CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia approach the 3,000 mark for the first time since late February, state coronavirus czar Dr. Clay Marsh says the new BA.5 variant of the virus is driving those figures up.
During Thursday’s coronavirus briefing with Gov. Jim Justice, Marsh said a sequencing assessment from West Virginia University and Marshall University show that from the last week of June to first week in July, confirmed cases in the state that were BA.5 variant climbed from 1% to 33%. Marsh noted that 70% of new cases of COVID-19 nationwide are the BA.5 variant.
“We know that the BA.5 variant, by far now, is the most infectious variant seen to date. We know that it also has the ability to re-infect people who have been infected previous with other forms of COVID-19,” Marsh said.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources confirmed 2,889 active COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest total since late February and 1,000 more than one month ago.
No new deaths were reported. Marsh said during the briefing to note the patterns in countries around the world that have high case levels of BA.5 variant and their death levels. He used South Africa and Portugal for examples, saying Portugal has an older population and is seeing more COVID-19 related deaths.
“We don’t have much of an opportunity to change the fact that West Virginia is an older population. But we do have the opportunity to prevent the deaths from the standpoint of the boosters and vaccines,” Justice said.
Statewide, 1,030 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday.
Current active cases per county: Barbour (17), Berkeley (149), Boone (51), Braxton (14), Brooke (12), Cabell (141), Calhoun (8), Clay (10), Doddridge (11), Fayette (93), Gilmer (13), Grant (17), Greenbrier (53), Hampshire (30), Hancock (40), Hardy (35), Harrison (130), Jackson (36), Jefferson (80), Kanawha (307), Lewis (22), Lincoln (30), Logan (62), Marion (110), Marshall (50), Mason (46), McDowell (56), Mercer (145), Mineral (30), Mingo (43), Monongalia (123), Monroe (22), Morgan (12), Nicholas (46), Ohio (56), Pendleton (4), Pleasants (14), Pocahontas (11), Preston (33), Putnam (106), Raleigh (179), Randolph (24), Ritchie (9), Roane (30), Summers (20), Taylor (25), Tucker (4), Tyler (9), Upshur (48), Wayne (43), Webster (17), Wetzel (18), Wirt (3), Wood (137), Wyoming (55).
Hospitalizations remained at 330, the highest level since mid-March.
“It’s really important that we stay vigilant and we know that BA.5 is growing in West Virginia. It’s important, given how infectious that it is, for us to take provisions,” Marsh added.
LIVE: Gov. Justice and state officials provide an update on West Virginia’s COVID-19 response efforts – July 14, 2022. For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations, visit https://t.co/HDtenzZeHR or call 1-833-734-0965. #WV #WVGov https://t.co/qFLEA9Khpy
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) July 14, 2022