CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh says now is a good time for state residents to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Marsh said during Friday’s state coronavirus media briefing, the Omicron BA.5 variant will likely arrive in West Virginia soon.
“We can anticipate that BA.5 will come and have its full strength felt in West Virginia in the next several weeks,” Marsh said.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources COVID-19 dashboard currently has active cases at 3,358. There were 992 cases confirmed in Friday’s update. The state has 325 COVID-related hospitalizations.
Marsh said this is the right time to go to the state’s vaccine calculator.
“If you’re due for another shot. If you’re due for a booster or a second booster or even if you’re due to get your primary series–this is really your best time to do it,” Marsh said.
State InterAgency Task Force Director Jim Hoyer said the state’s vaccination rates continue to make a slow, steady climb. Hoyer said he had personal experience in recent days when a fully vaccinated man and woman in their 80s were able to survive the COVID infection.
“I’ve seen up close and person what the governor (and the whole team) continue to press on these vaccinations and the additional doses for people over the age of 50,” Marsh said.
The state reported no new deaths in Friday’s update. Total coronvirus deaths are at 7,121.
Current active cases per county include: Barbour (18), Berkeley (180), Boone (57), Braxton (16), Brooke (19), Cabell (170), Calhoun (8), Clay (15), Doddridge (9), Fayette (115), Gilmer (11), Grant (19), Greenbrier (68), Hampshire (36), Hancock (31), Hardy (34), Harrison (143), Jackson (42), Jefferson (86), Kanawha (344), Lewis (31), Lincoln (37), Logan (82), Marion (112), Marshall (51), Mason (62), McDowell (60), Mercer (168), Mineral (47), Mingo (50), Monongalia (180), Monroe (26), Morgan (19), Nicholas (64), Ohio (46), Pendleton (4), Pleasants (11), Pocahontas (16), Preston (38), Putnam (137), Raleigh (194), Randolph (26), Ritchie (11), Roane (26), Summers (22), Taylor (26), Tucker (15), Tyler (7), Upshur (49), Wayne (56), Webster (19), Wetzel (24), Wirt (6), Wood (162), Wyoming (53).