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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — COVID-19 infection rates have now exceeded 100 cases per 100,000 population in 22 of the state’s 55 counties, including Upshur, Doddridge and Preston in North Central West Virginia.
Harrison County, with a rate of 96.22 per 100,000, continues to outpace counties to its north on the Interstate 79 Corridor.
Upshur County leads the region with an infection rate of 147.73 per 100,000, followed by Doddridge County at 111.61 and Preston County at 102.98.
Harrison County’s infection rate as of Sunday was 96.22 per 100,000, Marion County’s was 72.1, Taylor County’s was 71.02, Lewis County’s was 61.6, Barbour County’s was 51.27 and Monongalia County’s was 44.91.
The higher infection rate in Harrison County despite the interconnectedness of Marion, Monongalia and Harrison along the I-79 corridor is likely attributable to many factors, but among the most important is the county’s vaccination rate, according to Chad Bundy, executive director of the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department.
The percentage of eligible population vaccinated is 61.6% in Monongalia County, 60% in Marion County and 53.5% in Harrison County, according to Bundy.
“Harrison County is not vaccinated at the same level as Marion County and Mon County,” he said.
The original virus’s R-factor, representing the speed at which the virus is spreading, was 2.3-2.7. The Alpha variant’s was 4-5, and the Delta variant’s is 5-8, he said.
“If you look at those percentages in vaccinations being almost 8% behind Mon, and 6 or 7% behind Marion County, and the Delta variant is replicating at that 5 to 8 number, every positive case we have, we’re soon to have five to eight more cases,” Bundy said.
According to state COVID-19 czar Dr. Clay Marsh, the state as a whole is still seeing “explosive growth” in COVID-19 due to the Delta variant.
An overwhelming majority — approximately 85% — of individuals now in the hospital with COVID-19 are unvaccinated; 90% of those in ICUs and 91%-93% of those on ventilators are unvaccinated, he said.
According to Marsh, emergency use authorizations for vaccinations of children ages 5 to 11 could come as soon as October.
Staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.
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