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State reports three confirmed COVID-19 deaths

Staff Report

CHARLESTON — Three more people were confirmed on Tuesday as deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus in West Virginia by the Department of Health and Human Resources.

The confirmed deaths were a 73-year-old woman from Randolph County, an 83-year-old man from Randolph County and a 92-year-old man from Monongalia County, the department said.

The deaths raise the toll to 7,590 residents since the pandemic started in early 2020. Forty-nine residents have died from the virus betweem Nov. 14 and Tuesday.

“Every loss is painful, a feeling which seems to intensify during the holidays,” department Secretary Bill J. Crouch said. “I am thankful for vaccines and boosters, which help protect friends and loved ones from severe outcomes from COVID-19.”

Statewide active cases also slightly dropped from Monday. The state reported 637 active cases, 29 fewer than the 666 reported on Monday.

The state also has received 206 new cases of the virus since the Monday update.

Health officials have said the state appears to have passed the peak number of cases in the present surge, but colder weather could cause a rise in cases as people stay inside away from the cold.

The concern is the newest mutations of the omicron variants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, are much more infectious than previous strains, particularly BQ.1.1, according to Dr. Clay Marsh, coronavirus adviser to the state of West Virginia. The variants are becoming the predominant strains with BQ.1.1 growing the fastest, he said.

BQ.1.1 is resistant to the monoclonal antibody treatments and parts of the body’s immune system that prevent infection, Marsh said. Older people are the most adversely affected, he said.

“And that’s the reason why it’s so important that people, all West Virginians, particularly older West Virginians, to make sure you stay current with vaccines you’re supposed to get and certainly the vaccine calculator can help you do that,” he said.

The Vaccination Due Date Calculator can be found at vaccinate.wv.gov.

Residents 6 months and older are eligible for vaccination. Individuals 6 months and older should receive a primary series of vaccination, the initial set of shots that teaches the body to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. At this time, one Omicron booster shot (bivalent) is recommended for everyone ages 5 years and older who completed the primary series, and their most recent COVID-19 shot was at least two months ago.

Pleasants and Tyler counties remain in the yellow classification on the County Alert System Map that is based on infection rates. In addition to Pleasants and Tyler, Mason, Clay, Monroe, Grant and Hardy also are yellow, second lowest to green, on the map,

No counties are gold, orange or red, the worst level, on the map.

Counties are assigned a color code based on the lower reading of either the infection rate or percent positivity. Green is at the lower end of the scale and red is at the highest.

Calhoun, Dodridge and Ritchie counties show an infection rate that is in the yellow zone.

Pleasants County’s number for percent positivity is in the red category. Tyler County’s count for percent positivity is at mid-level gold.

Active cases in local counties on Tuesday (last report) were: Calhoun, 2 (1); Doddridge, 1 (1); Gilmer, 3 (3); Jackson, 10 (9); Pleasants, 5 (5); Ritchie, 1 (1); Roane, 4 (5); Tyler, 6 (5); Wetzel, 7 (7); and Wirt, 0 (0); Wood 30 (34).

The state reported 120 patients are in a hospital with 16 in an intensive care unit and seven on ventilators. One pediatric case was reported.

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