), Upshur (372), Wayne (822), Webster (49), Wetzel (339), Wirt (70), Wood (1,702), Wyoming (531).
Free COVID-19 testing is available today in Barbour, Berkeley, Brooke, Fayette, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mason, Mineral, Mingo, Ohio, Pleasants, Putnam, Randolph, Wayne, Wetzel, Wood, and Wyoming counties.
Barbour County
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Myers Clinic, 3 Health Care Drive, Philippi, WV
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Belington Clinic, 70 N. Sturmer Street, Belington, WV
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Junior Volunteer Fire Department, 331 Row Avenue, Belington, WV
Berkeley County
3:00 PM – 7:30 PM, Martinsburg Armory, 2096 Kelly Island Road, Martinsburg, WV
Brooke and Hancock Counties
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Weirton Salvation Army, 794 Cove Road, Weirton, WV
Fayette County
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, J.W. and Hazel Ruby WV Welcome Center, 55 Hazel Ruby Lane, Mt. Hope, WV
Hampshire County
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hampshire Memorial Hospital, 363 Sunrise Boulevard, Romney, WV
Hardy County
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Hardy County Ambulance Authority, 17940 SR 55, Baker, WV
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, National Guard Armory, 167 Freedom Way, Moorefield, WV
Jackson County
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Jackson County Health Department, 504 Church Street South, Ripley, WV
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Ravenswood Senior Center, 511 Washington Street, Ravenswood, WV
Jefferson County
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Shepherd University, 164 University Drive, Shepherdstown, WV
12:30 PM – 3:30 PM, Jefferson County Health Department, 1948 Wiltshire Road, Kearneysville, WV
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM, Washington High School, 300 Washington Patriot Drive, Charles Town, WV
Kanawha County
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Quincy Center, 2700 East Dupont Avenue, Belle, WV
Lincoln County
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Lincoln County Health Department, 8008 Court Avenue, Hamlin, WV
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Old One Stop, 392 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV
Logan County
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Old 84 Lumber Building, 100 Recovery Road, Peach Creek, WV
Marshall County
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Marshall County Health Department, 513 6th Street, Moundsville, WV
Mason County
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, RC Byrd Locks and Dam, Apple Grove, WV
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Point Pleasant Library Parking Lot, Viand and 6th Street, Point Pleasant, WV
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Leon Town Hall Parking Lot, Main Street, Leon, WV
Mineral County
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Mineral County Fairgrounds, Route 28, Fort Ashby, WV
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Mineral County VoTech, 981 Harley O. Staggers Drive, Keyser, WV
Mingo County
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Cornerstone Christian Center, 891 Dingess Road, Dingess, WV
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, 49 Main Street, Kermit, WV
Ohio County
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Valley Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 355 Fire House Lane, Valley Grove, WV
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Warwood Fire Station 9, 1301 Richland Avenue, Wheeling, WV
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Wheeling Island Fire Department, Station 5, 11 North Wabash Street, Wheeling, WV
Pleasants County
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Senior Citizen Center, 209 2nd Street, St. Marys, WV
Putnam County
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Teays Valley Church of God, 185 Connection Point, Scott Depot, WV
Randolph County
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Tygart Valley Fire Company, 3534 Seneca Trail, Dailey, WV
Wayne County
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Wayne County Health Department, 217 Kenova Avenue, Wayne, WV
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Kenova Police Department, 1501 Pine Street, Kenova, WV
Wetzel County
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Wetzel County 4H Grounds, 1821 Mountaineer Drive, New Martinsville, WV
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Valley High School, 4 Lumber Jack Lane, Pine Grove, WV
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Hundred High School, 3490 Hornet Highway, Hundred, WV
Wood County
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Jackson Park Ball Field, Jackson Park Drive and Rosmar Road, Vienna, WV (Pre-register at https://www.ipsumcovidresults.com/)
Wyoming County
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Oceana Square, Highway 971, Oceana, WV